My 1971 Chevrolet Nova

Finally after about 3 or 4 months of putting it off I have got my car pics on my site. So, here it is. My car is a 1971 Chevy Nova with a high performance 350 V8. It is the original motor with a few add-ons to bump it up into high performance. Some of the add-ons include: after-market MSD Ignition, Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock RPM Performer high-lift CAM, and a high-flow mechanical fuel pump. All of these were put on by the original owner. He also put on a pair of Flowmaster's and a set of Hooker headers. The kid and his father painted it themselves and to be honest.... they did a crappy job. It's too thick and its not real smooth. When they did it they painted the trunk shut. I know this because the trunk cushion were stuck to the trunk lid instead of being on the bottom where they are supposed to be. They didn't even paint the engine compartment either so the car is black but when you pop the hood open its red primer.

The car is mostly original as far as the engine, interior and the body. The only change in the interior is that they painted the metal dash black. Originally, the car was red with a black interior and the metal dash was also red. Other changes were the addition of a Hurst shifter for the three-speed manual, and the addition of a manual choke which was placed in when the 4-bbl was put on.

When I was 12 or 13 I absolutely despised Nova's. My dad was obcessed with them but I thought they were ugly. Luckily my tastes changed and so when it was time for my first car we went looking for a Nova. I based my idea for a Nova on three things: 1) I wanted it to be black, 2) I wanted Cragar SS wheels, and 3) I wanted it to be between a 1969 and a 1972 Nova. Back then I didn't like anything older than '72 (that's changed too).

The first Nova we went to look at was a blue '72 in Logansport. We drove all the way up there to see a car that was too overpriced for the conditon it was in. It also had a shift kit in it that neither dad or I liked. A funny story on the way up there, though. We were going through a litle town called Burlington when we passed a house with an ugly brown '74 Nova in the yard. To make a long story short we bought it on the way back for a total of $75. Pretty good considering it ran (See picture below)

The next car we looked at was a '70 SS. Here's a REAL good tip when shopping for a car. Do NOT go and look at a car that reads the following in the ad: Will trade for guns and cash. We drove clear up to Peru, IN to look at this thing. The guy was drunker than you know what. He kept saying that it had been a real nice car when he had bought it. BIG surprise considering it looked like crap. Not only that but it wouldn't even start! The guy said he'd run from the police in it a few times and gotten away. He even had specialty plates that read WANTED. Whoa! He had definitely tipped back one too many. The next thing that happened with that Nova was that I got in it and it locked me in! That was one wasted trip.

By now I'm about ready to give up on finding a decent Nova for my first car. So the next vehicle we looked at was a 1965 Corvair. We looked at it several times and it needed some brake work but we were close to buying it. Dad talked me into looking at one more Nova. We drove to the Southside of Indianapolis to look at it. Oh man it was perfect! We went over the whole car, took it for a test drive and discussed a deal. We got the guy to knock off $50 for each tire since they were so bald. So that's how I got my first car.

Some future plans are to redo the bodywork because the kid I got it from used Bondo which bubbled and it had a few new bad places in the rear fenders. I would like to put in a set of Chevelle low-back seats in the front and 1971 Chevelle air shocks in the rear. It currently has air shocks but they don't let it sit very high because it has oversize springs in the front. I would like to paint it with the '70 SS paint package, Sunflower Yellow with Black racing stripes. I'm getting the Cragar's rechromed, along with a set of Mickey Thompson valve covers and a set of hood louvres to put on.

Update: Early June 2000

Guess what, my engine is out of service for the moment. It's got a rod knocking so it' going to have to be torn down and rebuilt almost completely. So out came the 307 from the '74 and it's going into my car for the moment. I got lucky because the 307 was about to go into my Buick Regency derby car for the summer. So we won't be hot rodding for quite awhile because the 307 isn't in as god a shape as the 350 was and it's only a 2-bbl carb. Tough luck but look out when I get the 350 back! I'll be cruisin' eventually.

Update (again!):

Well, good news and bad news. The good news is that the 350 rebuild will be started this weekend. The bad news is that the 307 will have to be ripped out again and I still don't have a car. Reason being that the 307 has all the symptoms leading us to believe it has a cracked head. It runs fine when you start it up, but the hotter it gets the more it smokes. I mean it sssmmmoookkkeeeessss!!! White smoke pours out of the exhaust like a five alarm fire. So, the 307 comes out and we begin on the 350. Hopefully the 350 can be done by the 16th of June when I have my senior pictures taken. The problem is that I bought the "Hot Wheels" package from Personal Touch Studios. This package is basically pictures of you and your wheels. So by the grace of God and the masterfull hands of Jerry Suite, my mechanic, the car will be done in just under seven days. If not, then I will have to reschedule my pictures until a later date.

This whole engine problem has been a blessing in disguise. It allows me too have my chrome valve covers put on and it gets a semi major project out of the way so that my car will be fresh for the car show/cruise-in season. I hope to see y'all out and around in YOUR classic car!

Update (last one I promise!):

Well, I finally got my car back on July 2nd just in time for the family Fourth of July Celebration. The new engine is so much better. It has a meaner rumble and man does it haul! I like the new orange and chrome look. I think the new valve covers along with the previous air cleaner touch off the engine just right. There is just enough chrome on this new engine.

Update (so I lied):

I have started the long process of fixing up my car. As of right now I have the headliner ripped out, the package shelf out, and the rear muffs out. I am waiting for a friend of the family to come and replace the headliner and all the other stuff. I just got it back from the muffler shop with all new tailpipes and the two new Warlock mufflers. The first thing I did when I got it back was remove the restrictor plates for straight through flow from the headers. It makes it sound awesome! I got all that done for abot $100. My Graduation present will be the replacement of the rear quarters. After that I will replace the driver side front fender and then Jerry and I will primer and paint it. Its going to be yellow with black SS stripes. Im hoping it will be done by the time Nova Nationals rolls around.

Update: late April 2001 (you knew it was coming!)

Well, I'm finally getting the Nova finished. At least the bodywork will be done. Most of the interior is done already, minus a few detail items for my pleasure. I did add a new CD Player and two 6x9's. I placed the speakers in the rear seat instead of the package shelf because I decided I liked the look of the shelf better without cutting holes in it. Also this way I can disconnect the speakers when I have more than three people riding or when I am going to a cruise-in or car show. Although, they do help on those long trips to Indianapolis or up to my friend Brad's house.

As for the bodywork, my wonderful mom is going to pay for it, or at least help me pay for it. I got an estimate of about $4000 dollars from Miller's Body Shop in Frankfort, which is owned by a friend of mine. The estimate includes:

Replacing both rear quarters and inner wheel wells

Replacing the driver side front fender

Stripping the black paint and DA the whole thing

Painting my car with its new sunflower yellow and black racing stripes scheme

Well, in case anyone is interesed, I'm gonna mention my future plans after graduation. The Nova and I are moving to Lima, Ohio (A new city with new streets to tear up!). Im also taking along, THE BEAST, my 1986 Chevy Caprice (see THE BEAST page). I will be attending the University of Northwestern Ohio for three years. I will be getting an Associates degree in High Performance Motorsports Technology. If any of you out there are Popular Hot Rodding subscribers you may remember the article they did on the school back in the early 90's. Check out the school by clickin on the link on my Cool Links page. Also check out the Limaland site (also under Cool Links). Limaland is the dirt oval track owned and operated by this college. Pretty cool huh!

STOLEN!!!!!!!!!