This is the second video I’ve watched of yours and I can’t explain how informational you are with everything. You’re not just naming off different mods, but explaining why they’re beneficial and that’s a great thing that not a lot of people do. Keep up the great work!
Awesome channel. 68 Nova. 377 stroker. GM steel crank/rotating assembly. First gen cast double hump heads. 2.02/1.60. 350 tranny. 3600 stall. Strange Engineering 9 inch. TrueTrax Eaton posi. 3.70 gears. Rear shocks moved in with POR relocation kit with shocks( shocks getting replaced, bottoming out on bumps.) Low rear end. New bushings. Sub-frame connectors. 4 point cage. G Force harness. B&M bump stick. Autometer gages. Holly 750. Holly mid-rise intake. Weld Prostar wheels 15x8 rear, 15x3 front. Taking to local 1/4 mile track in 2 weeks. In black primer. Thanks for the info. World of information.
You know I had my Nova for a long time and never really had any problems with wiring, bushings or much anything else. I blew the back brakes out leaving the emergency brake on, never used them since. The setup on the car was perfect for the way I drove, maniac style. I miss that thing.
OMG thank you so much on the 73 nova info, I felt so bad about having to use so much spacer to get everything to line up, but now realize it was the right thing.
Great advice and as a owner of a X-Body car 1973 Ventura. I would love to see anything on weather stripping. (Especially the trunk .. standard trunk leaks even after changing with new stripping)
I recently bought a 74 apollo. I don't think I could be happier. I wasn't looking for an apollo. But once I saw it, I had to have it. My friend and I done a lot of work. Basically just changing out stuff that is worn out. She is in really good shape and all original. I'm the 3rd owner. Anyway bushings... not something I thought of. Great time man. Just found your channel. It's awesome!!!
@@Shop209 she's pretty, got tan interior, vinyl im pretty sure. Only bad spot is the drivers side front seat. The back is kinda torn up. The car is brown with a white top. She's got the 5 Spoke eagle alloys rims on her.
Yes definitely good advice I have like 5 sets of wheels from factory 14” to 20” SS Camaro wheels lol and I’ve upgraded my whole front end including new disc set up even though my nova came with front disc I just wanted new stuff new front springs to ball joints sway bar links to much stuff lol next ,new springs In back already put new shocks right around !!
So glad I found your channel. You don't know how helpful you are during my Nova quest. I'm about to purchase a 77' from a Vo-tech program where most of the body work is complete and VERY excited. I don't have any experience in body work, frame work, wiring up engines, front-end steering, or U/L control arm work, BUT you make it seem easy and your approach is 'just get in there and do it" and it dulls the fears... Being mechanically inclined I know I can do it.. I have so many Q's, but please keep the vids coming, it helps greatly. Don't change your intros, I chuckle at each chair slide entry!! Why the hair cut, loose a bet?
Another great video shop 209 !! Been doing a little research on rearend posi and gears when I get ready for the rearend on the 77 I'll be watching your video on that...
I know this is an older video but really good stuff!! I just found this channel and its super helpful. I have a bit of a silly question, to remove the heater controls i know its 2 screws on the bottom of the dash, but what about the top portion of it?
My nova is a 78 disco nova hatchback. The first thing I did was change out the front springs to swap in a big block. I took the original spring to the spring shop and said I need a spring to take a all iron big block. He came back with a spring the same over all diameter and a little shorter but a thicker coil. Don't know who made them but the number was 5610. They worked awesome and the stance was perfect.
