Project 66 Nova

Paul Merolla · 12-05-2008, 10:41 AM

Don't see much of this type of post on classracer, but I enjoy seeing them on other boards I frequent, so here goes. Project is a 66 Nova...327/275 stick combo...bought it in '02 out of a barn:

Tore it apart, hung new quarter skins...then made a little room for tires:

Blasted the underside...made subframe connectors...installed rollbar:

That was all by the end of '03. Slacked on the car, got divorced, moved, etc. etc.
Fast forward to this fall...epoxy primed the underside, POR-15 on the floor and trunk, assembled rearend (thanks, Larry!) and as of last night, it's off the rotisserie!!

Bob Gullett · 12-05-2008, 11:44 AM

Looks like you are doing it right. Please post more pictures as the project comes along. Good combination the 327-275 stick but then I'm biased!

Paul Merolla · 12-05-2008, 03:42 PM

Thanks, Bob. Next up is the front subframe - blow it apart, blast it, rebuild it, paint it. I'll keep the pictures coming if there's interest...on the land racing forum, they have an entire subforum called, "Build Diaries". Maybe drag racing's different since it seems like most guys these days just make a phone call and get out the checkbook.

Bud Lefevre · 12-05-2008, 04:38 PM

Please keep the progress photos comming.

55 Chevy · 12-05-2008, 04:40 PM

I,too would like to see you post more pictures of your project. Keeps the interest up in the off-season.

lynn engels · 12-05-2008, 05:36 PM

did you buy the car from dale rice in sd saw the wagon in the back round and it looked familiar, good luck lynn engels

Paul Merolla · 12-05-2008, 05:51 PM

Lynn - Yes, I did...small world, huh? I tried to get him to sell that wagon, but he wasn't having any of it! Said he was going to put it together someday. We had to pull at least 3 cars out of there to get the Nova out. You know Dale?

Ed Carpenter · 12-05-2008, 06:15 PM

Paul great project keep the updates coming. Of course I'm bias with the 327/275 stick combo. Good luck. Ed

Robert Swartz · 12-05-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Merolla

Thanks, Bob. Next up is the front subframe - blow it apart, blast it, rebuild it, paint it. I'll keep the pictures coming if there's interest...on the land racing forum, they have an entire subforum called, "Build Diaries". Maybe drag racing's different since it seems like most guys these days just make a phone call and get out the checkbook.

Nice car. Wish I had the foresite to leave mine stock 30 years ago. Got a feeling the current economy may take care of the "credit" racers. Many of us may have to go back to doing work ourselves. Since you have a couple, am sure you know where to get parts for these cars. There's an outfit down by Louisville, Ky that can get nearly anything. Chevy II's Only. PM me if you don't have information on them.

Robert Swartz

Philip Saran · 12-05-2008, 09:39 PM

Nice car project, congradulations.

I'm mostly a chrysler guy, but if I was to buy a chevy it would have
to be a 66/67 nova stick car.

Thanks again for sharing.

12-05-2008, 10:41 AM	#1
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 596 Likes: 194 Liked 232 Times in 57 Posts	Project 66 Nova Don't see much of this type of post on classracer, but I enjoy seeing them on other boards I frequent, so here goes. Project is a 66 Nova...327/275 stick combo...bought it in '02 out of a barn: Tore it apart, hung new quarter skins...then made a little room for tires: Blasted the underside...made subframe connectors...installed rollbar: That was all by the end of '03. Slacked on the car, got divorced, moved, etc. etc. Fast forward to this fall...epoxy primed the underside, POR-15 on the floor and trunk, assembled rearend (thanks, Larry!) and as of last night, it's off the rotisserie!!

12-05-2008, 11:44 AM	#2
Bob Gullett VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,068 Likes: 41 Liked 407 Times in 91 Posts	Re: Project update Looks like you are doing it right. Please post more pictures as the project comes along. Good combination the 327-275 stick but then I'm biased! __________________ 68 Chevy11 327 F/S

12-05-2008, 03:42 PM	#3
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 596 Likes: 194 Liked 232 Times in 57 Posts	Re: Project update Thanks, Bob. Next up is the front subframe - blow it apart, blast it, rebuild it, paint it. I'll keep the pictures coming if there's interest...on the land racing forum, they have an entire subforum called, "Build Diaries". Maybe drag racing's different since it seems like most guys these days just make a phone call and get out the checkbook.

12-05-2008, 04:38 PM	#4
Bud Lefevre Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 250 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Project update Please keep the progress photos comming. __________________ Bud Lefevre 3075 STK IHRA World Record Holder

12-05-2008, 04:40 PM	#5
55 Chevy Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Calgary,Alberta area Posts: 221 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Project update I,too would like to see you post more pictures of your project. Keeps the interest up in the off-season.

12-05-2008, 05:36 PM	#6
lynn engels Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: watertown s,dak. Posts: 116 Likes: 0 Liked 152 Times in 26 Posts	Re: Project update did you buy the car from dale rice in sd saw the wagon in the back round and it looked familiar, good luck lynn engels

12-05-2008, 05:51 PM	#7
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 596 Likes: 194 Liked 232 Times in 57 Posts	Re: Project update Lynn - Yes, I did...small world, huh? I tried to get him to sell that wagon, but he wasn't having any of it! Said he was going to put it together someday. We had to pull at least 3 cars out of there to get the Nova out. You know Dale?

12-05-2008, 06:15 PM	#8
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,697 Likes: 185 Liked 502 Times in 125 Posts	Re: Project update Paul great project keep the updates coming. Of course I'm bias with the 327/275 stick combo. Good luck. Ed __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

12-05-2008, 09:39 PM	#10
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 719 Likes: 158 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Project update Nice car project, congradulations. I'm mostly a chrysler guy, but if I was to buy a chevy it would have to be a 66/67 nova stick car. Thanks again for sharing. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado