NOVA 180 (67 pro touring build)

[catmanzr]

Hello,
My name is Dan Fisher. I'm from Coldwater MI. I bought my 1967 chevy ii nova from a guy off from craigslist in November 2012. It was originally a Florida car and is truly a rust free car. I was told the car was painted about 21 years ago. It is a lacquer paint job, so it does have some areas where the paint is checking. The paint has a little patina to it now, but I think it's pretty cool. Not perfect to where I would be afraid to drive it.

The 67 nova is my favorite year and I've always wanted one. The car was a automatic non power steering non power brake car and a gutless 327 v8. I can't say any good things about the way it drove in stock form. It was sloppy steering, hard to turn, and when you hit the brakes it tried to jump in the ditch. Pretty poor driving car!

I decided to make it into a nasty little pro touring ride. I started tearing the car apart Memorial Day weekend 2013 and have been going at it since. I wanted to do a build log all along but just never sat down and did it. I have done a pretty good job taking pictures along the way, so I will be uploading in the order that the work has been done. I've done all the work myself in my shop. I am hopefully within a month of firing it up!

I've struggled with naming the car, but recently I've thought of something and I think it's going to stick. NOVA 180. Why? Well..... It was a non power steering, non power brake, automatic, and pretty lousy power. NOW it's power steering, power brakes, 6 speed Viper manual, and a new LSA massaged to just under 750hp. The NOVA is really 180 degrees from the car it was its whole life........so NOVA 180 seems fitting.

A little about me. I've built two custom motorcycles in 2006 and 2008. I also race 1000cc prostock snowmobiles at the professional level and have had pretty good success at it. I set the e.t record in 2008 and reset it two more times through 2010. I've won the the World Series of ice in 2008, 2013, and 2014. I've built several prostock snowmobiles over the past 12 years. Snowmobile racing has been my passion and I'm still currently racing in the winter months.

The NOVA is my first car build and it's been a steep learning curve. I really enjoy this forum and reading and watching some of the great builds going on here. I hope you guys enjoy the pictures and comments!

Dan Fisher





This is how it looked when I purchased it in November 2012

[catmanzr]

Coming apart......

[catmanzr]

Cutting the stock tubs out. Installing DSE mini tubs. I must say that Detroit Speed and Engineering have it going one. Awesome quality!









Here I built two 3/8" plates and welded into the frame rails before I boxed them back in. I also bolted in the upper shock mount with 1/2-20 bolts vs the tiny one that came with the TCI rear pro touring suspension. It might be a little overkill but I didn't like the thinned up rails and tiny bolts. I didn't want a problem down the road.

[Rick D]

Cool project, what are the rest of the plans? And I'm sure you know but we love pictures!!!

[waynieZ]

I'm with Rick nice project and we really love lots of pictures. This is my favorite year for the Nova also and it looks like you found a nice one. Keep us in the loop.

[catmanzr]

Couple of teezer pics......

Big items are new LSA, viper t56, tci pro touring suspension front and rear, mini tub, 6 point chrome moly cage, budnik wheels, ricks tank with vaporworx, and a racepak IQ3.

I'll try to get up to date within the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for looking!

[tom091074]

Beautiful!

[waynieZ]

OH that is so pretty!!!! Its going to be an awesome ride.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

awesome build!!

On that subframe, don't you just love the hidden bolt?

[tubbed69]

Nice build,I love these cars