67 Nova Project
 

Hey all, recently finished up my 68 Camaro project and had been looking for a 66-67 Chevy II Nova for a while. My first car was a 66 Nova but when I was 17 I traded it along with $1500 for the 68 Camaro I have to this day (build thread Project "Cha Ching"). For a long time I've wanted to get another Nova as I've always loved the body style of the 66-67's so this past weekend I went and checked one out that was pretty rough but had a "very negotiable price". Anyways, ended up hauling this thing back with me so it'll be my new project. The car's pretty rough but actually came with a lot of new sheet metal, had good doors, new full quarters, VIN/cowl tags and a clean title. The plan will be to make a nice driver out of it, probably put an automatic OD trans in it, upgrade the suspension, etc. but not sure on the power plant. I've ordered a one piece floor/rear seat/trunk pan assembly along with inner/outer rocker panels. This, combined with the new firewall, LH/RH side inner and outer cowl panels and top inner/outer cowl panels that came with the car will go a long way towards making this body shell a solid starting point.

I really enjoyed the build of your 68 Camaro and I'm looking forward to what you're going to do with the Nova!

Gonna be sweet watching this one come together.

Sweet project I love those mid year nova's. I'll be watching.

Following, looks like you got some work ahead of you! Can't wait to see some progress pictures!

Thank You, I keep reminding myself that this one's not a race so we'll see how it goes!

Thank you, I'm looking forward to it!

Most appreciated...this one's pretty rough for sure but I'm looking forward to the experience:cheers:

For sure! It's got a little too much patina!:lol:

Nice project. Good luck with the build.

Got some parts in for the Nova. Went with the full floor/trunk pan and some other goodies from Classic Industries. Since the car didn't have a spec of flooring, frame rails, or firewall in it to use as a reference, I was concerned about getting those items in the correct location since I don't have a car to take measurements from. I've essentially got all the front panels for the body so when the dust settles, I'll have a rock solid body shell with the only original panels left being the roof and dash...

Here's a shot with the firewall sitting on it just to get an idea how things will line up...I ordered some full rocker panels since the description for the floor pan in Classic's website didn't specify if the rear frame rails or inner rockers were included. Conveniently, all of those items were attached, however, the inner rockers were bent during transport so rather then removing the outers from the new assemblies, I'll just remove the damaged inners from the floor and weld in the new assemblies once the body's mounted and squared up.

A little close up shot...

WOW! That will be a hell of a project. I like the big one piece floors. Did it come on that frame/jig?

Yeah, it's definitely gonna be a project but it'll be rewarding seeing it come together. It comes attached to the steel frame. I'm gonna use it as a frame jig of sorts to level the pan up and get the body mounted. :welder:

Wow that's a big head start getting that in like that all in one piece. It looks like a nice piece.

Thanks, yeah, I was excited to see it. The quality seems very good from just looking at it. We'll find out how good when it's time to set the body down. Originally, my plan was to get it sitting level, put the body on and then change the rockers. Now I'm thinking I might go ahead and level it up, install the new full rockers then weld in support braces on the body so I can cut the old rockers off. Then I can sit the body on the floor, square everything up, tack it down and install the doors to make sure things line up properly. At that point, I can tack weld the quarter panels in place (they're lined up but only screwed on) and start removing the inner/outer side cowls one by one and replacing them as well as the upper/lower cowl panels and firewall.

I'd love to be able put the mini tubs in while the body's off but I'm afraid to push my luck. Seems like it should be feasible, however, I don't wanna end up with gaps between the wheel wells and quarters. I suppose I could always fit up the outers with the body on, mark my cut lines then pull the body off again...we'll see, stay tuned!

Dammit Shane,
Your going to get two projects done before I finish my one. I kinda feel like a slacker. Lol
This Nova is going to be a solid car. I'm tuning in on this one for sure.

Lol, What are you waitin' for Chris?!! Don't make me have to drive up to Wisconsin and help you!:drive: :D

Thanks for tuning in!

Looks like fun. I’d be so tempted to look at a full frame since there’s no floor.

Can’t wait to see the progress.

