My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

If this post isn't appropriate, please delete....

This is my personal fun car; a 1970 Nova that I'm building as a sleeper. I've had a bunch of Novas over the years and this is my favourite. There's nothing here that's earth shattering, but you might find it interesting. Instead of documenting the build with photos, I've decided to video it and store on YouTube under "Lone Wolf Hot Rods" (my Shilo Shepherd Teddy is the Lone Wolf, but that's another story). Anyway, here are a few videos you might find interesting on the build. The first one is an introduction to the project:

https://youtu.be/yHv1a06rgxw

The next video is an update on the car. It just shows what I've done over the last few weeks.

https://youtu.be/LEG7I-MOwio

And finally, this video is on a cheap ($26) ball joint tool from Howe Racing. I don't have a $$$ dog in the fight (don't even know the folks at Howe Racing), but man, after beating up on pickle forks with a huge-X- large blacksmith hammer trying split them cleanly or making some all-thread work, this thing is amazing (watch it pop the ball joint out of the spindle...Yikes!):

https://youtu.be/8CwcqJEqpfE

Thanks for the space Class Racer!

Wayne

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

What a sweet 6 Nova, I'd drive it just like that myself.

I'll follow along on your build journey Wayne.

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

You wouldn't have wanted to drive it far...L-O-L. The thing was pathetic from a performance perspective. Of course, when I tore it apart I discovered the brakes were dragging. I never drove it far or very fast (took a long, long time to get up to "warp speed".... :)). Appears someone in the past used general purpose grease when they repacked the wheel bearings, amongst (numerous) other things. But boy, the body -- top and bottom, paint, interior, trunk and engine compartment are really nice!

WS

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Thank you Wayne Scarba for posting this great build, this can be useful for anyone looking at building a great safe car. Since 1968 to 72 Nova have gone through the roof, I'm looking more at the 74 to 79 model, even thinking of the four door, I've owned a COPO Nova (Police package (all Police cars from California were COPO's) a great car and though with it's F41 suspension package with big Impala brakes.Wayne Scarba if some of you don't know him is one of the elite automotive writer in the business.Thank you Wayne. Claude Ruel.

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Your way too kind Claude! If I was looking for another, I'd be all over Craigslist. FYI, "searchtempest.com" does a lot of the footwork for ya!

Thanks again...

Wayne Scraba

What A Mess! :)
 

What a Mess! This week I'm cutting, bending and flaring front stainless brake lines. I'll include a video of my progress later this week (or maybe next....L-O-L). Here's a preview, which happens to showcase the level of my plumbing chaos:

http://i.imgur.com/B1IlIjdh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/UnqfwzJh.jpg

The Earl's Pro Flaring Tool absolutely Rocks!

http://i.imgur.com/QoxNCjGh.jpg

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

My plumbing mess is finally cleaned up....L-O-L. Here's a quick look at the finished stainless hard line. If you follow the video to the end, you'll get a look and a description of the tools I use along with a few tips I've picked after working with stainless lines for the past couple of decades. You might find it interesting! Thanks for watching!

https://youtu.be/_9dibgkmPoU

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Here's a new update on the Slo Poke Nova build. This is part 4 of the build and if you watch to the end, you'll see a couple of the surprises I found in the car🤣. These were some of the milder examples....L-O-L. Fortunately, all thus far have been mechanical mistakes by someone in the past. Anyway, check it out....and hey, Please Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Costs nothing and it won't plug your mailbox with spam either!
😄
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngqqkQz8PDk

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Just subscribed to your videos. Great videos,very informative. You work is very,very nice. Look forward in following your progress. Best of luck.
Jimmy

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Thanks Jimmy! I really appreciate the compliment. I'm on a tight budget, so I have to go slow... :)

Custom Mark Williams 12-bolt
 

For the Nova "sleeper" build, I'm using a pretty cool custom built 12-bolt from Mark Williams. It's a super neat piece with 35 spline axles, a 35-spline Detroit Locker, a custom DTS case, moly axle tubes, unit bearings and more. It also looks pretty close to stock (perfect for my sleepy little Nova application). This is part one. I'll follow up with part two (axles) next week. Hope you dig it and thanks for watching! Please subscribe! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9elyTSxkUOM

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Do yourself a favor and save up for gun drilled axles, they are worth it. Also, if you're going to put an exhaust system under the car, get electric cut outs. I have both on my car and it's fun to race with.