You are absolutely correct on every point you mentioned. But allow me to elaborate on one area, the handling. Now before I start I must say I'm a big Nova fan, I love em, but I know their limitations when it comes to a phrase know as wash out, which means the rear wheels push the Nova forward, the greater the push, the greater it pushes the front wheels off the road in a turn. That's why all wheel drive and front wheel drive was invented, to handle the turns by the front axles pulling the car out of the wash out through a curve. With that being said, a friend of mine back in the early 80's built an old dodge demon, jacked it in the ass, deep dish chrome 50's on the back, chrome rails on the front, candy apple red paint job, black leather bucket seats, Muncie 4 speed hurst shifter, built 440 road toad big block. This machine was an absolute beast, it was so light & so jacked up on steroids that it would go as fast up hill as it would go down hill, like a fast forward screen shot of mad max, quite almost literally. I would think I was going to die every time he took us for a ride. You could be totally stoned before you got into this car and when the ride would end your adrenalin would totally over ride it. The car was BOSS, I told him at the time, set your price I want it, he said so do I, I will never sell it. So a few years later, he washed out around a turn and drove off the road across railroad tracks and totaled the car and said to me do you want to buy it now. I gave him the infamous look or the glasses look and he just laughed. So essentially the ol Nova is a quarter car, so I would build it to go raped ape in a quarter and make it look mean by the jacked rear stance. But on that same token, slammed is a whole new style unique stance in it's own Reich. Blah Blah Blah right? But true.
Over steer and body roll were more the problem than understeer or push. An aftermarket camaro swaybar solved the "milk wagon" handling. My 73 squats and corners now!
I got a 71 cutlass S. No engine/trans,pos rear end,no shocks,no wires (was a racecar,hasthe bars on rear leave springs,garden hose size fuel line. I'm using a 1990 chev pickup truck as its donor for the powertrain,including the TBI, the seat,steering column and whatever else i can use from it. That way it's cheap and TBI is already a for sure starting ,remote start capable etc without going ls swap. I'm gonna spend my money in bushings,balljoints,shocks and what not so it's comfortable to drive and safe. Paint? meh,probably never,they look super cool with faded and worn down paint.
The best upgrade I've seen for daily drivers are rear sway bars. They really make a difference if the nova did not have a factory rear sway bar. Changing lanes and turning has much less sway and driving is much more stable.
Please don't stop making videos. I just watched your beginner Chevy block video to figure out 2 or 4 bolt main. You are so informative and I can actually stand to listen to you! Thank you so much and please please please keep posting!!! You deserve so many more subs!
You can make all your own bushings and spacer for a fraction of the cost to buy them. Additionally you can add lubricants to the urethane so they don't squeak and last longer.
Great tips. My wife said she would not drive the car until it has power brakes. So I have a power front disc brake kit waiting to be installed. The rest of the front end seems ok for now but I do know those bushings will need to be changed. The other imminent update will be to the gauge cluster as the current one is non-functional. Again, I have a new waiting to be installed. I'm afraid the TH-350 will need some loving as both front and rear seals appear to be leaking. Then, maybe going back to the rally wheels that came with the car.
Hi , looking to upgrade on my 76 from 14 in rally . Air shocks in rear ok with that , bolt pattern, offset, tire size , biggest best I can do with no mods would be appreciated? Thank you in advance, Nova for life .
I have 5 sets of wheels that fit the 65 GTO, they all fit the 68-72 GTOs too, and I have several sets of wheels for the later cars that won't fit the narrow rear wells of the 65s. I can go Full Grandpa to Full race and even 70s or 80s retro in minutes. Bushings, control arms, springs, all stuff that are good to upgrade. Brakes make the car more enjoyable to drive too, disc upgrade is something I do on cars I intend to drive often if they don't have them. The 68 LeMans might end up getting disc all around, depends on which rear end I use. Why upgrade the wires? Letting the smoke out while trying to make the tail lights work is a rite of passage. No need to swap deeper gears in when you make a ton of torque.. ;) A locking diff is a must with 500ftlbs from idle to 5000+. I need this snow and cold to go away. I want to do fun stuff.
Can you make a video of explaining how to remove the fender extensions off of a 73/74 nova? I can't find anything on it, and don't want to damage my fenders on my 73 Nova.
Thanks for the video I have a question I have set of American racing rally rims 15x7 chrome made in USA new in the box I was going to sell them how much are they worth. and you should ask viewers for pictures of there ride to show at the end of your video s I seen someone else do that and I thought it was a great way to involve your viewers awsome for all your replies 😀
I’m not really sure. If they’re new in box and never mounted I’d say around 75-80% of new price. Maybe a little more. I have a Facebook page where. Jewels can post their pics but that is a good idea.
