My new '74 Nova Custom

[Nick_R_23]

Ever since I saw this car I wanted to get it. Its been sitting at the local junkyard since early 90s, and a small forest grew around it since. Many people have tried to buy it, but I got lucky and finally struck a deal with the guy for 300$, but I ended up working it off (sanded down a Willys Jeep). I just cant take it home for about a month until the new title arrives. Theres another junked Nova just 2 cars down that has a hood and other various parts I need. I will be focusing completely on body work before I even consider the drivetrain. It definately needs a new quarter panel on the passenger side, but I think I can patch everything else. Ill try and get more pics later on.

How its been sitting all these years. Plenty of trees to cut down. I actually cleared a bunch out before this picture.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0456.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0457.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0458.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0459.jpg

We actually drug it out using my BMW. I dont think thats actually what the tow hook was really meant for!

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0461.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0462.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0463.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0464.jpg

Needs a bath!

Lets hear what you think!

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[firehart]

My wife and I had a 73 Nova 2-dr that had a in-line six and automatic. That was 25 years ago.

[ATC-Eric]

SWEET!


Build that sucker up!


Thats about all I have to say.

[harryredtrike]

chevy nova,love em

[LonesomeTriZ]

Cool find. I cannot wait to see biuld photographs.

[MonroeMike]

I knew a kid in high school (ages ago) that had a Nova with a 396, jeez, that car was incredibly quick.

[bigpimpin]

great find. Nova's and Camaro's you can pretty much just build straight from a catalog these days

[x.system]

Looks like a nice project, the only thing I don't like is those big bumpers on the 73/74. I just did this 72 last year for a family member. I picked up a 66 for myself that I just started working on.

http://i40.tinypic.com/ztgnjr.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/18keih.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/x2qc0k.jpg

[firehart]

We had a local police department that had a couple of four door 427 Nova chase cars. I would not mind finding one of those sleepers.

[aaron7]

Novas are cool but... sitting that long you'll need the drivetrain, full wiring, fuel system, interior... literally everything needs to be replaced.

Would be much easier to spend $1000 on a running driving Nova!

[Nick_R_23]

Looks like a nice project, the only thing I don't like is those big bumpers on the 73/74. I just did this 72 last year for a family member. I picked up a 66 for myself that I just started working on.


Wow that turned out nice, beautiful color! Whats the name/paint code?


Novas are cool but... sitting that long you'll need the drivetrain, full wiring, fuel system, interior... literally everything needs to be replaced.

Would be much easier to spend $1000 on a running driving Nova!

Not to worry. Theres no engine or tranny (not worrying about that right now,, easy stuff). But I found a guy on CL that has "New Floor Pans, Used grill, headlights and surounds, tail lights, door and side glass, black dash pad and door panels, green rear seat, wireing harness, front inner fenders, heater box, gas tank, other misc. interior and under hood pieces" all for 150$!! :D Thats a big chunk of parts I need and/or could use in some way. Anything material wise (seats, door cards, etc) my uncle can recover. Plus there is a close to complete parts car sitting 2 cars down.

Ill be back up at the junkyard today, Ill see if I can clean it out/up more and get more pics.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[x.system]

Wow that turned out nice, beautiful color! Whats the name/paint code?



Not to worry. Theres no engine or tranny (not worrying about that right now,, easy stuff). But I found a guy on CL that has "New Floor Pans, Used grill, headlights and surounds, tail lights, door and side glass, black dash pad and door panels, green rear seat, wireing harness, front inner fenders, heater box, gas tank, other misc. interior and under hood pieces" all for 150$!! :D Thats a big chunk of parts I need and/or could use in some way. Anything material wise (seats, door cards, etc) my uncle can recover. Plus there is a close to complete parts car sitting 2 cars down.

