In 1986 I bought my friend's '71 Nova for $600 that he owed his dad. It had a long rough history with us. Out drag racing (on the streets) against anything. 400 small block, M22 Rock crusher, 3.73 position 12 bolt. It was a legend. But I got it after he let his cousin "watch over it" when my friend joined the Army. He came home to a Nova with rear tires shreaded, trans locked between gears, cracked block, and driver's door folded to the fender because I'm guessing when it was broke down on the side of the road a passing car caught it. Anyway I bought it. I was a beginning Body shop tech and had the desire and drive to make it great again. I tore into it and found all the things you said were the "bad points". Rusty rocker panels, 1/4 panels, lower front fenders, and worst off, the car had been "clipped". Front half '71 6 cylinder automatic. Rear half V-8 4 speed possibly SS. I really started asking if it was worth the effort. As I gathered parts for it the story of "My Nova" grew more interesting. Whenever I moved I had to drag it with me. It started out in Ohio and now in Minnesota. I've built many hot rods of my own and many more for customers. I just couldn't let my Nova go. It's still not finished but it's not going anywhere without me finishing it.
I always like the bloopers...we never get it right all the time!!! I'm very lucky with my Nova as all the hard to find parts on mine are great. Buy I'm still looking for a set of front and rear bumper guards with to my knowledge are not reproduced yet. Any one out here have any leads for a guy??? Great one again John.
Prices and dealers are just going to get worse because new cars are so outrageously priced that the working man can't afford them and the average beater that the working man can afford, has so many computers/control modules, that the average guy can't work on it. I would add to your list that one of the best things about these cars is that they are not that complicated to work on. With a few tools and a little knowledge, you can fix everything on these cars. Thanks for the videos.
All very valid points and I'm in total agreement. I would, however, add one more issue to the 'worst' list... The front subframe/unibody construction. The same flaw was engineered into the first gen Camaro. The cowl to front axle length came up nearly two inches short cause they had to push the front subframe too far back to keep the car from sagging at the cowl. This problem was corrected in 1970 1/2 Camaro with an uncomprimising design utilizing a new unibody and extended subframe making the wheelbase 2 inches longer. This made the seventy and a half Z/28 one of the best cars of that era. Great video, thanks for the forum to spend my two cents.
I have a 76 nova 4 door I’m fixing up, I can’t wait to get it on the road. One thing im having a problem with is finding the driver side fender extender. When I got it. It is completely missing
It’s crazy. 3 years ago I paid 7k for my beater 69 but it turned out to be a real deal BB 4sp 375 hp. Original drivetrain long gone but don’t care, now has fresh 383sb Muncie 9in 3:89 gear and hauls ass super fun. Couldn’t replace it for what I got in it. Still has fact. dual exhaust hangers,BB heater core, BB 4sp trans crossmember and BB core support. Happy to own it. Peace guys!
I have 4 of 'em and a great big smile on my face. 2 are factory SS's and 1 is a factory L78 396/375 4 Speed. Got em decades ago dirt cheap at different times in life and never wanted to let them go. I'm a Nova FREAK. My son likes them too and they will one day be his. None are cut up, all are super nice and all run HARD!
there was a 67 nova ss on ebay a couple months ago. was a 327 4 speed car, survivor without original drive train. rough shape and still sold for $30k. paying that much wasn't the problem. paying another 25 or 30k to make it decent was. good video!
Great content been following along for a few months since I started my own 1969 nova ss build. Heard the size of the tires in the rear but what is the ofset and size in the front you put on. Like those rims and tire combo. Any links to the rims? Thanks.
The Nova is to Chevrolet as the Duster is to Plymouth. Both are fairly lightweight, they both are probably the cheapest of each make compared to the other classic cars in today’s market. The Duster, along with the Ford Maverick, are the two classic cars I’m keeping my eyes on. I want to buy one to fix up but finding one much less finding one for a price I can afford, is damn near impossible in Mississippi 🤬
Excuse my ignorance - can you pls let me know which sheet metal from 1st gen f bodies fits 68-72ish novas. Keep up the great vids. Really appreciate it.
I sold a 1973 and removed the A pillar cover from my 72 to make it more appealing to a buyer, so it's gone. Now i had to cut a 4 door one to fill the blank in the 72 while i search for the right one. Argentina made these (called Chevy or Serie 2), so i am going to import one from there.
Im fixin to pick up a coworkers 1974 2 door coupe car. Its a 250 straight six but he has a centerbolt valve cover 350 for it and a new core support plus it already has had the front disc conversion. I already told him i aint payin 8 grand for the thing. Told him id do 1-3 grand..
