Newbie sayin HI

[Hdesign]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Ben, I'm a custom car designer from New England and I really enjoy the forum so far. It seems like there's a lot of great people that are very willing to offer help and advice.

My car is a 70 Nova 2dr that was incredibly well maintained for 30 years when I bought it in July 2000. There was minimal rust and no sheet metal damage. I was very lucky to start out with such a great foundation.

I'm entering into the buildup, sheet metal mod and rust removal phase. It has been totally stripped and the subframe was blasted and painted in 02, and the front and rear suspension has been mocked up. Here's a quick list of stuff I've done and future plans:

Completed:
Superior Spindles 2" drop with 12" discs, BB front springs, PST Polygraphite super kit front and rear w/sway bars, Multi-leaf 2"dearched springs, '69 Mustang Mach1 rear with Powertrax limited slip and '86 Lincoln 11" discs, smooth firewall, CompEng Subframe connectors.

Plans:
'75 Eldorado 500cid, BOP TH400 (gear vendors overdrive possibly), mini-tub, 18" rims, 73 Nova door windows, fully custom dash and interior, 98 Deville door handles, shaved emblems and side marker lights, 68 grill, chopped/sectioned bumpers, recessed custom taillights, front and rear rollpans (molded spoilers???).

Here's a photo of the day I bought it and a rendering I did of what it may look like....whenever I can finish it.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/dabanj6/orig3.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/dabanj6/6a.jpg

[AAW]

Hi Ben!!
Welcome... you'll love it here.
:thumbsup:

[jonny51]

Hey Ben welcome to the site!Very nice job on the rendering,it looks like you have a nice project going there. :thumbsup:

[907rs]

Welcome, Ben. Your rendering looks awesome! Should be a tourque monster with the caddy set up.

[Sales@Dutchboys]

Welcome!

[JohnnyGMachine]

Hey Ben, NICE STUFF!!!! I checked out your site and I'm diggin' the renderings, very clean and nice style! I look forward to seeing more of your stuff.

I also like what you have going on with your Nova. Keep us all posted!

Thanks,
John

[SickDesign]

Hey Ben, it's Keith from Outlaw Motorsports. We met during Mikes ranchero project. Welcome aboard. Glad to see your finally getting some time to work on your own stuff!!

[67Sally]

Cool project. Welcome to the forum.
W.

[Hdesign]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. My biggest problem is finding the time to work on the car. I probably only get 4-5 hours per week to spend on it since I'm working a full time job, starting/running a design business, renovating our house and chasing my 8 month old daughter.

Hopefully, I can finish up the firewall this weekend and move on to sheet metal repair.

Hey Keith, what's up? Are you guys still in the same place? Any new projects?

[Hdesign]

Originally posted by 907rs Welcome, Ben. Your rendering looks awesome! Should be a tourque monster with the caddy set up.

Thanks! I just got so sick of the same old plain jane Novas with a hot SBC, no trim and jacked up in the rear with slapper bars. It's a great, light weight, starting point for a performance car and I've always loved the clean styling of the 68-72. I bought it from a guy who didn't want to sell it, he was going to donate it to the Kidney Foundation!

As for the 500 Caddy motor, it's pure bang for the buck. Very light weight for a BB, high durability, usually well maintained, cheap and takes very little to wake them up. A new intake, valve train, ported heads, headers, better fuel supply and oil pick up and it will easily get 500hp and 600 ft-lbs torque. Jeff Schwartz (Schwartz Performance) used it in his 82 Caddy with a lot of success.

Ben

[XcYZ]

I've seen a Caddy motor stuffed into other cars a few times. There's 69 Camaro that shows up at the Car Craft Summer Nationals every year with one in it.

[Hdesign]

I recall seeing a rally green 69 Camaro about a year ago featured in PHR or Hot Rod mag that had one as well. Might be the same one. At least I know it'll fit. I should try to get in touch with that guy somehow. He could probably save me some headaches.

[SickDesign]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. My biggest problem is finding the time to work on the car. I probably only get 4-5 hours per week to spend on it since I'm working a full time job, starting/running a design business, renovating our house and chasing my 8 month old daughter.

Hopefully, I can finish up the firewall this weekend and move on to sheet metal repair.

Hey Keith, what's up? Are you guys still in the same place? Any new projects?

OMS is still in the same place. Lenny has moved on to greener pastures. We are doing good. The big project we are doing now is the Stude project. Art Morrison chassis, Corvette drivetrain, wrapped around by the shell of a 50's custom Stude. Its a recreation of a Magazine car from the late 50's early 60's. Same owner too. Stude (http://www.outlawrodparts.com/yellow_pearl.htm)

The top did get chopped 2 inches, just no pics yet. Adds to the overall of the car, but hardly noticable.

[Hdesign]

Sounds pretty cool. Yeah, I did a little work for one of Lenny's current customers in Woburn. Glad to hear things are going well.