Ill be back up at the junkyard today, Ill see if I can clean it out/up more and get more pics.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

Paint is fiji blue, can't remember the code but it was used on the 60's mustangs. My 66 is also a shell so I'm going the same route as you are, you can't find a decent runner unless you want to spend but mine was a barn find. Its been sitting since 85 and the only panel I need is a partial quarter and deck lid, plus interior and drive train.

[MTS]

Call me weird, but, that would be a bad ass sleeper with a nice drive train in it, Something about the looks on guy's face;s with new stangs getting there ass handed to them in a rusty old muscle Just Screams Funny..:beer

[firehart]

When I was 18 I had one of the first V-8 AMC Gremlins. I turned a lot of heads with that car.

[WIkid500]

She's got a bunch of cancer but new rear quarters, rockers and what not will fix that problem. Lots of work but if you do it right you will have a nice ride for yourself!

[Macs]

Novas are cool but... sitting that long you'll need the drivetrain, full wiring, fuel system, interior... literally everything needs to be replaced.

Would be much easier to spend $1000 on a running driving Nova!

I was with you on that until i saw he was from alaska. Nova's are dime a dozen here. I have had two super bombers that were novas, man they are just a tad better than the monte carlo's. Anyway, i love novas but that one is cancered quite a bit/ It looks like quite a bit of sheet metal to replace, but like someone else said you can build one from a catalog. Also dont worry about wiring and what not. there isnt much to these things. Very simple cars at todays standards. With the two we built, we would have body off, all weight stripped, roll cage, painted, up to code in a weekend ( with hidden mods ) for about $1500 including car. If you run across something you are having trouble getting a hold of let me know. Every illegal immigrant down here has at least one in there yard.

[johnny's X]

that is without a doubt a project car. Projects like this you can figure on spending double of what you are thinking. floor pans,trunk pans, inner wheels wells,rockers,quarters,fenders. dont be suprised when you pull the front and back windows that you find alot more cancer. Good thing is all the metal can be purchased, wiring in nothing. painless wirring is the way to go.

This will be something that you will have forever and will not mind spending time or money on. Hell I have 5,000 in my 29 ford and its just sitting in a pile of parts. the build has not even started yet.

Have fun!

[200x Basket]

your ambition is great but that car is to far gone for most people to restore and not worth restoring if you ever plan to get your $$$ back.

For $800-1000 you can ship a car your way and be way better off.

you will have to replace 85% or more of the metal in that car. all of the exterior needs replaced and i am sure the floors, rear frame rails, seat stands, core support, inner fenders, and more are rotten.

I have done it and it was not fun.
I put new
floor boards
trunk pan
rear inner and outer fenders
rear valenance
front inner fenders
both front fenders
new hood
upper an lower front valenance
core support
and more parts into a 67 camaro. then i sold the rolling chassis for a HUGE loss at $3500

[Nick_R_23]

I know how restoration work goes. My dad and his family used to customize cars for dealers back when he was my age. Im working on a 69 Camaro and a late 40's (I think, cant remember exact year ATM) Willys Jeep for a guy right now. I have lots of people around that are pros in this area that I can go to for help.

There is no doubt this will be a project car. I dont really want to go all out on it, 0just take my time, strip it down, fix all the rust, clean everything up and replace all the parts that need to be, and make it a really nice car that will last another 30+ years.


your ambition is great but that car is to far gone for most people to restore and not worth restoring if you ever plan to get your $$$ back.

For $800-1000 you can ship a car your way and be way better off.

you will have to replace 85% or more of the metal in that car. all of the exterior needs replaced and i am sure the floors, rear frame rails, seat stands, core support, inner fenders, and more are rotten.

I dont ever plan on selling it. Since the roads have always been salted in the winter up here, any cars of this era are completely rusted out. If you by chance can find one that isnt, expect to pay out the ass for it. I was talking to a guy who had a 69 Camaro up for sale, it was a little less then a roller, and the body was about in the same shape as this car. He was asking 10K. Prices like that arent uncommon up here.

