My '65 Nova

[novadude]

I've owned this car since 1986 (before I was even old enough to drive). Factory 230, PG, Ermine white on red. Current configuration is a mid-60s "day 2" theme, though I am not particular enough to run all period-correct parts. Just going for the vibe.

Engine: 1969 350 L65 Block, Vortec heads, Hydraulic Roller Cam, 9.6:1 CR, Q-jet, Dougs Tri-y headers, GMPP roller rockers, GMPP Intake, etc, etc.

Trans: M20 - GM gears in an autogear supercase (with iron midplate and autogear tail). Hurst Comp Plus shifter, Centerforce II clutch

Rear: 8.2" 10-bolt, Eaton Posi

Other: 69-72 Chevelle front discs, stock rebuild Nova front suspension, Global west multi-leaf rear springs

[mockingbird812]

That is clean and clean. Great to hear you have had it all of these years!

[markinnaples]

Wow, nice Nova.

[Damien]

Really neat cruiser. Nicely done. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[novadude]

Thanks, guys. The car looks a little better in pictures than in person. Body and Paint was done when I was 16 yrs old and still learning. The car had a lot of little dents and dings, and I really didn't know what I was doing with block sanding when I was that age. It's a little wavy and has a cheap home garage enamel paint job. Everything else has been through several iterations (230 I6 to 283 to 327 to current 355, etc, etc), but it's still wearing paint from 1988. One of these days I'd like to do it right, but I really hate to pull it off the road, as I am having too much fun with it as-is.

[SS427]

Sweat ride for sure and what a sleeper. I bet it stops WAY better than the 63 Chevy II I have here!

[novadude]

It stops really well with the factory Chevelle discs up front and stock 9.5&quot; drums in the rear, I had it on a scale, and it weighs 3080 lb w/ a 1/4 tank of gas, so much lighter than a stock 69-72 Chevelle.

It's a bit of a sleeper. Small 14&quot; whitewall radials are no match for the drivetrain. Nail it from a 20 mph roll in first, and it will keep them spinning and squealing all the way through 2nd. With 3.36 gears, that's like 60 mph before they actually bite. Lots of fun. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

[Day2_69Z]

John, keep it on the road......at least you're one of a few with a 30 year old 'driver'

Build another car you've always wanted.
I know you have at least a short list.....

There's nothing like Red interior in a White car.! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/[/img]

[novadude]

Funny story about this car... Tom - you will appreciate this, being familiar with the area.

Back around 1990, I took it to a small car show at Batey Chevrolet in Carnegie, PA. I had some &quot;before&quot; pictures displayed. When I got the car, someone has added '64 style Nova emblems to the front fenders. These showed in the &quot;before' pics. A salesman that worked there came up to me very excited, and said &quot;That's my old car!&quot;. I thought... &quot;yeah, sure&quot;. He ran into his office and came out with several pictures that showed those front fender emblems and other tell-tale signs that this actually WAS the car he owned.

Story is that his Grandfather bought it new at Bill Heard Chevrolet in Columbus, GA. It got passed to his sister, and then to Stan (salesman). Stan ended up going to college in Grove City in the early 1980s, which is how the car came to Western PA. Stan drove it all through college, and then left it parked at his mothers house in Elizabeth, PA. He planned to eventually restore it or do something with it someday. His mother ended up selling the car to someone in the neighborhood that kept asking about it. It suffered some minor collision damage in the hands of this owner, as it had a willow green hood on it when I got it.

I actually found it in Lincoln Place. I was over my Dad's friends house and we were working on his '66 Impala in the back yard. This car came driving down the alley to visit a neighbor. Walked over to look at it, and it turns out the driver was a used car dealer who just took it in on trade. As far as he was concerned, it was just a junky old white car with a green hood. For $375 (1986 money), we drove it home (actually, my Dad did - I was 14). [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

The initial $375 investment was my graduation present from high school. The deal was that I would fund any restoration work with money earned from an after school job. If I did well in school, they would give me the car when I graduated. Being on a LOW high-school kid budget, the body and paint is pretty bad, but the car still presents well from a distance. The Engine, undercarriage, and interior look a lot better than the body! LOL

I honestly think I might just leave it as is. There is something nice about a car you can drive without sweating every rock chip, etc.

[John Brown]

I do so love the simple look of chrome rims.....