The best bang for the buck is the 75 - 79 nova's. There cheaper, parts are plentiful, they share chassis and brake parts with 70 - 81 Camaros, engine swaps with headers are simple because of the front steer, for brake upgrades all you do is truck it out, 12" rotors and 11" drums. And last, THEY LOOK MARVELOUS.
I just said the said the same thing..... My daily driver is a 77 Buick Skylark, which is the same car minuses the nose/grille which oddly enough is the same nose as a 74-74 Camaro btw, and taillights but the Nova nose and taillights will literally bolt right on if I ever wanna change them out. I paid $1300 for my Skylark and not only drove it home but drove it while I built it.
I have a 78 hatchback I bought off the original owner 14 years ago. It's never seen winter and it's my daily driver from April to November. You couldn't have a more simpler and easier car repair. All the best. @@TheREALOC1972
My favorite nova’s are 3rd and 4th generation models 3rd generation is 1968-74 even though the front nose and back end of the cars change and 4th generation looks just fine even if it’s a two or four door models
You left out the unibody frame or Half of a frame car as worst , all my other cars are Full Frame and in the 600hp range , But you can buy sub Frame connectors. And once in a blue moon you get a 49 and 1/2 inch hood instead of a 50 inch hood , I got $9500 in mine so far !
Honourable Mention: The B.O.P.s (Apollo, Omega & Ventura)are even lower priced than Novas and can be a source for parts. p.s. Have you put anymore thought into your wife’s idea about the full trailer home?
The 4th Gens are even cheaper than the B.O.P.'s., I daily drive a 77 Skylark (same as the Nova but different nose and taillights) that I paid $1300 for and not only drove it home but I drove it while I built it.
While it's true the 3rd gen Nova's are cheap comparelably the 4th gen Nova's are astomonically cheaper, you can often buy a 4th gen Nova and rebuild it for half the price of a clapped out 3rd gen roller, but your a little off on the why, Yes the classic car dealers did start buying them up but if you have a 69 Nova that is half decent your not asking 15 grand when the Dealers are getting 40 for a totally restored car so now they are asking 25-28 for a car that just needs cleaned up and some TLC, and that goes back to my original comment, You can jump on the ole interwebs and find a daily driver 4th gen Nova for $3500 bucks and not only drive it home but drive it while you build it. I love 3rd gens but I'll probally never build one again simply because the of the cost involved, My current daily driver is 77 Buick Skylark, which is the same thing as a Nova, and I paid $1300 for it and drove it home. Literally everything but the nose/grille and the taillights are the same and if I wanted to I take the buick nose and taillights out and bolt the Nova nose and taillights on it's a direct fit, every other body panel is the exact same, they also share ALOT of the same parts with the 70-81 Camaro, plus there's alot of them around still so used parts are easy to find, and as an added bonus they have aged out of the Smog regulations every but California and certain Liberal cities. Are the 4th gen Nova's as "cool" as the 3rd gens? I'm not even going to pretend they are, but their cool enough and I still have money in my pocket, When I go out I'm going to the Steak house and not ordering off the dollar menu from McDonalds.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
In 1986 I bought my friend's '71 Nova for $600 that he owed his dad. It had a long rough history with us. Out drag racing (on the streets) against anything. 400 small block, M22 Rock crusher, 3.73 position 12 bolt. It was a legend. But I got it after he let his cousin "watch over it" when my friend joined the Army. He came home to a Nova with rear tires shreaded, trans locked between gears, cracked block, and driver's door folded to the fender because I'm guessing when it was broke down on the side of the road a passing car caught it. Anyway I bought it. I was a beginning Body shop tech and had the desire and drive to make it great again. I tore into it and found all the things you said were the "bad points". Rusty rocker panels, 1/4 panels, lower front fenders, and worst off, the car had been "clipped". Front half '71 6 cylinder automatic. Rear half V-8 4 speed possibly SS. I really started asking if it was worth the effort. As I gathered parts for it the story of "My Nova" grew more interesting. Whenever I moved I had to drag it with me. It started out in Ohio and now in Minnesota. I've built many hot rods of my own and many more for customers. I just couldn't let my Nova go. It's still not finished but it's not going anywhere without me finishing it.
I always like the bloopers...we never get it right all the time!!! I'm very lucky with my Nova as all the hard to find parts on mine are great. Buy I'm still looking for a set of front and rear bumper guards with to my knowledge are not reproduced yet. Any one out here have any leads for a guy??? Great one again John.