@@Shop209 thought they were installed by Bubba I'm the 3rd owner, bought car in 79. I removed them. Several tears ago I read some where it was a factory option. They car came with frt disks, in dash tach. ,350 4spd, floor console with guages. Hatchback, so it was pretty highly optioned....
I am about to get my dads 73 nova which is still stock. He cannot drive anymore but would like to drive around with him for as long as he is with us. He has been diagnosed with Alzheimer and dementia so I hope spend this time with him in his car. I dont know much about them and would like to keep it stock but make sure all is in great working conditions and keep it in great shape. I was wondering if you are in TX or if there is an email to contact you for any questions. Hope to hear from you. Thanks
Disc brakes definitely do not stop better. Drum brakes are far more effective at stopping a vehicle. Yes they heat up. Yes they would cause brake fade. Yes they'll pull if misadjusted. But they stop better. Much more surface area and the ratcheting motion of them when they grab.
same! I would like to see something like that. a daily without power steering isn't the greatest haha but I'll have long tube headers on mine so that might affect my room...
@Shop209 I will certainly be watching that video when it comes out. Hopefully I can make something work with my v8 vortec and long tube headers. But since I run smaller tires in the front, they aren't as difficult to steer as someone with real fat tired in the front.
I have a Question somebody is going to answer it what if somebody take Tesla parts and put it in a Chevy nova and why they are not making a video about it answer that
I have actually priced out a few of the pieces needed to do this. Model S drive motor, battery pack, controllers, etc. just buying parts you hit $10K-$12K in a hurry. That’s before trying to figure out how to add and mount IRS suspension. Figure in another $5000 in parts and who knows how much in engineering to make it all function and it’s out of my price range.
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Cragars are #1 in the classic muscle car look!! it is what my dad always says haha
This is the second video I’ve watched of yours and I can’t explain how informational you are with everything. You’re not just naming off different mods, but explaining why they’re beneficial and that’s a great thing that not a lot of people do. Keep up the great work!
Awesome channel.
68 Nova. 377 stroker. GM steel crank/rotating assembly. First gen cast double hump heads. 2.02/1.60. 350 tranny. 3600 stall. Strange Engineering 9 inch. TrueTrax Eaton posi. 3.70 gears. Rear shocks moved in with POR relocation kit with shocks( shocks getting replaced, bottoming out on bumps.) Low rear end.
New bushings. Sub-frame connectors. 4 point cage. G Force harness. B&M bump stick. Autometer gages. Holly 750. Holly mid-rise intake. Weld Prostar wheels 15x8 rear, 15x3 front.
Taking to local 1/4 mile track in 2 weeks. In black primer.
Thanks for the info. World of information.
Definitely going to be referencing your videos a lot during my 73 build!
Can’t wait to start daily driving my Nova. I got a 1976 Nova Custom it’s on my channel. Very fun car I had another when 19 years old was 1969 .
I would like to get a 75-78 nova some day.
You know I had my Nova for a long time and never really had any problems with wiring, bushings or much anything else. I blew the back brakes out leaving the emergency brake on, never used them since. The setup on the car was perfect for the way I drove, maniac style. I miss that thing.
OMG thank you so much on the 73 nova info, I felt so bad about having to use so much spacer to get everything to line up, but now realize it was the right thing.
Great advice that will use on my 74 nova for sure. Thank you.
All good tips once again John!!!
Awesome video and great advice ! That’s the stage I’m at with my 70. Got the look now onto functionality and safety !
Thanks Tony. I’m trying get as much done as I can.
Great advice and as a owner of a X-Body car 1973 Ventura. I would love to see anything on weather stripping. (Especially the trunk .. standard trunk leaks even after changing with new stripping)
The new stuff sucks! I’ll do a video on that soon because mine leaks.
awesome video man,thanks for all the help
You are exactly right I built a 83 model Camaro Z28 Nova you building is a very great car American muscle old school you can't beat it
I recently bought a 74 apollo. I don't think I could be happier. I wasn't looking for an apollo. But once I saw it, I had to have it. My friend and I done a lot of work. Basically just changing out stuff that is worn out. She is in really good shape and all original. I'm the 3rd owner. Anyway bushings... not something I thought of. Great time man. Just found your channel. It's awesome!!!
