Found a new project at Pomona
 

I've been lurking here for a while and "shopping" for my first Pro-Touring project car for about a year now. Sunday I found a car at the Pomona Swap Meet that I couldn't pass up.

It's a rust free 1970 Nova with ~86,000 miles on the chassis.
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03357s.jpg

Looks like the car has the original paint, exception being the areas that have been sanded off. The guy I bought it from had taken the paint off "to show that it was rust free car".
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03362s.jpg
38 years old and no rust. Gotta love west coast cars!

http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03363s.jpg

The car was originally 6 cylinder 3 speed column shift car. Still has the dead pedal which should come in handy with my future plans.
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03361s.jpg

Somewhere down the road a previous owner installed a fuel injected 4.3ltr V6 w/4L60. Not my choice for a swap, but certainly different.
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03358s.jpg

I was told that the car had been sitting "for a while" but it ran good. So, to get it home I decided to "test" out how good it was. We loaded and drove the Nova 105+ miles to a friends house in San Diego. Even though the 4.3 wasn't singing to full song the car made the trip without issue.

Haven't laid out the exact plan yet, but the main idea centers around motivation from a LS motor w/T56 and a host of Pro Touring gear (brakes, suspension, etc).

For the short term. My buddy is going to throw some primer over the bald spots. Once that's done I will get the car home and start tinkering with it. Plan is to drive it while I collect parts. Should be fun!

Donations and sponsors welcome ;)

Man, what a sweetheart of a project start! Your thousands ahead on the body shop cost already!

So true, Frank!

Looks like the perfect victim. :cheers:

Nice find! I'm jealous :thumbsup: Can't wait to follow this thread. Have fun :woot:

i'm totally jealous. That is pretty much what I want to get.

Very cool! Great buy, these Novas are already taking off. Reminds me of the condition of mine when I bought it....nothing like a straight, unmolested car to start with. Keep us posted!:thumbsup:

I saw that car out there but was looking for a second gen Camaro. How much did you get it for?

I seems like there's at least on sweet "grandma" Nova out there every month.

Nice score! :thumbsup:

Congrats on the new project!
I have a soft spot for those Novas since I had a '68 & '74 back in the day.
Have fun with it.

Great find
Nova, the next camaro?

Pays to have a friend that is a retired paint & body guy. He checked the car out with me. He refuses to paint cars any more, but his knowledge is invaluable when shopping for cars like these.

Got the car pretty cheap. Funny enough, I still paid about $300 more than the sticker price in 1970 (it was on the title). :rofl:

The build will go in spurts. Basically as time and $$$ permit.

Found a surprise under the Nova.
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03395s.jpg

Someone has installed a power rack. Don't recognize the kit.. might be something someone cooked up.
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03412s.jpg

The "new" look
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03420s.jpg

Black etch coat primer was sprayed to cover all the bald spots from previous owner. Not pretty, but MUCH better than bare metal.
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03421s.jpg

3 point retractable seat belts install.
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/dsc03423s.jpg

Got the car back from San Diego last weekend. Had the windshield replaced and got all the DMV stuff done this past week. This weekend I installed the 3 point seat belts, cleaned it up, did a tune up, and tinkered around with some of the small wiring gremlins.

The waiting parts list is growing. Picked up a subframe with DSE coil over conversion already done, along with the arms and Koni's.

Have the rest of the small engine parts on there way, just need to finalize my plans for the front accessories.

Looks like a great find.
Keep us posted on all mods.

I'm interested in the Rack & Pinion steering set-up. Where did it come from and how can use it on my 69 Camaro (?).
Marco (Polo):thumbsup:

Picked up some "new" shoes for the Nova today at the Long Beach swap meet. Got an killer deal on a set of Camaro SS wheels/tires & 2" adapters.

Threw them on the car for mock up. Tires are 245/45/17's.
http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/zr1side.jpg

http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/zr1qtr.jpg

http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/zr1rqtr.jpg

2 of the rims came with 275/40 17 BFG drag radials. They fit in the back by a hair. With a lip roll they would have worked, but more than likely I'll just pick up another set of 245's and just run those on all the way around for now.

Nice progress! Wheels sure change a car!! :thumbsup:

the wheels made quite a difference

John if you need a Fender Roller I have one - just shoot me an e-mail ( [email protected] ) and I'll send it off to you.

?? Since there is a 4.3 in there - I say Turbo it using Syclone parts

That would be fun, But I already have the LS2 on it's way.

Thanks for the offer on the fender roller!

LS2 is good

and your welcome on the roller

After allot of tinkering with adapter/spacers I was able to cram the 275/40 17's in the back.

Since these cars were built to such tight tolerances, I ended up with a 1.5" spacer on the drivers side and a 1" spacer on the passenger side. :lol:

Here's the pictures:

http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/drqtr.jpg

http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/side.jpg

http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/sundrqtr.jpg

http://www.wilwaxu.com/images/nova/sunpasqtr.jpg

John,

the car looks good really good :thumbsup:

Could spent an hour and cut a coil off the front springs and drop the nose>>>>>>>>>:thumbsup:

Yeah, thought about it, but I have a full DSE coilover kit getting ready to go in.

Plan to start the suspension mods tomorrow with the rear. Have a set of DSE 3" lower springs going in.

Believe it or not, this car is finally getting some love :lol:

Shortly after the last post here, I went on a 6 month deployment, which turned into 8+ years living overseas :wacko: The Nova went into storage, along with all the parts. Now.. 10 years later, we are moving forward. :lmao:

I've decided not to blow the car completely apart at this time. Cleaning, repainting as I go. I've found the years this car spent in the desert has caked everything in a almost powercoat like layer of dirt/grime. This layer has serve the car well.. almost like a preservative. But, it also is a PITA to clean off :D

Here's the progress over the past week.

Installed:
- Detroit Speed - Speed Kit 1, front and rear
- ATS - AFX Spindles
- ABS Power - Brake booster & master cylinder

Coming soon:
- C5 ZO6 front brakes

Future:
- Global West Interloc body mounts
- CPP 7/8" Rear swaybar

The LS2 that was destine for this car was used on a different project, so I'm in search of a new heart. Still plan for a LS/LT family engine, but what that will be remains to be seen.

John,

How awesome is this and it is so cool that you put it and storage and now that your back you are on it. So freaking cool.

Progress looks great and I can't wait to see you driving this beast.

As always thank you so much for your service :flag2:

Nice 10 year old thread resurrection!!

Good on you for starting this project back up again...

I got to do the same, John. Glad to see more stuff going on the Nova as well.

Dualing Nova's :D

You certainly have a nice starting place for your project!

Got Brakes? ;)

Looking good John!!!


And good choice on not blowing the car up..... Smart. So many people get so far ahead of themselves and end up with boxes of junk years later.

Great start to the build. I like your choice of components,too.

Front end is back together, and just put it on the ground. Still dirty, but had to get some shots.

Anyone need some old stuff? :D

After building a truck and a couple fox body mustangs. I'm back on the Nova again.

In between other projects I sold the old 4.3l V6 / 4L60 combo, and started working on the engine compartment.

Digging into the fenders to get the old heater unit out.

Mocking up a Detroit Speed cover plate and started working on the subframe and firewall.

After a fair debate, I decided to use Holley/Hooker swap system for the LS2 install. Starting with the engine frame mounts.

LS2 mock up begins..

More LS2 mock up. Also using the Holley high mount accessory drive, and of course.. a Rick's Tank's RestoMod tank with a ZL1 pump :) Carl C's VaporWorx controller and harness will drive the pump.

That brings the post up to date, hopefully more updates will follow, in closer intervals :D