I think if you could see the car in person, you'd be suprised how much of the metal is still good. It is mostly along the bottom rear. The hood from the parts car is near perfect, just needs to be blasted and painted. Core support is fine, inner fenders actually look like they were new a while ago, fenders themselves could probably use a patch on the bottom, doors arent rusted underneath. Floor pans I can get from that guy with the pile of parts for 150$ take all. Trunk floor could probably use work but mostly around the edges, the lid is fine except the keyhole needs a new skin. Pass. quarter is nearly gone, drivers side only needs a half panel. Rockers I havent looked closely at yet but I am assuming they will need some work. This car is honestly in much better shape then most anything else that I couldve picked up, even that 69 Camaro that Im working on for the guy is more gone then this. At least this one HAS a floor and quarter panels still!! :lol: :lol:

We did get the front wheel unfrozen (pads were stuck just enough to keep it from turning) and rolled it out of where it had been sitting for the last 15+ years. :eek: I bet it was thankful to finally move from that spot. I did get some more pics but it was too bright out today to get any real good ones of the interior.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0466.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0470.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/Nick_R_23/GEDC0469.jpg

Looks much better with a hood doesnt it? :D

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[Name Brand]

I think it's wiser to buy something in this fair condition than something unseen from the lower 48. I'd be mad to pay for shipping $$$ and end up with junk. What makes a ride 'too far gone' to build? I'll be replacing a whole lot more on my '65 F250; the cab, minus floor, will be about the only thing left original to that truck. The choice to tackle a project is dependent on your commitment to the work it will take to complete it.

That car looks pretty good. Most of the Alaska cars of this era or earlier or far more rusted out. There's cars up here driving on the roads with far more rust and less metal. I don't see any major body damage on this ride either! I'm really digging the dash fabric; you should really pimp out the interior!

If the rear wheel inner fenders are toast, you should just put in some big tubs in and have room for some wide rear tires!

After seeing the good work you did on the BMW, I eagerly await what you have in mind for this car.

[Custom200]

Either way it will be a sweet project. That car semms to have a fair bit of

potential. A car in that shape to restore in mylocal area would e great. The old

man had one for his firt car in 77. I believe it was a 68. He showed me some pics

and it looked pretty badazz.

[AutoXer]

you don't see a bmw and a nova hook chains verry often ..... good luck and keep us posted

[The Goat]

"will it light up the night sky like my old chevy nova?" ---phillip j. fry

Good luck with the build. I like the styling.

[Thorpe]

Key fact here is all Nova's are all rusty until they are fixed. They were not expensive cars of there day... Here in Minnesota, that is my shops bread and butter, rust repairs... I did a pile of work on a 74 a little while back, put heidt's tubular front a arms on it, wilwood brakes, hotchkis sways bars, moser 12 bolt, Detroit Speed and Engineering mini tub kit, new quarters, DSE sub frame connectors... Its back in our shop again for a 550hp small block and a 5 speed. Wiring, go with a American Autowire. (IMO they are way nicer than Pain-in-the-trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro Wiring)... You can check it out under "past projects" on my shops website... www.tinmanfabrication.com

[Vealmonkey]

Let's see the pictures of these "police" 4-door 427 Novas.

[84honda200s]

man thats gunna be one long project for ya thats for sure.. good luck with it man..

[ATCeeya]

Love my Novas. Heres my 1979 bigblock 489 stroker '. I bought this car when I was 16 (all stock 305 engine), be 26 in June. Dont play with it much anymore tho. My next Nova would be a 67. I like the 68-72's but too many guys around me already got that body style

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9855/1000055xo6.jpg

[Blown 331]

My uncle bought a 1973 Nova SS brand new and still has it.

[Jim mac]

just go with a 454 and a 4 speed, find a 9 inch ford out of a pickup and have it cut down and your good to go! Automatics are okay for a daily driver, but a real hotrod has 3 pedals! jim

[The Goat]

I saw a ragged out 4 door nova thursday with 427 in chrome stickers on the side.