Thanks! The Apollo’s usually had nicer interior than the Nova
@@Shop209 she's pretty, got tan interior, vinyl im pretty sure. Only bad spot is the drivers side front seat. The back is kinda torn up. The car is brown with a white top. She's got the 5 Spoke eagle alloys rims on her.
Yes definitely good advice I have like 5 sets of wheels from factory 14” to 20” SS Camaro wheels lol and I’ve upgraded my whole front end including new disc set up even though my nova came with front disc I just wanted new stuff new front springs to ball joints sway bar links to much stuff lol next ,new springs In back already put new shocks right around !!
Always great videos man I can't wait to get working on my '73 and get it back on the road !
Thanks!
So glad I found your channel. You don't know how helpful you are during my Nova quest. I'm about to purchase a 77' from a Vo-tech program where most of the body work is complete and VERY excited. I don't have any experience in body work, frame work, wiring up engines, front-end steering, or U/L control arm work, BUT you make it seem easy and your approach is 'just get in there and do it" and it dulls the fears... Being mechanically inclined I know I can do it.. I have so many Q's, but please keep the vids coming, it helps greatly.
Don't change your intros, I chuckle at each chair slide entry!! Why the hair cut, loose a bet?
Lol. Thank!! It’s a little thin on top these days. So I cut it. I have more videos coming on all of the stuff you mentioned.
Those are good upgrades to get early, suspension and brakes especially. Getting rid of all that old rubber, whatever it is, will surely only help.
Yeah. The first time I replaced all the bushings on a nova I couldn’t believe the difference.
Another great video shop 209 !! Been doing a little research on rearend posi and gears when I get ready for the rearend on the 77 I'll be watching your video on that...
Thanks Jeff. I’m probably about to do another video on a rebuild. I’m upgrading another 8.5” soon.
@@Shop209 cool , that's what I have 8.5 in my 77. Cant wait to see the video John !!!!
"2 tires burning up is much much better". -Truer words have never been spoken.
Lol. If you know you know
Lots of great info sir!!!
Thanks JB
I know this is an older video but really good stuff!! I just found this channel and its super helpful.
I have a bit of a silly question, to remove the heater controls i know its 2 screws on the bottom of the dash, but what about the top portion of it?
My nova is a 78 disco nova hatchback. The first thing I did was change out the front springs to swap in a big block. I took the original spring to the spring shop and said I need a spring to take a all iron big block. He came back with a spring the same over all diameter and a little shorter but a thicker coil. Don't know who made them but the number was 5610. They worked awesome and the stance was perfect.
Great vid!! 👍
Thanks!
I’m definitely going to look into some wheels like you have on frankenova
I like them but I’ll probably end up going fast enough to need forged wheels.
You are absolutely correct on every point you mentioned. But allow me to elaborate on one area, the handling. Now before I start I must say I'm a big Nova fan, I love em, but I know their limitations when it comes to a phrase know as wash out, which means the rear wheels push the Nova forward, the greater the push, the greater it pushes the front wheels off the road in a turn. That's why all wheel drive and front wheel drive was invented, to handle the turns by the front axles pulling the car out of the wash out through a curve. With that being said, a friend of mine back in the early 80's built an old dodge demon, jacked it in the ass, deep dish chrome 50's on the back, chrome rails on the front, candy apple red paint job, black leather bucket seats, Muncie 4 speed hurst shifter, built 440 road toad big block. This machine was an absolute beast, it was so light & so jacked up on steroids that it would go as fast up hill as it would go down hill, like a fast forward screen shot of mad max, quite almost literally. I would think I was going to die every time he took us for a ride. You could be totally stoned before you got into this car and when the ride would end your adrenalin would totally over ride it. The car was BOSS, I told him at the time, set your price I want it, he said so do I, I will never sell it. So a few years later, he washed out around a turn and drove off the road across railroad tracks and totaled the car and said to me do you want to buy it now. I gave him the infamous look or the glasses look and he just laughed. So essentially the ol Nova is a quarter car, so I would build it to go raped ape in a quarter and make it look mean by the jacked rear stance. But on that same token, slammed is a whole new style unique stance in it's own Reich. Blah Blah Blah right? But true.
lol. Yeah. They can handle but only after you spend $10K or so.