Prices and dealers are just going to get worse because new cars are so outrageously priced that the working man can't afford them and the average beater that the working man can afford, has so many computers/control modules, that the average guy can't work on it. I would add to your list that one of the best things about these cars is that they are not that complicated to work on. With a few tools and a little knowledge, you can fix everything on these cars. Thanks for the videos.
All very valid points and I'm in total agreement. I would, however, add one more issue to the 'worst' list... The front subframe/unibody construction. The same flaw was engineered into the first gen Camaro. The cowl to front axle length came up nearly two inches short cause they had to push the front subframe too far back to keep the car from sagging at the cowl. This problem was corrected in 1970 1/2 Camaro with an uncomprimising design utilizing a new unibody and extended subframe making the wheelbase 2 inches longer. This made the seventy and a half Z/28 one of the best cars of that era. Great video, thanks for the forum to spend my two cents.
I have a 76 nova 4 door I’m fixing up, I can’t wait to get it on the road. One thing im having a problem with is finding the driver side fender extender. When I got it. It is completely missing
In 1993 i picked u my 70 nova running and driving for 1500 bucks
Yep. That same year I bought the 74 that is now FrankenNova running and driving for $800
Can’t wait to see your 4 door to 2 door conversion! 😊
It’s crazy. 3 years ago I paid 7k for my beater 69 but it turned out to be a real deal BB 4sp 375 hp. Original drivetrain long gone but don’t care, now has fresh 383sb Muncie 9in 3:89 gear and hauls ass super fun. Couldn’t replace it for what I got in it. Still has fact. dual exhaust hangers,BB heater core, BB 4sp trans crossmember and BB core support. Happy to own it. Peace guys!
I have 4 of 'em and a great big smile on my face. 2 are factory SS's and 1 is a factory L78 396/375 4 Speed. Got em decades ago dirt cheap at different times in life and never wanted to let them go. I'm a Nova FREAK. My son likes them too and they will one day be his. None are cut up, all are super nice and all run HARD!
Wow. That’s awesome. I’ve only ever had 2 nice ones.
I couldn't agree more. All very valid points👍
Thank you for all the content!
I'm a camaro guy, but like the old novas also.... very cool channel, keep up the good work.
Thanks!
there was a 67 nova ss on ebay a couple months ago. was a 327 4 speed car, survivor without original drive train. rough shape and still sold for $30k. paying that much wasn't the problem. paying another 25 or 30k to make it decent was. good video!
I need a front window for a 74 four door
Great content been following along for a few months since I started my own 1969 nova ss build. Heard the size of the tires in the rear but what is the ofset and size in the front you put on. Like those rims and tire combo. Any links to the rims? Thanks.
Would you please do a video on how to adjust the door windows?
Damn I love bloopers ! 😂. Totally agree on that list too ! It’s really crazy what they’re worth now ! Especially the fifth betht 😂. Take care John 🍺
Lol.
Love the bloopers.😎👍
So a 275 15 on 8’’ rally wheel will fit?
The Nova is to Chevrolet as the Duster is to Plymouth. Both are fairly lightweight, they both are probably the cheapest of each make compared to the other classic cars in today’s market. The Duster, along with the Ford Maverick, are the two classic cars I’m keeping my eyes on. I want to buy one to fix up but finding one much less finding one for a price I can afford, is damn near impossible in Mississippi 🤬
Excuse my ignorance - can you pls let me know which sheet metal from 1st gen f bodies fits 68-72ish novas. Keep up the great vids. Really appreciate it.
I’ll try to put together a video on it
@@Shop209Didn’t expect that at all! In Australia and have started a restoration on a 69 nova so thank you very much!
Missed your regular videos
Great video man!
first time watching good content I have a 69 in need of passenger side A pillar so far no luck any ideas on where to get one .
How much of the A pillar do you need?
@@Shop209 the lower 8 ins. but would like to replace as much as possible
I’ll see how much of one I have.
@@Shop209 thanks
What is the color name on the rally wheels the silver and the ones on your car
It’s the color they came. I’ll find part number
I sold a 1973 and removed the A pillar cover from my 72 to make it more appealing to a buyer, so it's gone. Now i had to cut a 4 door one to fill the blank in the 72 while i search for the right one. Argentina made these (called Chevy or Serie 2), so i am going to import one from there.
I like your style brother
Thanks. I appreciate that.
Would love to have one of these '68-'72 and put a 292 Six in it with a 4 speed. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have wanted to build a 292 Nova for a long time. Those truck sixes are hard to find.
