1967 Chevy II Nova

Bought this project car in 2012 from a guy in Delaware. No engine, transmission, interior or rear. What was I thinking? Well, the body is pretty much ready for paint! It has new quarters and the doors/trunk/roof and floors are rust-free and straight. Fenders are in bad shape and i'll most likely have to buy new ones or have them repaired. Came with a 4" cowl hood and a 12-bolt housing. Picked up a posi unit with 3.08 gears and bought a set of aftermarket Moser axles. Also scored a complete 4-link suspension for cheap. It's mocked up and everything fits nicely.

My plan for this car is to build a LS turbo car. I picked up a 5.3L LS motor for it for $450. To keep things inexpensive, I'll mate it with a TH400 and use a Megasquirt ECU.

Update Spring 2020

Made a lot of progress on the car since the last posting... Mini tubs are done and the wheels fit perfectly. Made a new bracket for the shifter and installed it. Installed the Wilwood master cylinder, the steering wheel and the steering linkage.

Update 9/7/2018

  1. Picked up a set of 4 early 2009-2013 Camaro steel rims with good tires for $150. 18x7.5 rims 5.5 in backspacing, 245-55-18 tires

  2. Cut out the rear passenger wheel wells for a mini tub and test fit the wheel and it fits perfectly! pics below

  3. The fronts might have a little much backspacing - the tires hit the Heidts front subframe when i turn all the way. I might have to have these front rims narrowed.

Update 6/1/2018

  1. Built the short block (new cam, ARP rod bolts) and installed the engine and tranny in the car.

  2. Cut 1 coil from the M2 springs and everything came together easy. Once it settles I'll know whether to replace these 350-lb spring with lighter ones.

Update 5/1/2018

  1. 5.3 is in great condition. All main/rod bearing surfaces are mint and only required a polish. Installed new cam bearing. Bottom end of the 5.3 built

  2. Not happy with the install of the M2 front-end. Issue is difficulty compressing the spring. See pictures below.

Update 2/12/2018:

  1. Mustang II suspension installed.

  2. Dropped engine to machine shop to see if the block is OK

  3. Mocked up the plates to mount the master cylinder to the firewall and started to modify the brake pedal assembly.

Update 1/5/2018:

Slow but sure progress on the car over the last year.

  1. Bought a Mustang II tubular front-end kit. Had suspension parts powder coated

  2. Installed disc brakes on rear and painted all rear end suspension

  3. Disassembled the 5.3 and learned that one of the cam bearings was shot. Took the engine apart to drop off at machine shop to check all tolerances and install new bearings if the block checks out.

Update 4/10/2016:

  1. Had the TH400 rebuilt

  2. Bought a 10" converter with 2800 RPM stall and anti-ballooning plates

  3. removed the stock front clip and plan on replacing with Mustang II front end

  4. Rear and 4-link painted and re-installed in car

Mock up of the 5.3 in the engine bay. LSx adapter plates fit perfect

Heidt's 4-link mocked up

Started assembling the Mustang 2 kit

Gaping the rings for the 5.3

Struggling with installing the M2 front-end; issue is that can't compress the springs enough to install the shocks which keeps the spring assembly in place. Solution was to cut 1 coil out.

Short block assembly and all engine/trans installed.

Cut right rear wells and test fit the wheel . Looks good and great clearance. 4 link, 12 bolt, front/rear disc brakes

Car sits on all 4 tires now. 18s look pretty good!

Finished the mini tubs, installed the shifter and cleaned up all the grime off the rear seat. Car now rolls on it's own again! Took some pics with it outside to see the stance.