66 Nova SS Project - Lateral-g Forums

byndbad914 · #1 03-06-2013, 05:27 PM

Cut the rear inners out and chopped the subframe back so I could fit the rear tires in. I also stripped the 914 last weekend so I am going to get plowing forward on this project with some more steam now. Will start fitting suspension next. Here are a couple quick shots with the race wheels and tires that will be on the car roughly fitted and blocked up to actual ride height. I can tip the front tires at -1deg to -1.5deg and keep the bottom out for track width while getting enough clearance from the fender to turn the tires enough to get around a track. Won't be busting U-turns with it unless they are 3 pointers but that doesn't bother me for a hot rod.

I think it will look pretty bitchin' even at the higher ride height. Still need to figure out how I am going to get the rear tires off with the IRS, I will have to make it so it can easily detach limiting straps so it can drop down 4" per side. I will also have to lift the rear as a unit so the sway bar droops. PITA making a car that serves two purposes v. just a track car - I would just get fiberglass rears and Dzus 'em on.

Carbon fiber hood is supposed to show up today from Anvil. They had a 50% off sale on what was left in stock - they had one mixed FRP/carbon trunk which is 18lbs v. the 50lb lump I took off (holy SH!T that is a heavy trunk lid on these) and my mom picked that up. the hood wouldn't fit in her little SUV so it was trucked out here and that is the full carbon version that is also 18 lbs v. the 45lb stocker. I will be painting them (not the type to wear my pants around my hips with my boxers out and bench racing my carbon look) so I didn't want the full carbon hood but it was the only one left. Lemme see, $749 for a new mixed one and 10wk wait or $800 for the full carbon shipped that day... hmmmm

Plan to run my NASCAR dual core double pass radiator and keep it low and slanted as shown in the pic. Keep all the weight as slow as possible. I will need to find a good body guy to make a front spoiler so I can duct air from below the bumper into it as well. The oil coolers will mount low in the front as well. I will just block off the upper part of the stock opening. Maybe I will just cut the core support a bunch and skin it, we will see how motivated I am to do that in the future.

byndbad914 · #2 03-06-2013, 06:20 PM

...and the Anvil hood just showed up a bit ago. I unpacked it with the driver here to inspect it for any damage and he about flipped when he saw the full CF hood. He immediately recognized the car was an old Nova too and his brother had a 914 back in the day so he knew the cars

While I don't have my pants low as mentioned, I did have to drop them completely for a few minutes after mounting it on the car. Don't worry, everything is all cleaned up for the pics

**GregWeld** · #3 03-06-2013, 09:21 PM

One of my all time personal favorite body styles....

This will be interesting because after reading from the beginning -- I ran thru by pea brain and couldn't come up with a single road race Nova (these years) in my memory. Makes you kind of wonder why. I haven't a clue.

byndbad914 · #4 03-06-2013, 10:48 PM

Only Nova I have seen set up for road racing was II Much and I am not sure how much track time that car even saw in the end. Camaros are the more obvious choice given the Trans Am history there. The nose on the Nova will make it a flying brick. They are usually drag raced since they are a light V8 car to start with, I guess I just need to go against the grain

After closing the hood down on the car, I will have to cut the center of it and reshape it - it is completely flat along the back edge and the car has a bit of a roll to it at the cowl, so it doesn't fit right. If someone wanted a raw CF look I am not sure how they would get it with this hood unless they left the fit as is and just lived with it. It is down a full 5/8" so this is going to take some serious rework to fit - I will have to call Anvil tomorrow and see what we can do about it. Half off doesn't do much good if I have to spend $500 with a body guy to cut and bondo it all back together

You can see the corners are at the right, flush height... rather bummed right now.

**Flash68** · #5 03-06-2013, 11:07 PM

Those tires look great tucked under there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by byndbad914

not the type to wear my pants around my hips with my boxers out and bench racing my carbon look

That's awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

One of my all time personal favorite body styles....

This will be interesting because after reading from the beginning -- I ran thru by pea brain and couldn't come up with a single road race Nova (these years) in my memory. Makes you kind of wonder why. I haven't a clue.

Um...

byndbad914 · #6 03-07-2013, 12:07 AM

Perfect shot to point out the issue I was having with the low ride height I originally was shooting for - notice how far in the front tires are on II Much, that is what I am trying like heck to avoid. I saw that car at PRI in Florida something like 7 years ago now and it was at SEMA as well so I looked at it a fair amount and he did some nice work, but I am not a fan of that sucked in front tire look. I would rather raise the body up a bit than to run that setup. Having the track width on the front narrower than the rear is a bad idea for cornering as well.

**GregWeld** · #7 03-07-2013, 07:00 AM

When I said I was trying to come up with a road race Nova.... I was referring to HISTORICALLY -- as in back in the late 60's early 70's... Not just the one PT car build. You know - ala Penske Camaro etc...

gnx7 · #8 08-15-2013, 01:33 PM

This is going to be one bad ass Nova! Great fab work so far.

Are you mid mounting the engine? I wasn't sure on that answer!

Also on post #16 that red flared Mustang is my buddy Filip who owns Cortex Racing. My engine builder did the LS7 in it

It sports a new paint job (still red) but it is truly beeeeeautiful now with steel flares.

byndbad914 · #9 08-15-2013, 04:11 PM

Engine is still front mount with significant setback (I am shooting for 6-7" setback from stock location). Should get the front of the block right inline with the front wheel centerlines, hence technically putting all of the engine weight behind the front wheels. I will then run the transaxle in the back, a C6 Vette bellhousing with aftermarket clutch assy, and a carbon fiber driveshaft to attach the two.

Got the lower control arms from Coleman and a bunch of HD rod ends and high-misalignment spacers from Kartek on order today. The uppers I need to really double-check the measurements tonight and order tomorrow - turns out the uppers have a somewhat limited range of adjustment so need to get out the fine tape measure

**Flash68** · #10 08-15-2013, 05:17 PM

This car is gonna be wicked!