@@Shop209 , I got a 67 Truck 292 straight 6 cylinder , already has a standard Flywheel on it ,
I also have a 49 and 1/2 inch hood !
Im fixin to pick up a coworkers 1974 2 door coupe car. Its a 250 straight six but he has a centerbolt valve cover 350 for it and a new core support plus it already has had the front disc conversion. I already told him i aint payin 8 grand for the thing. Told him id do 1-3 grand..
@5:30 true for many muscle cars "False Market"
My brother is looking for a radiator support for a 1977 nova hatchback I really don't want to rebuild / fix his
Good points.
The best bang for the buck is the 75 - 79 nova's. There cheaper, parts are plentiful, they share chassis and brake parts with 70 - 81 Camaros, engine swaps with headers are simple because of the front steer, for brake upgrades all you do is truck it out, 12" rotors and 11" drums. And last, THEY LOOK MARVELOUS.
I just said the said the same thing..... My daily driver is a 77 Buick Skylark, which is the same car minuses the nose/grille which oddly enough is the same nose as a 74-74 Camaro btw, and taillights but the Nova nose and taillights will literally bolt right on if I ever wanna change them out. I paid $1300 for my Skylark and not only drove it home but drove it while I built it.
I have a 78 hatchback I bought off the original owner 14 years ago. It's never seen winter and it's my daily driver from April to November. You couldn't have a more simpler and easier car repair. All the best. @@TheREALOC1972
Big Ugly Bumpers. Nuff said.
My favorite nova’s are 3rd and 4th generation models 3rd generation is 1968-74 even though the front nose and back end of the cars change and 4th generation looks just fine even if it’s a two or four door models
Preach✊🏾
i half to agree with you on this one the proof is sitting behind you 😁🤩
Factory seat covers: Which Novas will interchange? 74 2 Door bench, ....Will 71 bench seat covers fit?
Yes. The pattern changed but the bench seats are all the same for 68-74
@Shop209 Thanks for the quick response. If you're NOT "The Man", when it comes to X- bodies,....You've certainly got me fooled!
Light weight is a understatement every time I got over a hundred it fishtailed so bad
i want your car! it's badass!
Thanks!
You left out the unibody frame or Half of a frame car as worst , all my other cars are Full Frame and in the 600hp range ,
But you can buy sub Frame connectors.
And once in a blue moon you get a
49 and 1/2 inch hood instead of a 50 inch hood ,
I got $9500 in mine so far !
Lol. That is true!
There is one more worst thing about those nova is the welded on door hinges i have a 72 with hinges welded
Honourable Mention: The B.O.P.s (Apollo, Omega & Ventura)are even lower priced than Novas and can be a source for parts.
p.s. Have you put anymore thought into your wife’s idea about the full trailer home?
The 4th Gens are even cheaper than the B.O.P.'s., I daily drive a 77 Skylark (same as the Nova but different nose and taillights) that I paid $1300 for and not only drove it home but I drove it while I built it.
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
Not just car's have gone up everything has
worst thing is being a unibody/ no full frame
While it's true the 3rd gen Nova's are cheap comparelably the 4th gen Nova's are astomonically cheaper, you can often buy a 4th gen Nova and rebuild it for half the price of a clapped out 3rd gen roller, but your a little off on the why, Yes the classic car dealers did start buying them up but if you have a 69 Nova that is half decent your not asking 15 grand when the Dealers are getting 40 for a totally restored car so now they are asking 25-28 for a car that just needs cleaned up and some TLC, and that goes back to my original comment, You can jump on the ole interwebs and find a daily driver 4th gen Nova for $3500 bucks and not only drive it home but drive it while you build it. I love 3rd gens but I'll probally never build one again simply because the of the cost involved, My current daily driver is 77 Buick Skylark, which is the same thing as a Nova, and I paid $1300 for it and drove it home. Literally everything but the nose/grille and the taillights are the same and if I wanted to I take the buick nose and taillights out and bolt the Nova nose and taillights on it's a direct fit, every other body panel is the exact same, they also share ALOT of the same parts with the 70-81 Camaro, plus there's alot of them around still so used parts are easy to find, and as an added bonus they have aged out of the Smog regulations every but California and certain Liberal cities. Are the 4th gen Nova's as "cool" as the 3rd gens? I'm not even going to pretend they are, but their cool enough and I still have money in my pocket, When I go out I'm going to the Steak house and not ordering off the dollar menu from McDonalds.
did you just have a senior moment??????
Lol. A little bit
🤓👍
Unibody
😂