NEW ARRIVAL-69 NOVA L-78 4 speed with 7,000 miles

[Pantera]

No, stock wheels were not anything of value back then so I only have Crager SS and American and Ansen wheels with a few factory mags thrown in for good measure.

I also have a small fortune in BBS modular and Jongblods with a couple of LOLA real Magnesium wheels thrown in. Real mag wheels are a pain in the ass to take care of. They oxidize easy. But boy are they light. I have a 15" wheel that is 17" wide and only weighs 2.5 lbs.

Here is what it goes on - Rear of course
Not me driving. before I bought the bodywork off this car for mine.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

After seeing the pics of the rear wheel lip area, I would not hesitate a second to pull those 1/4's, tailpanel and outer houses, and put NOS metal on there. Otherwise, you will chasing that rust forever. With NOS metal you never have to worry about the rust coming back. I'd repair the lower sections of the front fenders. Also, check the front leading edge of the hood, Novas are notorious for rusting from the inside out right above the hood lip molding.

I know it has 7k miles, but it's got 35 years of time - that's what's done the damage! Put new metal on that car, a total frame-off resto, and you've got an awesome car when you're done.

Love that color!!

[Pantera]

I hear what you are saying. It is just that is a huge job to change the qtrs. Where do they come apart at the roof line? Is the drip rail part of the roof sail panel? That looks like a hard place to change.

I will look it over and see if it is something I can do. I am one of those guys that likes to do everything on my cars. I was a body man at one time back in the '80's, but most of my experience is Vettes and not metal.

I will just have to figure out how it goes together. changing the tail panel will make it even easier to change the qtr's though.

This will be a labor of love so it can take as long as it takes to finish it as lond as the job looks "right" when it is finished.

I will check the hood too. Thanks for the encouragment.

Now all I have to do is find some NOS body panels.

[bkhpah]

Best of luck with the 68/69 parts. Very hard to find. The car looks as if it is worth the investment to me..BKH

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I'll back that up, definitely worth the investment of time and money to do the car right. Did I say I like that color?

[Pantera]

You know when I first saw the pic of it I didn't like the color at all. Then the more I go out and look at it and open the doors and look at the "new" color that is in there still. It looks almost as good as the day it was painted.

To make a long story short this car is really growing on me. I was planing on just turning it to someone and make a few bucks but now that I am around it the ghost of the deal owner must be influencing me to make it proud once again.

Do you think a set of headers would hurt her? I think it would be neat to have a go at Rob and his Camaro with some street tires on this car.

It already has a Hurst and traction bars and air shocks. What is a little set of headers and a BIG Holley going to hurt? I may even still have a lakewood housing around somewhere.

Is that what you call Day 2?




BTWid I say that I like the color too?

[Pantera]

Thanks guys.

I hope some of the pic's were of use to you. Thanks for the encourgment. Comming from some of you guys on here sure makes me feel a bunch better. That was a lot of money to pay for a car that only cost $3,087 new...!...?????

Dam why didn't I buy one of those back then? Oh yea I remember why? I paid $1,150 for a '61 315hp FI, Black/red Close ratio, 4:56 posi, HD brake, HD supension, 30 gal tank, hardtop only, Dave Morgan backup Corvette. It was missing the injector but I found one for $125. It was quite a screamer back then.

Then got stupid and traded it for a '66 360 hp 396 Chevelle 4 speed. Wish I had that one back...

Here it is back then.

[Nova Research Project]

Pantera;

Take some encouragement from these Dream Car Garage Nova Quarter Replacement pictures It will give you and idea about what it takes to replace and good reasons to do so.

[Schonyenko2]

For what its worth, those new goodmark qtrs are about as correct as you're going to find. They even have the correct telephone reciever stamp in the door jamb area. If you need to have NOS, nevermind. Schonye