Thanks. Don't mind at all if you borrow some ideas. Most of the ideas I got for my build I borrowed from other cars on here and other forums. Good luck with yours. Can't wait to see some pics.

Well it's been a while since I had any updates. To be honest, I haven't been all that motivated to actually work on the car. There has been zero overtime at work so no new parts coming in and I feel like I'm in over my head with this build. As I stated before, I've decided to do as much as I can without having to get new parts. This update is also going to have quite a few questions, so if you can answer any of them that would be greatly appreciated.

After welding in the rear fuel filler panel, I decided I was going to work on routing the filler tube through the trunk. I tried working around the trunk latch but the filler neck wouldn't fit, so I decided to remove it for the time being. I welded in some support braces

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000304.jpg

After taking a bunch of measurements, I cut the latch out

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000306.jpg

Unfortunately that's still how's it sitting. I was trying to figure out how to run the filler neck. The one that came with the Alston filler cap is designed for a Camaro so it goes off to the right instead of straight down. I can get a universal one that comes straight out from the filler cap and then I would have to run it down somehow. My first question....if I decided to get the straight one would I be able to use exhaust tube for the rest of the filler neck? Would there be any issue having gas gown down exhaust tube? I was thinking about drilling a hole though the trunk floor and running the exhaust tube with different bends so it came out where the filler tube on a stock tank would meet it. I was then going to weld the exhaust tube to the trunk so it doesn't move. I would then put the trunk latch back on to cover all this up. I would likely have to use a 90 degree piece of rubber tube to join the filler cover and the exhaust tube running down. Does this sound like it would work???

The next thing I started to do was to get the subframe aligned and push the motor back. The subframe was pretty close and I didn't have to do a lot of moving it. I can't remember where online I found the diagram with measurements, but I used a hole on the rear frame rails and measured to the alignment hole on the subframe beside where the firewall body mounts sit. I got the subframe so it was within 1/4" of the factory measurements. Is that close enough??

Once the frame was aligned, I pushed the motor back as far as I could. There's still quite a bit of room to the firewall

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000318.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000319.jpg

I then started hanging the sheet metal. I fought with getting the doors aligned. I have new Goodmark hinges and now I've read I would have been better off rebuilding the old ones. Oh well. I was told to take the strikers out...that helped. I also ripped out all the old weather stripping..that really helped. Here's the passenger door. The driver's door gap is almost the same. Will have some fixing to do.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000316.jpg

I started to hang the fenders and found that things weren't fitting very well. I ended up needing to find a stock set of body mount washers to put on top of the body mounts. Called Dave at Tin Man's and got a pair for $25.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000322.jpg

Without them in

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000324.jpg

With them in

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000326.jpg

Started hanging the fenders

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000330.jpg

Which brings me to some more questions. I know I'm supposed to align the doors first, then the fenders to the doors (I think that's right) but how do I know I'm doing it right? How do I know the driver's side and pass side with match up when I got to start putting everything else on? When should I add the hood? Any advice on aligning the sheetmetal would be greatly appreciated.

Looks good Mike! Who says you need parts.....

I agree with Greg, it Looks good to me too.

Looks great bro---you are getting closer---can't wait to see it outside with the sheetmetal on it and the tires and wheels----you've done a great job on it:thumbsup:

Doug

Nova is looking really good. When you say that you feel like you are in over your head, what is somethings that you would have done differently? I'm still in the very beginning stages of my Nova build and I would love to go the route that you are going but, the budget doesn't allow it. I'm planning on a fairly simple build with the right stance and a killer set of wheels.

Keep up the great work and keep making progress with what you have! I've missed seeing the updates!

Mike --

Sometimes during a project - when I get an "overwhelmed" feeling - like "there's so much left to do... " I revert to just breaking it down to a LIST - and then I just put my head down and do ONE THING AT A TIME. Check it off the list. Suddenly the list is shrinking and it's much more organized - and putting it down on the list - clears it out of my pea brain. I generally post up the list on one leg of the lift -- cross them off with RED pen.... it looks better. :yes:

A buddy has an erasable white board - same thing only fancier...

Usually we leave obscene messages on it.


:cheers:

No way to know until it's together. You may have to put it together and take it apart several times to get it right.

And when you think you have it correct, the next time it goes together, it won't be , ;) .

Thanks for all the support and tips guys. I just need to get into the shop and make some good progress to get me back into the swing of things. I have to do a bunch of leveling work in my back yard also so that has been taking away my shop time. I know the car won't be done for a while so it will still be there when the landscaping is done.

As for feeling in over my head, I think it's the fact that I have taken on a full body restoration and when I sit back and look at what still needs done, that's when it makes me feel in over my head. On the other hand though, when I look at what I've accomplished for someone who has absolutely no training in any of these areas.....it makes me feel damn good. I know if I took the car to a good shop they would find things wrong with what I did, but hey if it works and turns out okay...I'll be happy. If I stuck to my original plans of a fairly low budget build, it would have been done. Would I have been as happy though...probably not!

Greg..good idea on the list and setting more short term goals. I already have a white board in the shop for making notes, but I should get a bigger one to put a list on. Thanks.

Well enough of that....on to better things. Once I'm done digging up my yard, I'll get my a$$ into the shop and get some work done. As usual, will post pics as I go.

Thanks again for all the support guys. That's the great thing about these forums. I know I'm not the only one that gets motivated by you guys.

Unfortunately I haven't been back in the shop to do anything else. Last weekend I rented a mini excavator and re-graded a big chunk of my back yard. Now I have a giant litter box in the back for all our cats. Hope to get it all seeded this weekend, then back to the car.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000347.jpg

As stated, not much to update. I did end up getting a set of bucket seat brackets from a 74 SS from Dave at Tin Man. Thanks again Dave. Now I just need to get them cleaned up and weld them in. New parts coming May 15 :D Going to see the Eagles the night of the 14th, then pick up new stuff on the way back. Will post pics of the goodies when I get them.

Pics of the bucket seat brackets:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000340.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000341.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000342.jpg