Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

No punn intended with this post, but I just wanted to share another Nova with all of the guru's out there. sc69sam asked me to take a look at this car for a friend and here I am documenting the resto! Saving another PA rot box from the crusher. The car was originally Antique white with black bucket interior and a 4spd 350. The trim tag was MIA from the firewall, but I had remnants of the original colors. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Thanks,

Nova Jed

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/345838-hatchback05.JPG

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Firewall
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback02.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback03.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback04.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

More firewall and replacement wiper hole.
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rbullet025.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rbullet026.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

I just wanted to show some proof that I am not re-bodying this car. [image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback33.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback34.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback36.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Some more rot!
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback09.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback14.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback11.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...atchback08.jpg[/image]
If you look closely enough, you can see 35yr old swiss cheese!

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Finally, some good sheetmetal.

[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rbullet028.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rbullet027.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

I do have an album of pictures to check out.

Steve Ford's Nova

I don't want to bore you with the cut and paste pictures. I will post more progress when I get more pictures down loaded. I think this car is gonna prove to me wether or not I am a true body man! LOL Sammy, I hope Steve appreciates it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Man those PA cars sure get rusty. Good luck on the resto job. Keep the pictures coming. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Why? (I hope it has some sort of sentimental value!)

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

[ QUOTE ]
Man those PA cars sure get rusty. Good luck on the resto job. Keep the pictures coming. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a true rust-belt project! ...as long as it needs quarters and fender work also. That's why I cringe when an original rust free car is gutted for a full pro-street/race treatment when there are plenty more like this that mother nature already did some of the work for you. -Looking at it as you have to cut most of the same stuff out anyway...

Neat car, good luck on the body work.

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Looks real good Jedster! Keep the pictures coming. Marlin, you ask WHY....cause those guys Jed is working for are so cheap their butts squeak when they walk! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif Also Jed is the right man for these projects! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

I can appreciate the work and dedication involved and I applaud the effort to save another one from the crusher. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Gotta love another Nova saved - especially a hatchback, they are pretty cool with that camping tent option. Typical rust for the NE.

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Could anyone give me an idea if they ever made SS Hatchbacks? I purposely took pictures of the firewall because I saw what seems to be two S's marked on there.

If I remember correctly from what I have researched, I don't think there were any numbers on SS 73 Hatchbacks. I have found little details that the car did come with a bright trim around the windows and someone "smoothed" them out and I think it was just a Custom Hatchback. There were grinding marks on the sail panels from where the emblems were in the middle of them and the drip moldings were taken off as well.

Again, the trim tag wasn't on the car. Just speculation here. I think that the hardest part of this car is gonna be the 20+hrs that I am gonna spend on getting a donor trunk floor, found one already an hour away, and replacing it. Other then that, I have about 50hrs into it!

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Keep up the good work Jed-I! You are doing it for the little guy in the hobby. I am sure the outcome will be real nice! Steve will have a nice go fast nova to toy around in when finished. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

They indeed made hatchback SS models.

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

http://novaresource.org/gallery3/73joec1.jpg


oh yeah!! you go Jed https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif


http://novaresource.org/gallery3/73alan2.jpg

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Nice work Jed - Looking good!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

[ QUOTE ]
They indeed made hatchback SS models.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok M, where is the info on the numbers??? I know that from 72 on that one of the letters designated wether or not it was an SS, but which one is the Hatchback? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Hey, thanks guys! I think that I found some new motivation with the picutures. They do kinda look cool when they are all done up. Hmmm I wonder if I can talk him into letting me paint in and put the stripes on it if it is in fact as SS.

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

1973 total369,509
SS 35,542
hatchback 91,012
2dr 194,197
4dr 84,300

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif Jed, I couldn't find the "how many SS's were Hatchback's"
but surely one more couldn't hurt https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Thanks Chris. I thought that I couldn't find a number on the SS hatchbacks.

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

I think that it's time to give this project a new name! I'm calling it the "Patch Back" LOL. What a lot of work! The pictures speak for themsleves. [image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova019.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova020.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova021.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova022.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova023.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Some more.
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova025.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova026.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova031.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

. [image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova024.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova027.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova028.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think that it's time to give this project a new name! I'm calling it the "Patch Back" LOL. What a lot of work! The pictures speak for themsleves. [image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova019.jpg[/image]

Jed is that a firewall repair or are smoothing it just cause you have extra time and bondo? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

thanks for posting the updates!

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Well there is one less 1973 Nova SS hatchback in this world as I parted out a factory 350, posi 4 speed car last year that was rusty, but not as rusty as the car being restored above. After seeing this post, I feel bad for parting it out!

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Nope Chris! Steve wants it smoothed out. I have found better "patch backs" in salvage yards. It's cutting time! Get the SAWZALL!

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have found better "patch backs" in salvage yards!

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Lookin real good Jedi-I. Keep up the good work and the pictures! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Matter of fact, I just cut the back half off of one today to replace the swiss cheese trunk! It hurt so bad to cut up a great body! But one car has a title, and the other is toast. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do! Capiche?

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Thanks Sam! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Moving right along with the Nova. [image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova032.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova034.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...rdsNova036.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Here are a couple of pics over the last two months.
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...d/100_0314.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...d/100_0315.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...d/100_0316.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

One more.

[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...d/100_0317.jpg[/image]

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Moving right along Jed-I! I am sure Mr. Ford will be real happy! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

It looks like you have a little more work to do on yours than I did on my 74.
I noticed in the last set of pictures you have not put in the hatchfloor supports. I replaced a little bit less of the hatchfloor in mine and when I was trial fitting the hatch floor I had to section one of the brackets that hold the one floor side panel plates. If you look at some of the pictures in my webshot albums you can see what I had to do.
Looks like you are on your way to getting another hatchback back out on the road. Good luck with your project.

Jim

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Hey Jed-I, Better reinforce everything real good cause that 600 inch BB is going to twist that old nova like a pretzel. Jerry Ehly told me to tell ya! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Hey, Sammy, Steve didn't want to put the hatch floor back in because he wants to put in a cage. I think that should reinforce it a bit!

Re: Steve Ford's 73 Chevy Nova Hatchback
 

Firewall Pics.
[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...d/100_0331.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...d/100_0332.jpg[/image]