Yeah, I've already been checking them out. I promised myself this was gonna be just a "nice" driver but I'm not sure I'm capable of settling. I'm thinking about picking up a less-expensive bad habit lately....maybe cocaine or gambling!:lmao:

Shane, I really enjoyed Cha-Ching and now this. I am following along, I am sure it will be exceptional just like Cha-Ching. You have already done more since you have got it than I have done in months, lol,

Joe

Thanks Joe, I really appreciate it! I've been keeping an eye out for updates on your Torino, you're doing a great job! Congrats on the upcoming retirement, too!

So got a couple more pieces of the puzzle this week for the Nova. DSE mini tub kit and subframe connectors arrived. Finally had a little time today to make some progress so I got the floor pan assembly leveled up and tack welded down. Cut the inner rocker panels off the new pan and got the new complete rockers welded on in their place. Set the mini tubs up there just to see how things are gonna fit up. Next time, I'll get the body braced up and cut the old rockers off to make room to set the body on the new floor. From there, I can get it squared up and start replacing the crusty panels on the front end and getting the mini tubs and subframe connectors installed.

Here's another shot.

Did you order that one-piece floor from Real Deal Steel?

No, I actually got mine from Classic Industries. They had a sale going on and I was able to get a pretty substantial discount so the timing worked out. Thanks

Scored a great set of re-skinned doors this weekend, check that off the list!

Nice!

So Im to the point where I need the Nova body at the house in order to make progress so I brought it home this weekend and had time today to get some hours in. Here's what I started with...after I braced it up and removed the rear quarters and tail panel in order to remove the old rusty rockers.

Here's a shot from what used to be the rear! Along the way I found several areas where I'm gonna need to fab up some patch panels but shouldn't be anything too terrible. I did go ahead and decide to order up a new package tray panel given the current condition of mine. If I don't replace it I'll never forgive myself... besides, I need the rear seat braces since mine were haphazardly cut short by the Blue-Tongued Devil!

After some help from my Dad, my kids and their friends, we got the body set down on the floor pan assembly! That felt really good and although nothing is squared up, tacked down or flanges dollied, it was starting to take shape...so far I'm really pleased with how well everything seems to line up. There's plenty of fine tuning to do but no major issues so far.

Wanted to hang the quarters back on the check fitment to the rockers, etc. after seeing that, I just had to throw some of the other stuff on there to see it looking like an actual car. Once I get it squared up and tacked down I'll begin replacing the other panels and dialing in the fitment. I'll need to install the upper/lower cowl panels, inner/outer side cowl panels, rear package tray panel, rear filler panel, DSE mini tubs, firewall, etc. etc.

Finally got the remainder of the necessary parts to fully assemble the body shell. Now hopefully I can carve some time out this weekend to get some things permanently in place.

I ended up springing for new package tray sheet metal as mine was pretty rough in one corner, had been butchered for speakers at some point and had also fallen victim to some clown with a torch who cut the seat support braces off short...surprisingly, those seem impossible to buy, new or used! I knew if I didn't replace it now, I'd never forgive myself. One cool thing is that it comes with new trunk hinges and torsion springs.

Frame Specs
 

I thought this might be helpful. I used it when I built mine from basically the same condition you are starting with. It says it's for the earlier years, but I'm pretty sure it's all the same.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5Q...=w1210-h907-no

OMG, you're my Hero...:king: Thank you!

See if any of these help

T,

All I can say is "Wow"! I appreciate this info more then you can know. I was especially sweating positioning the firewall/floor pan supports as they are used to attach the subframe so this information is invaluable. Thanks for taking the time to post it up! I've definitely got some reading material to sift thru now:headscratch:

Tom - that's some nice details - -thanks for sharing. Mine is a page from an old frame spec manual that Dad saved (Old bodyman - saved all sorts of good stuff!)

You guys are welcome.....don't remember exactly where I got these, years of scouring the internet I suppose.......Novas are kinda my thing......

Following along on the build on Steve's as well......glad you are bringing her back...I'd do the same thing....

T,

Ok, been a minute since I had any real progress to post on the Nova but here goes. Also, my account got changed up somehow and I wasn’t able to login until now so big shout out to Camcojb for getting me squared away!:thankyou:

So I’ve been accumulating more parts and finally got some time over the last two weeks to work on the car. I actually took a few days off this past week just to get some stuff done.

Got the old package tray out, new one cut to pieces for the DSE mini tubs and mocked up in the car.

After getting the mini tubs and new outer wheel house fitted up, I mocked up the rear quarters, tail panel, trunk and filler panel to be sure things were on track.