NOVA 180 (67 pro touring build)
 

Hello,
My name is Dan Fisher. I'm from Coldwater MI. I bought my 1967 chevy ii nova from a guy off from craigslist in November 2012. It was originally a Florida car and is truly a rust free car. I was told the car was painted about 21 years ago. It is a lacquer paint job, so it does have some areas where the paint is checking. The paint has a little patina to it now, but I think it's pretty cool. Not perfect to where I would be afraid to drive it.

The 67 nova is my favorite year and I've always wanted one. The car was a automatic non power steering non power brake car and a gutless 327 v8. I can't say any good things about the way it drove in stock form. It was sloppy steering, hard to turn, and when you hit the brakes it tried to jump in the ditch. Pretty poor driving car!

I decided to make it into a nasty little pro touring ride. I started tearing the car apart Memorial Day weekend 2013 and have been going at it since. I wanted to do a build log all along but just never sat down and did it. I have done a pretty good job taking pictures along the way, so I will be uploading in the order that the work has been done. I've done all the work myself in my shop. I am hopefully within a month of firing it up!

I've struggled with naming the car, but recently I've thought of something and I think it's going to stick. NOVA 180. Why? Well..... It was a non power steering, non power brake, automatic, and pretty lousy power. NOW it's power steering, power brakes, 6 speed Viper manual, and a new LSA massaged to just under 750hp. The NOVA is really 180 degrees from the car it was its whole life........so NOVA 180 seems fitting.

A little about me. I've built two custom motorcycles in 2006 and 2008. I also race 1000cc prostock snowmobiles at the professional level and have had pretty good success at it. I set the e.t record in 2008 and reset it two more times through 2010. I've won the the World Series of ice in 2008, 2013, and 2014. I've built several prostock snowmobiles over the past 12 years. Snowmobile racing has been my passion and I'm still currently racing in the winter months.

The NOVA is my first car build and it's been a steep learning curve. I really enjoy this forum and reading and watching some of the great builds going on here. I hope you guys enjoy the pictures and comments!

Dan Fisher





This is how it looked when I purchased it in November 2012
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg2.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg1.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg3.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg6.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg5.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg7.jpg

Coming apart......

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg4-1.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg5-1.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg6-1.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg7-1.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg1-1.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg2-1.jpg

Mini tub process has begun.
 

Cutting the stock tubs out. Installing DSE mini tubs. I must say that Detroit Speed and Engineering have it going one. Awesome quality!

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg1-3.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg3-2.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg2-3.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg5-2.jpg

Here I built two 3/8" plates and welded into the frame rails before I boxed them back in. I also bolted in the upper shock mount with 1/2-20 bolts vs the tiny one that came with the TCI rear pro touring suspension. It might be a little overkill but I didn't like the thinned up rails and tiny bolts. I didn't want a problem down the road.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg4-2.jpg

Cool project, what are the rest of the plans? And I'm sure you know but we love pictures!!!

I'm with Rick nice project and we really love lots of pictures. This is my favorite year for the Nova also and it looks like you found a nice one. Keep us in the loop.

Couple of teezer pics......

Big items are new LSA, viper t56, tci pro touring suspension front and rear, mini tub, 6 point chrome moly cage, budnik wheels, ricks tank with vaporworx, and a racepak IQ3.

I'll try to get up to date within the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for looking!


http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg1-4.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg2-4.jpg


http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg1-5.jpg

Beautiful!

OH that is so pretty!!!! Its going to be an awesome ride.

awesome build!!

On that subframe, don't you just love the hidden bolt?

Nice build,I love these cars:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

x2. Keep the pics coming and we are glad you decided to start a build thread.

X3 very nice!!

Thanks guys!

Here is the DSE mini tubs going in. They look awesome in. I'm pretty impressed with anything with the DSE stamp of approval.


http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg1-6.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg4-3.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg5-3.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg2-5.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg1-7.jpg

Setting up the ring and pinion. It's a Ford 9". Strange aluminum center section, Detroit tru trac LSD, Richmond gear (3.70) and a chrome moly yoke.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg4-4.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg1-9.jpg


Rear end sitting under the car.

295-35R18. I went with a standard width 54.5" rear axle housing. I didn't go with the 52.25" because I didn't want a bunch of rear lip. I kinda feel that the real deep lips look more pro street than pro touring. Not sure sure if too many people will agree, but that's my thought.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg1-8.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg2-6.jpg

Still has some lip........I love how tucked up the wheel is in this shot!

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-10.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-11.jpg

They look great on there.

Cool project cant wait to see more of it.

