66 Nova SS Project

[byndbad914]

Behind the scenes I have been attempting to pick up a Z06 since I have been missing my Grand Sport. I thought I had one bought in TX but that fell thru so I gave up, but then ran across another one that actually I prefer so I am glad the other fell thru. Now that deal is getting a bit shakey as the seller didn't realize how much he actually still owed v. what we agreed for purchase price but it is still moving toward a June 1 close date - hard to make a straight deal!

Then today I ended up talking to a guy about my 914 and he sent me a deposit tonight to buy the roller I had advertised a few months back, so now I am moving the suspension back off the Nova and putting it back on the 914. This is a good thing actually because he gets a great deal on a great roller that was a well tuned setup and I can reconsider the Nova design and try to run C6 Vette parts to keep the car GM instead of mixing in Porsche parts. It will cost me more in the end than I got for the 914 to replace the pieces I was going to reuse, but apparently wasting my money on cars v. saving it for later has not been a problem to date! I won't be able to build this stuff when I am old anyway so I might as well work then and play now, right?

So, it will slow the progress on the Nova here while I regroup and configure a new shock, brake, and suspension package but I think it is a move in the right direction. In fact, I am hoping to be able to set the car up to run the exact same wheel offset as the Z and then I can get multiple sets of wheels I can swap between vehicles depending on what I am tracking and what I am streeting. Was not really interested in running 18s on the Nova as I dislike large wheels as a general statement, anything over 18s being out of question. On the Nova I really liked the fit and look of the 16s, but getting bigger brakes onto the heavier car makes more sense than sticking to a particular look And the 1" larger diam rear v. front look of the modern Vette is actually the one thing I really do NOT like about the cars, everything else is great. They look so much better with 18s all around.

Anyway, it has been a whirlwind couple of weeks piled on top of some pretty aggressive work stuff sucking up some of my weekend time as well but all will be back on track in a month or two.

[Rick D]

Originally Posted by byndbad914

Behind the scenes I have been attempting to pick up a Z06 since I have been missing my Grand Sport. I thought I had one bought in TX but that fell thru so I gave up, but then ran across another one that actually I prefer so I am glad the other fell thru. Now that deal is getting a bit shakey as the seller didn't realize how much he actually still owed v. what we agreed for purchase price but it is still moving toward a June 1 close date - hard to make a straight deal!

Then today I ended up talking to a guy about my 914 and he sent me a deposit tonight to buy the roller I had advertised a few months back, so now I am moving the suspension back off the Nova and putting it back on the 914. This is a good thing actually because he gets a great deal on a great roller that was a well tuned setup and I can reconsider the Nova design and try to run C6 Vette parts to keep the car GM instead of mixing in Porsche parts. It will cost me more in the end than I got for the 914 to replace the pieces I was going to reuse, but apparently wasting my money on cars v. saving it for later has not been a problem to date! I won't be able to build this stuff when I am old anyway so I might as well work then and play now, right?

So, it will slow the progress on the Nova here while I regroup and configure a new shock, brake, and suspension package but I think it is a move in the right direction. In fact, I am hoping to be able to set the car up to run the exact same wheel offset as the Z and then I can get multiple sets of wheels I can swap between vehicles depending on what I am tracking and what I am streeting. Was not really interested in running 18s on the Nova as I dislike large wheels as a general statement, anything over 18s being out of question. On the Nova I really liked the fit and look of the 16s, but getting bigger brakes onto the heavier car makes more sense than sticking to a particular look And the 1" larger diam rear v. front look of the modern Vette is actually the one thing I really do NOT like about the cars, everything else is great. They look so much better with 18s all around.

Anyway, it has been a whirlwind couple of weeks piled on top of some pretty aggressive work stuff sucking up some of my weekend time as well but all will be back on track in a month or two.

Tim two steps forward ten steps back!! That's why it sometimes takes a while to build these cars. In the end I'm sure you will be happy with your new direction. Love the progress you've made so far, I just love the 66-67 Novas, I've a couple and want one again!!

[byndbad914]

I hear you Rick - I got the Porsche almost completely back together today. That is what is nice about the suspension the way it is, within a few hours it was off the Nova and back on the Porsche - it took me longer to get the engine and trans out hahaha. But then I am looking at the Nova and I am back to damn near Feb of this year I was on path to have it running and on the track by end of summer but oh well, it is definitely the better direction to go.

Since I am a planner it will be a couple months of just replanning the design before I even get rolling again

[byndbad914]

Originally Posted by byndbad914

Behind the scenes I have been attempting to pick up a Z06 since I have been missing my Grand Sport. I thought I had one bought in TX but that fell thru so I gave up, but then ran across another one that actually I prefer so I am glad the other fell thru. Now that deal is getting a bit shakey as the seller didn't realize how much he actually still owed v. what we agreed for purchase price but it is still moving toward a June 1 close date - hard to make a straight deal!

Fortunately, the second deal also fell thru when the seller couldn't come up with enough money to pay his loan down - that got me looking and I found the car that I coveted most in Vegas - right where I was delivering the 914!!

2011 Carbon Edition Inferno Orange, only had 989 miles on it when I bought it Friday! I have wanted one of these so bad since I first saw it displayed in the GM booth at SEMA and sat in it, so fortunately the other two deals fell apart!! Great how that works out at times.

Now I can work on getting Vette suspension into the Nova and set it up so I can have a set of track wheels that would fit both cars and I can just swap back and forth.

[Rick D]

Oh man, me likey that is hot for sure Tim. That should help take your mind off not having your Porsche anymore? Man I should just go buy one of these and forget working on a car?? yeah then my wife does this to me she hates vetts.

[bonecrrusher]

Mmmm beer errrr suede!

I upgraded to the 2012 seats in my C6 - and love it!

Great looking C6 Carbon!

[byndbad914]

There is something to be said about a turn-key hot rod!

As for the interior, I do like the suede seats and steering wheel as well. The 2012 seats had a different shoulder bolstering that looks like it might fit well but I will stick with the factory seat shape in this one.

[parsonsj]

Originally Posted by Tim

Having the track width on the front narrower than the rear is a bad idea for cornering as well.

It turned ok. Kyle Tucker once ran a faster time in an autocross in II Much than in his own car.

To avoid pulling the tires in to turn means nearly 4 inches difference in ride height -- which has its own problems as well. There's no good answer in a 66-67 Chevy II body without changing the body lines.

[wiedemab]

Originally Posted by parsonsj

It turned ok.
To avoid pulling the tires in to turn means nearly 4 inches difference in ride height -- which has its own problems as well. There's no good answer in a 66-67 Chevy II body without changing the body lines.

Yep -- I've been looking at my Dad's car for the past couple of years as I plan out my '67 build and I can't figure out anything "good" given that damn body line right above the wheel openings.