Over steer and body roll were more the problem than understeer or push.
An aftermarket camaro swaybar solved the "milk wagon" handling.
My 73 squats and corners now!
I got a 71 cutlass S. No engine/trans,pos rear end,no shocks,no wires (was a racecar,hasthe bars on rear leave springs,garden hose size fuel line. I'm using a 1990 chev pickup truck as its donor for the powertrain,including the TBI, the seat,steering column and whatever else i can use from it. That way it's cheap and TBI is already a for sure starting ,remote start capable etc without going ls swap. I'm gonna spend my money in bushings,balljoints,shocks and what not so it's comfortable to drive and safe. Paint? meh,probably never,they look super cool with faded and worn down paint.
Great video as always, just found your site. in the opening credits you show a tip over jig, do you have a video on building one? Thank you
Thanks! Yes I do. th-cam.com/video/OWKAhZyMp3c/w-d-xo.html
Love novas
The best upgrade I've seen for daily drivers are rear sway bars. They really make a difference if the nova did not have a factory rear sway bar. Changing lanes and turning has much less sway and driving is much more stable.
Please don't stop making videos. I just watched your beginner Chevy block video to figure out 2 or 4 bolt main. You are so informative and I can actually stand to listen to you! Thank you so much and please please please keep posting!!! You deserve so many more subs!
Thanks! I won’t stop. I have been busy but working on more stuff now.
You can make all your own bushings and spacer for a fraction of the cost to buy them. Additionally you can add lubricants to the urethane so they don't squeak and last longer.
I need to check into how to do that.
Great tips. My wife said she would not drive the car until it has power brakes. So I have a power front disc brake kit waiting to be installed. The rest of the front end seems ok for now but I do know those bushings will need to be changed. The other imminent update will be to the gauge cluster as the current one is non-functional. Again, I have a new waiting to be installed. I'm afraid the TH-350 will need some loving as both front and rear seals appear to be leaking. Then, maybe going back to the rally wheels that came with the car.
Sounds like a lot of work. It’ll be fun though.
Hi , looking to upgrade on my 76 from 14 in rally . Air shocks in rear ok with that , bolt pattern, offset, tire size , biggest best I can do with no mods would be appreciated? Thank you in advance, Nova for life .
Would it be possible to get a tutorial on installing window channel. Totally enjoy your vids keep up the good work.
I’ll be doing some of that in the near future. Thanks for watching!
I have 5 sets of wheels that fit the 65 GTO, they all fit the 68-72 GTOs too, and I have several sets of wheels for the later cars that won't fit the narrow rear wells of the 65s. I can go Full Grandpa to Full race and even 70s or 80s retro in minutes. Bushings, control arms, springs, all stuff that are good to upgrade. Brakes make the car more enjoyable to drive too, disc upgrade is something I do on cars I intend to drive often if they don't have them. The 68 LeMans might end up getting disc all around, depends on which rear end I use.
Why upgrade the wires? Letting the smoke out while trying to make the tail lights work is a rite of passage. No need to swap deeper gears in when you make a ton of torque.. ;) A locking diff is a must with 500ftlbs from idle to 5000+.
I need this snow and cold to go away. I want to do fun stuff.
Lol. Yeah. Letting the smoke out is something I had happen a few times. Fuseable links are hard to find until you burn them
Can you make a video of explaining how to remove the fender extensions off of a 73/74 nova?
I can't find anything on it, and don't want to damage my fenders on my 73 Nova.