Stock sub frame finally removed. I did some sanding and new seam sealer. I used aircraft stripper on the vin tag to remove the layers of paint. It looks new now and can easily be read.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-12.jpg

Granada Gold was the original color. Surprise to me until I removed the fenders. I had never ran the vin to that point. The VIN checks out.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg3-3.jpg

This was the only surprise I found on the whole car. Someone must have got out the blue tip wrench and made some access holes to pull the transmission. No problem. I filled the upper ones and the bottom ones went away with the stock tunnel.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg2-7.jpg

Finished firewall.........

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg4-5.jpg

Looks great!! I really love the 66-67 Novas!!

One of my favorite cars.. I just love the 66/67 Novas.



Are you trying to save the paint? We did this on my brother in laws Camaro -- and went out of our way to save the paint -- then ended up painting the whole thing anyway. LOL

Going to be a nice little ride thats for sure!

:cheers: You're not alone in this thinking. The car looks killer!

-J

I definitely agree on the too much wheel lip thing. Throws the front to rear balance visuals off. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out with the fronts on it. Good luck with the build.

Cool car! Any chance you will be up at the Metro cruise in GR next month?

No plans on painting the car. I'm ok with some of the checking at this point. It's done a number on my wallet to this point anyways:superhack:

I think it's going to be a nice little ride also......thanks!

I wish....... Probably won't quite be done at that point.

I will be at Gingermann this Friday checking out the action at the motor state challenge.

TCI ProTouring front suspension going on.

I initially liked the silver. It was powdered but any little thing that bumped it would make it chip off. It was never sandblasted. The powder coater put the parts through a phosphate etch and said sandblasting was not needed. After I put more of it together I didn't like the silver. You will see in later pics that I re-powder coated it. The black is much stronger.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-13.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg2-8.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg5-5.jpg

Budnik shotgun g wheels. I would have loved some forgelines but maybe later.......

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg4-6.jpg

Tunnel time!
I did not have a motor at this point in the build but I had a buddy that had a broken ls3 block. This saved me a considerable amount of time. I bought a QuickTime ls to mopar housing because the viper transmission has a different spline and length than the t56 for the F body's. It's rated at 550 ft-lbs vs the gm equivalent 450ft-lbs

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-14.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-15.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg2-9.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg3-5.jpg

Original floor and man it was perfect!
By the time I trimmed a little there and a little here the whole tunnel is gone. I set the drive line angle to about 2.5 degrees+\-. I had to cut up the tci trans mount and modify it to my specs. The drive line angle looks perfect under the car.......hope it's vibration free!

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg4-7.jpg

Great progress! Keep it coming!

Made the tunnel in two pieces. I transferred the template to sheet metal and formed it. It was the first time that I used cleco pins. They work great.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-16.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg2-10.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg3-6.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg5-6.jpg

I love what you have done so far,great job:thumbsup:

Nice job on the tunnel. Cleco's are nice and you will now think of ways just to use them :D

Nice work on the tunnel, and the whole project.

Few more pics

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg2-11.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-17.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-18.jpg

The trans tunnel and cage turned out great!

Looking forward to seeing you out there on Gingerman driving instead of spectating!

Good catching up over the weekend. Talk with you soon.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks Paul!
Here are some more pics

Here are the trunk plates for the roll ball connection

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg2-12.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...agejpg1-19.jpg

Shoulder bar is removable

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg5-7.jpg

The cage is 1-5/8 chromemoly and the pads are 6"x 6". Tried to follow the NHRA specs

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg4-9.jpg


Finished trunk

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg7-2.jpg


Here is the interior how it currently looks. I changed all the fawn to a silver. The floor is line-x Berliner. I didn't want to put carpet in, but if it way too loud then I probably will. I really like how the line-x looks

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...magejpg8-1.jpg

Wow!!!! This is coming out great!!! I own a '67 Nova (SS) myself.. I just swapped a 416ci LS3 in mine. I can't get enough of the look on this beauty.... I can't wait to see this beauty on the ground. Keep updating! You couldn't have picked better wheels. I'm really wanting to mini-tub mine and I'm definitely looking into the DSE mini-tubs. What's the widest tire you can fit under it? I saw you went with a 295. Think a 315 would fit under it with the right offset wheel/rearend-width?

NICE!! Never get enough of these little Chevy II's. Great work!

New radiator support. I bought a C&R racing radiator with a oil cooler and power steering cooler. Since the two extra coolers we're added it didn't quite fit. Had to cut out the factory stamping and flatten the area. With this area now done people never knew it was modified.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg1.jpg


http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg2.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg3.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg4.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg4.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg6.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg6.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z.../imagejpg7.jpg

Going together........the really fun stage!

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...oads/image.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...ds/image-1.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...ds/image-2.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...ds/image-3.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...ds/image-5.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...ds/image-6.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...ds/image-4.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...ds/image-7.jpg

Look at that! From nothing to almost done in 6 or 7 pictures!! LOL

Man don't you wish it was that easy....


Looks good!!

Don't we all wish it was that easy. Engine bay looks great and well planned out.