'70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Hey Guys,

Earlier this Summer I purchased a car I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with (has been in quite a few topics / listed for sale over the years)... Tom Wilkinson's old 1970 Reedman Nova SS L78 in largely original condition, which believe it or not made me more interested in this car. I've only done a few things since getting her... I put the original "Reedman" emblem on the rear deck, added the steel wheels and dog dish caps (love the look, especially in the black, saw this on a Dana Nova 396 gold on black steel wheels and has good contrast), added the call out letters back on the fenders, put my old USA #1 plate, and did some mechanical maintenance of course.

With that said, I'm a fan of original cars with patina like this one, but I need some feedback on whether I should LAO &quot;Leave all Original&quot;, or repair some rust spots in the fenders/corners. I should add that the Nova is now on the West Coast, always garaged and I believe the rust shouldn't get any worse, but I could be wrong. My first thought was to fix, but I was advised by someone in the classic car world, that I may hurt the value by correcting the rust, seeing that this is original paint, and in turn also hurt the history and originality factor by painting 10%-20% of her. Another paint and body guy told me to correct immediately to ensure the rust doesn't get worse and will in turn help the value. I know there is a lot of debate on this topic, to restore or leave alone, but I'm a little torn and value your guys' opinion in this matter. Thanks! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...ontsidenew.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...ovabacknew.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...ovanewback.jpg

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

The last pic you could see the rust in the quarters, but it's a sunset pic so it's a little dim. Anyway, I can shoot more pics over but that's what I have for now...
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...enewsunset.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...acksidenew.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...ovasidenew.jpg

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Just for what it's worth.......With the small hub caps the rims should be painted body color......IMHO I would correct the Rust issues

Ken

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Its your do what you like, but when its all shinny and nice most people like to rub them then drive them. Drive the car the way it is. That's what I would do. That car has a lot of stories with the patina the way it is. Correct me if I am wrong Tom Williams but those 2 dents in the drunk lid are from snowmobile skies?

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I would probably leave it since it obtains its original paint.

I agree with Ken.....the rims would look better the same color as the car.

I personally would have a wide/tall tire for the rear and a skinny/tall tire up front.

Either way......it's a cool car.

Kurt

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

My idea's [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smirk.gif[/img] rust will not get any worse as long as the car is in Heaven [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/cool.gif[/img] I would leave as is if not doing a total frame off.
And paint the wheels body color and maybe add redlines.
Drive it allot. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Mike

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

DRIVE IT!!! ... TAZ

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I guess I'm entitled to chime in on this [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

First, the rust will not get any worse, don't worry about it... and since the paint is original, I would leave it alone. As for the wheels, the car came from the factory with Rallyes...the steel wheel/dog dish setup looks great on this car...and contrary to the others, I like the black wheels, but might opt for redline radials or maybe black walls. The look of this car [patina] is very evenly aged...any cosmetic work you attempt will stand out more than the rust...keep it clean, well tuned and drive it like hell.

The driveline in this car is awesome...that motor made over 430hp on the dyno...the CW tranny has the original 6 lug converter and all the hi-perf internals...I did put a new correct GM flex plate on when we put the car together. The 3.55 rear gear/posi are original...and it has the rare F41 rear sway bar. This was a highly optioned car and one of the very last L78 Novas produced [1st week of July]...

If you feel like getting a little crazy...add a set of headers, 4.10 gears, performance tune, maybe old school or 163 hi-rise and then watch out. This car, with some good tires and a few upgrades will run 12 second times all day. Just start in &quot;D&quot; and let the TH400 do all the work [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]

Good luck...let me know if I can help with anything.

Tom Wilkinson [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]

**and yes...those 2 dents in the deck lid are from a snowmobile that went a little too far on the trailer...great piece of trivia.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Please don't do anything to it. It is honest and real. It's cooler now than it will ever be restored.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I have to agree with Tom leave it be. Put some redlines on it and drive it like you stole it.

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Found this pic on Facebook. I would go with the redlines and painted gold wheels. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...27-70_nova.jpg

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Going out of business sale, everything must go:-) Look in the window

Ryan

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

That's Ken Tibors' old L-89 [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img].
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...9&amp;page=all

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

That Nova would look killer with some Day 2 parts and pieces, hmmmmm.....