Great tips on upgrades. Can you please provide which wiring kit that is that you use. Thank you
I’ll find the link.
amzn.to/3KXbmD5
Thanks for the video I have a question I have set of American racing rally rims 15x7 chrome made in USA new in the box I was going to sell them how much are they worth. and you should ask viewers for pictures of there ride to show at the end of your video s I seen someone else do that and I thought it was a great way to involve your viewers awsome for all your replies 😀
I’m not really sure. If they’re new in box and never mounted I’d say around 75-80% of new price. Maybe a little more. I have a Facebook page where. Jewels can post their pics but that is a good idea.
My 73 hatchback came from the factory (pretty sure)with air shocks in the back.
That’s pretty cool. I wonder if it was factory or dealer.
@@Shop209 thought they were installed by Bubba I'm the 3rd owner, bought car in 79. I removed them. Several tears ago I read some where it was a factory option. They car came with frt disks, in dash tach. ,350 4spd, floor console with guages. Hatchback, so it was pretty highly optioned....
The air valve was located to the left? Of the fuel filler cap under the license plate. Anyone else? Chime In....
You got advise on where to find good novas been looking for a good price 70-74 novas
Just ask around parts store and towing services. The best deals are on cars that aren’t for sale yet. Have to go looking to find one that might be.
Got a question, will 70 4door nova front door glass & vent window fit on a 70 2 door?
No. The vent window frame is close but it’s taller from what I remember
I am about to get my dads 73 nova which is still stock. He cannot drive anymore but would like to drive around with him for as long as he is with us. He has been diagnosed with Alzheimer and dementia so I hope spend this time with him in his car. I dont know much about them and would like to keep it stock but make sure all is in great working conditions and keep it in great shape. I was wondering if you are in TX or if there is an email to contact you for any questions. Hope to hear from you. Thanks
You can email me at johng@camelliacustoms.com
Disc brakes definitely do not stop better. Drum brakes are far more effective at stopping a vehicle. Yes they heat up. Yes they would cause brake fade. Yes they'll pull if misadjusted. But they stop better. Much more surface area and the ratcheting motion of them when they grab.
Thinking of adding power steering to my 69’ nova. Do you have recommendations or feedback ? Thank you
You’ll need the PS gear box and a matching pitman arm. In my opinion the quick ratios are a little twitchy at high speed but lots of people have them.
same! I would like to see something like that. a daily without power steering isn't the greatest haha but I'll have long tube headers on mine so that might affect my room...
I’ll be doing a video on switching my 73 from manual to power pretty soon.
@Shop209 I will certainly be watching that video when it comes out. Hopefully I can make something work with my v8 vortec and long tube headers. But since I run smaller tires in the front, they aren't as difficult to steer as someone with real fat tired in the front.
How can I get a hold of you ? I like to purchase some mag rims.
Message me on SHOP209 Facebook page
Where’s the best place to get nova parts?
I usually buy mine from Summit racing since they’re fairly close and I can go pick them up. It saves on shipping.
So if u have 68-72 nova do you need to put the spacer back in ?
You can use the taller bushing from a 73/74 or you have to put spacer back in.
Thanks for your help.
I have a Question somebody is going to answer it what if somebody take Tesla parts and put it in a Chevy nova and why they are not making a video about it answer that
I have actually priced out a few of the pieces needed to do this. Model S drive motor, battery pack, controllers, etc. just buying parts you hit $10K-$12K in a hurry. That’s before trying to figure out how to add and mount IRS suspension. Figure in another $5000 in parts and who knows how much in engineering to make it all function and it’s out of my price range.
I need to have some kind of charity fundraised to get me a Nova..
im getting a 69 the paint and interior is nasty but the engine and 4 speed has only 600 miles on it
Diferential fluid for stock 10 bolt for the 74 nova ?? What do u recommend
Just regular 80W90. If you have a posi that needs the additive they sell it with it also.
@@Shop209 any specific brand or any 80 90 n thanks in advance
No MTNDEW in this video
👍🏻
Haven’t had one in weeks.
@@Shop209 That’s amazing man…sugar and caffeine are two of the hardest vices to kick.
What did you replace it with?
@@1Also mostly sweet tea. Still getting the sugar and caffeine but way less. I'm drinking more water too.
😆😆😆