Casey Miles
248H E/S

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

I've used gun drilled axles before (first set was in 1996), but this car will see street use so its conventional axles for this go-around. :)

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

If you're going to put on an exhaust system, on my 1969 Camaro Z/28 I have a 2.5 inch flowmasters with electric cut outs. The car will run only .15 to .18 slower through the mufflers rather than open headers and they are pretty quiet. Just a recommendation from experience. What I do is run the car with open cutouts, qualify with that number, make a pass with mufflers and dial the car through the mufflers.

Casey Miles
E/S

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Thats good info. Thanks Casey! :)

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Here's an update on my Nova Build. This is actually part 2 of the rear end video. This one discusses axles. You might find the tech interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4ycRE6cMXM

Garage Hacks
 

While working in the shop (and in this case, on my sleepy little Nova project) I regularly stumble into "problems". So I have to come up with "solutions"....L-O-L. And some of those solutions turn out to be good old-fashioned garage hacks. I compiled six of them in video format that actually worked pretty well. They're certainly not fancy and they're sure not expensive. Check 'em out (click to view):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHzucFysaSQ

Update on my Nova Build
 

Here's an update on my Nova build. If you dig it, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. I need all of the help I can get...L-O-L. And thanks for watching! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf3fKT_N0Rw

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Garage Hacks #2 is "Live" - Up and Running. 😄 There should be something here you can use -- check it out! I had fun making it. 😜. Next time around, I'll post an update on the Slo Poke. It's rolling right along!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-5vbrd6LmA

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Here's Part Six of my Nova Build. And hey, please subscribe! That's what keeps me motivated! :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyjmDPJzfN4

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

I'll have another update coming soon (rear suspension and brakes), but work has gotten in the way. I do have another new video and I think some of you will dig it. It's how I pressure test AN hose (it's easy-peasy!):;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HWJ8VbRDEA

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Here's an update on my Nova project. This time around, it's about the rear suspension. The concept here is to try to make it work on the street without any visible traction bars. Check it out....and please subscribe. Costs nothing. There's zero harassment and subscribers are what makes my YouTube Channel work! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMtiyXPxi8c

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Small update on my Nova project. I finally (Finally!) have the back wheels and tires installed. It took what seemed like forever to have the back wheels built in California.....and then painted to match (locally) They're 15X8's with a 5.25-inch backspace. Tires are M&H Racemaster P275-60R15 drag radials. And it all fits....L-O-L! It will likely settle down another 1/2-inch or so on the back. The front end height is adjustable (coil overs), but I'll have to wait to set it up until the engine, transmission and other bits are installed. I have a few more little things to do (for example, waiting on my hood hinges, catch and latch to come back from phosphate plate work). Fuel system is done too. I can show some pix down the road (they're being used in an article series so I have to wait to share them). But the roller is pretty much done (!!!) and I can concentrate on the fat block. Interesting of course, is the fact that as soon as I posted this elsewhere some peeps have already tried to nudge me into selling it (they didn't bring enough dough...and I'd need a lot to cover the cost$ (Hey...don't tell my wife!).....:):)....Here's a few photos:

https://i.imgur.com/59jrB6Nh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/9GenimRh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0MGBkYIh.jpg

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Nice Car...very clean !!
Love the Youtube videos

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Really enjoying watching your build. Learning a few things. Would be nice to have you as a neighbor, LOL.. I'm in the process of going through a 68 Camaro, front to back, inside out. Not going to be show quality, just a bracket racer. Your videos are giving me some clues as to what I can do better and also reinforcing some of my own better ideas. Looking you up on youtube now.

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Look up Lone Wolf Hot Rods on YouTube

And thanks for the comps!

Wayne

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Looks great

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Whats your performance goals with build?