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

While the rim color should be the same as the car. I remember that most of the time, &quot;back in the day&quot; if you couldn't afford &quot;fancy&quot; rims, you painted what you had black, and sometimes white. And sometimes if you had slots, or something with spokes, you painted the brake hub the same color as the car.
To me, black painted rims would be a correct day 2 application. But it's really how you want it to be.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I'm with the OP. Those wheels look excellent black. The body color wheels make it look like a 4 door, six banger, Grandma's car IMO. Good for a sleeper though I suppose lol... The body color wheels look fine on some cars, but I'd leave the black on his. Fixing the rust would be a tough one for me. I get the &quot;leave it alone&quot; opinions and I love original patinas, but I'd hate to leave that rust. I'm not really sure what I'd do if it were mine. I wouldn't fault someone for going either way.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Paint the rims body color, IMO. Doesn't make it gramma looking. That's a great car!!

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I know the car. If it were me, I would Day-2 it a little mags, t-bars, headers, tach/gauges etc. and in time have it just repainted. NOT restored just repainted. Can't hurt the value in my opinion and the car will show and look much better. I bet that car runs real well.
The original owner that owned my nova had the rims painted black also so that was the poor man's option for wheels back in the day.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...va_shoot_2.jpg
I love the painted wheel, Grandma's car, sleeper look...

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Paul that car is amazing!

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Wow thanks for all the feedback from everyone! She truly is a special car, as Tom mentioned on the thread, probably one of the last L78's ever produced and highly optioned, was special ordered in late summer of '70 with nearly every box checked off the list!

As for the wheels, I like both options, gold or black, perhaps I'll paint these gold some time down the road, but for now the black steelies are staying. I'm attaching the article pic of the Dana L78 Autumn Gold Nova where the idea came from, which was similar optioned, L78, TH400, F41, bench, etc. but later added the steel wheels and stinger hood added. (where I saw this and loved the look). https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...anaarticle.jpg


By the way, apologies Tom for butchering your last name, I tried to go back to correct, but I wasn't able to edit anymore. Anyway, I agree with the consensus of the group at this time to leave her alone and drive her like hell! The snowmobile tow story alone is a good reason to keep everything as is! LOL... And believe you me, she really is a blast to drive! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/youguysrock.gif[/img]

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I would fix the rust. But that said, finding a shop in california that can do rust repair right might be a challenge. The only way i would do it, if the shop can metal work with little to no filler. Also to be able to use laquer and match the color to spot the paint in as small as possible. There are shops that can do this and most people would never know. You need an old school shop that worked on these cars back in the day.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Repaint the whole car. Just no need to do a frame off. No reason to try to blow it in and all that stuff.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I would not start rust repair unless your ready to go the distance. Light rust showing at the rear quarters will usually require replacement of the trunk drop off and the outer wheel house.
If this is the case to do it right the quarters will also have to be replaced.

I would enjoy it as it is.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I remember seeing this car when Tom had it [Guptils or the Valley Tom? I don't remember]

It is a fabulous time warp. But rot holes kinda suck. I'd find the 'right' body guy, Mud the bottoms of the front fender below the body line.

Use 'all metal' and it will never 'pop' And I'd get patch panels for the rear quarters... trim them 1/2 below the bottom rocker panel body line. Glue them on with panel adhesive. 'Right body guy fills the seam blending filler below the body line and paints both sides beneath the body line [for color match] leaving the pinch-weld area of the rockers alone. 'Right' guy will make the repair invisible unless some one is really studying the car. Just don't 'weld' anything or 'blend' any paint, that messes everything up....

Doing it 'Right' means ruining the 'it's only original once ' thing. Then this super cool car just becomes one of the crowd....

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Yeah it's a tough call on what to do here and I value everyone's opinion on this topic, but for me a full restoration was never a question. The originality factor of this car was the biggest selling point to me, more than even being matching numbers, having the original docs, etc.

Going back to my original question was whether to take care of the obvious rust or not, which I should add isn't really all that bad, or seemingly isn't getting worse. I definitely DO NOT want to ruin the &quot;it's only original once thing&quot;, so I'll probably hold off for now and will just continue to drive her! Thanks again everyone, really appreciate the advice! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Wasn't the motor rebuilt and the interior redone already? If I remember correctly some things have been redone?

