75 Nova U/SA
 

I started this build summer of 2014, it is finished but have only done 3 test sessions, results are under the IHRA index and close to NHRA.. Bored with winter and all the pics I took were to big to post, so I am shrinking them down and posting as I get them done. It begins life as a 76 with a 305 that would barely run, metric 200, 7.5 rear end with multi leafs, some rust in the drivers floor (rest was good), lower front fenders(poorly patched), trunk lid and rear window body panel. The Trunk floor was perfect.The radiator support was junk, took forever to find a decent one to restore -no aftermarket available. Tough issue for building a 75 and up nova, very few reproduction parts. The engine will be the 262 V8 rated at 165.


These are a few of the 'before' pics.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Looks good, is it going to see a trip to Florida next month?

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Billy,
Thanks, if I can get a little more testing in and the results are good, yes.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mike,

Let me know how you make out with your testing, did you ever try that other convertor ???

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Fabricated brackets to keep brake rod from falling out and remounting brake bias valve. Mount for fuel cell (one 4 foot piece of box tubing from Lowes cut up, welded, bolts welded in for ease of install. Fabricated mount for accelerator cable(adjustable), original from 305 did not fit. Fuels cell and pump mounted in trunk. Overflow/vent is pipe connectors from Lowes, the underside pipe has holes drilled in it, then wrapped with screen and attached with hose clamps. front frame and underside was cleaned with a pressure washer then painted with rustoleum. Front suspension had new(stock) bushings replaced in upper control arms, new calipers, rotors, brake lines. Fuel cell $25, pump $15 from craigslist.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Test fit and fabrication of alternator relocation mounts, Front and rear bumpers backside and inner mounts/braces were very rusty, wire wheeled them, treated with naval Jelly, painted with rustoleum. A LOT of work but didn't want to be dropping rust all over the track. The rubber bumper ends were coming off, so made aluminum end caps to hold them in place. Finished mounting master cylinder and line lock. NOTE - 75 - 79 nova brake pedal arm for power brakes differs from manual, push rod/clevis hole location is way different, there are NOT 2 different holes like the older Novas. You have to drill a new hole for the pushrod/clevis and make your own rod and clevis unless you can find the stock pieces in a wrecking yard. I found a picture on a Nova website he helped me locate the new hole, modified a rod/clevis kit from Speedway.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mike I have a 262 or a 267 block I would like to sell if anyone is interested?

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Modified a JEGS universal fit drive shaft loop, cut one of the loops down and redrilled holes, shortened the L mounts. Reused the cutoff pieces by tack welding bolts in them so can put these inside the car and can 'one man' mount the loop from the underside. Cleaned/painted the underside of car. The rearend is 8.5 ten bolt with top Moser stuff and 5.14 gear, all new brake parts. Lucked out finding a housing with single leaf pads. Refurbed the used core support, welded patches where needed, sand blasted, naval jelly, rustoleum. The rear mounted with energy suspension pads, spring bushings, and eventually stock spring shackles. Comp engineering adjustable shocks set on 50/50, the comp engineering traction bars are a Craigslist score for $125 complete. Drivers side floor pan patched (I fabricated, took the replacement panel back) rest of the floor good. Also did a test fit on the slicks-a used goodyear radial and a M/T I got in the throwaway pile at Charlotte. No interference anywhere.
Behind the core support is a used Sepanek metric 200 and PTC converter I found on Craigslist for $600 total. Also some weld wheels for $250 total (all four). Not pictured are Goodyear front skinnes for $75, and Hoosier 28x9 bias almost new for $100 from Craigslist.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Cheap automotive carpet from local piece goods shop. Homemade mount for fuseblock from Autozone, feeding water pump, fuel pump, fan, tach. Cheetah shifter (craigslist $75) mounted. Radiator fan mounts from a couple of 2" by 1/8 aluminum strips. Finished underhood. . Had to modify the 75 grille to mount to the 76 mounts. Fayetteville NC warmup before test runs. Making easy passes to check for leaks and parts falling off, all went well but it was a little slow.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Not yet, last test was at Piedmont 1/8 mile, best of 9.32 at 71.80 with a 1.987 60 ft. That was with a new holley blue pump, change from hedman to hooker headers, added 6 " of collector. Waiting for some decent weather do test again, extending collector length to 25".