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Don't have one. Hope it peels out real good...L-O-L

Wayne

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

I just completed an update on my old Nova street car. The rolling chassis is pretty much done now:

https://youtu.be/f2Ob3ww286A

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Thank you Wayne for one of the best youtube channels out there, hope you don't mind if I've forwarded it to my Bracket Racing Facebook post. Thanks again and I look forward to your next project. How about a vehicle that can be competitive in stock and a fantastic bracket racer. Dan Fletcher just proved it with his wife's former grocery getter.A car that Billy Nees has talked in the past, a real Dime Rocket on a real budget.Claude.

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

You're welcome Claude. I try my best on the YouTube videos, but unfortunately, I still split my time with Racing Junk and Summit Racing (along with a few others). As a result, I can't devote enough time to the channel to make it really rock.

As far as my next project, my Nova is still here. It was a really expensive build. Acquiring a 13,000 original mile car like this one wasn't...uh...exactly cheap. I used a ton of premium parts and the cost was high there too, so I need big dollars for the roller. It may take awhile to sell and if it doesn't, I'm perfectly comfortable keeping it in my garage.

As far as a constructing a dime rocket is concerned....While I truly respect the folks that make them fly, they're not my bag. I have no interest in building one.

Again, thanks for the compliments Claude!

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Car is still for sale but still not on sale (and I might not sell it...the thing is quite content in my garage <g>), so I'm still plunking away :)

I finished up the clutch linkage a few weeks ago and completed a video on it. The modified linkage isn't needed so much to compensate for bending linkage (like the old days...who can forget when everything would bend, crack and break including the firewall??? L-O-L). Instead, it's more about fixing ovaled holes, worn pins and ensuring everything operates smoothly without hiccups.

Check it out:

https://youtu.be/47CZivX1kiM

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

Very good video. Do you know what the pedal ratio is on your clutch linkage?

Thank you.

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

No I do not. Never measured it. Links are the same length as stock (First Gen Camaro/1968-74 Nova) and it bolts in the same location on the pedal.

And thank you for the comps on the video. I appreciate it.

Wayne

Re: My 1970 Slow Poke Nova Build
 

I haven't been working much on the Nova until recently. I was going to sell it to help finance a property purchase, but that fell through (and I'm actually kind of happy because I really like the car and I also like the acreage I live in now).

One thing that really (Really!) bugged me was the setup I had on the front end. I wanted to use an aftermarket a-arm setup to gain a bunch of caster in the car (amongst other things). Previously I've used thin wall chrome moly a-arms, but they always made me nervous on a street-strip car. As a result, I went with Detroit Speed components on this Nova. They're very nice pieces. Unfortunately, the mix of hardware I had just didn't work. In order to use unmodified Detroit Speed lowers in conjunction with AFCO double adjustable shocks I had to use one of those tapered coil over springs. To make it all work, Detroit Speed suggested I set the spring on the coil over seat and stuff it up in the car. Then I was supposed to position the lower a-arm up over the shock and fasten it from the bottom. Well that turned into a real Gong Show. Here's what it looked like assembled:

http://i.imgur.com/EHYOUcNl.jpg

Because of the design the front end really didn't have great travel. This is what the spring looks like out of the car:

http://i.imgur.com/BqKswZ3l.jpg

So I ripped it apart again (story of my life..."no job is worth doing unless you do it twice"...L-O-L). I ground out the centre of the lower a-arms and fit a set of the AFCO shock weld rings. Here's a before photo:

http://i.imgur.com/8PNaYgll.jpg

Once I fit the weld rings, I had a local shop (Fisher Fabrication) weld them up (Thanks Kory you did a great job!):

http://i.imgur.com/3KZl2qQl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fdcM6Uml.jpg


Springs were next. I called Rineharts Performance (https://rinehartsperformance.com) and Marty helped me out with spring selection. As many of you know, they're a full service Santhuff dealer and Santhuff happens to offer a wide range of springs applicable to cars like mine (and yours too!). I'm waiting for the springs to arrive and then I'll button the front end back up. Marty also advised me that if I need the shocks re-valved, they can help by converting them internally to Santhuff pieces. Very interesting and definitely food for thought. We'll see how it works down the road.

Additionally, I mocked up the engine in the car. I'll show some of that down the road, but I sure did find out a lot of things (good and bad...L-O-L!).