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

You are correct, the drivetrain was rebuilt at some point, was rebuilt to spec and is original to the car. I wish the interior was original like the exterior, but the seats were recovered years back only out of need. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Then doing a paint job would only enhance that car in my opinion. NO restoration, just a good repaint.
I would talk to Ken Maisano if I were you.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Then doing a paint job would only enhance that car in my opinion. NO restoration, just a good repaint.
I would talk to Ken Maisano if I were you. </div></div>

Good point, never really thought of fully painting her. Something to consider, will think it through, thank you.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I would consider it. Making a good car great!

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YenkoSFC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Then doing a paint job would only enhance that car in my opinion. NO restoration, just a good repaint.
I would talk to Ken Maisano if I were you. </div></div>

Good point, never really thought of fully painting her. Something to consider, will think it through, thank you. </div></div>

I am enjoying all this discussion about my old Nova...and happy to see someone else is now the caretaker. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Regarding the rust issues and the question of a re-paint.

First I had this car for almost 10 years...the rust never got any worse...and, I'm in New York!...second, a full repaint will not do the job, you can't have new paint against 45 year old trim, bumpers, glass, moldings, etc...the first thing I learned about restorations from Wayne Bushey was the importance of &quot;contrast&quot;. The car currently has an evenly aged appearance...new paint will lead to a full restoration, because the car will no longer have the correct &quot;contrast&quot;. So, unless you are prepared to do the &quot;full Monte&quot;...leave it alone [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/scholar.gif[/img]

If a resto were considered, please don't hang new quarters...the car does not need them! A quality metal repair using good material and expertise will do the job...no need to for quarters.

I added a repro carpet and recovered the seats with material that came with the car....no other work was done to the inside. **the correct interior for this car is a deluxe cloth bench...only problem, they don't repro that, so you need to get creative.

The engine was done by Jack Boyd {same guy that did Barry's L79 motor}...he does great work!

wilma

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Drive it and have fun! I wouldn't paint it. It's original paint once!

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Correct Tom! New paint, new bumpers,trim and emblems would really make that car look good. Pretty much all stuff available and fairly reasonable.
If there were no rust issues or dents I would not repaint it either.
Being the motor was rebuilt and some interior work was done, you can't really hurt it IMO.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Correct Tom! New paint, new bumpers,trim and emblems would really make that car look good. Pretty much all stuff available and fairly reasonable.
If there were no rust issues or dents I would not repaint it either.
Being the motor was rebuilt and some interior work was done, you can't really hurt it IMO. </div></div>

Sammy...maybe you misunderstood me...I'm suggesting not to paint the car...once you start with the cosmetics it is very difficult to stop. Each area you work on leads to the next...how can you have nice paint and not have it look pretty under the hood...and then of course the undercarriage will not be up to par...and so on and so forth. Best bet...leave it as is.

wilma

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

I would still do paint, chrome and emblems and some Day 2 stuff to it.
If you take your time you can do a real nice &quot;rattle can&quot; detail under the hood, wheel wells, frame etc. Car will present it self very well and will also really run good.
Would never do a frame off, just a good clean up if you know what I mean.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Depending where you are in California rust does not sleep. I have bought many rust free cars and in six months they would start to get rust bubbles while sitting in my garage. What is worse is that there is almost nobody in this state that knows how to fix rust the right way and if you can find somebody it is going to cost you dearly. Treat the rust the best you can until you can not stand it anymore then talk to Ken Tibor on who did his 70 Nova and ship the Nova back to them for the paint and body work. I would not be shocked if a body shop out here in California told you $20k plus to do your car to driver level. I put red line G/70/14 on the back and E/70/14 on the front on the original body colored XT wheels and I really like the look on my brown 69 SS Nova. The original springs had settled a little and the rear end is now level with the taller rear tire and the rear fender is fuller.

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Beautiful, Mark!

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Look awesome mark!

Re: '70 Nova SS L78 Resto Question...
 

Just to give more ideas of different wheels. The five spokes were American 14x7 with 14&quot; radial red lines. I need to take pictures of the brown Nova.