69 Pro-Touring Nova

[Rick D]

Hi everyone thought I would post up some pict and info about a new project we have going at my shop. It is a 69 Nova very rust free cali car, org an inline 6 so were not messing up a BB car or anything like that. The car will get full front tubular control arms upper and lowers, ATS spindles, not sure on springs yet. Rear will be 12 bolt with DSE leafs. No mini tub on this one. Brakes will be ether Wilwood 6 Piston calipers front and 4 piston calipers rear, or 06 ZO6 cailipers front and rear will know for sure this week. As for the eng and trans since our shop is right next door to Speed Inc. we will be using a LS1 and T56 trans. The build time for this car is 10 weeks and were already 2 weeks in, should be ready for paint in 2 weeks. :eek: Not sure of colors yet but will be some kind of two tone any thoughts would be great. :bow: Wheels are going to be the new Budniks Laterals 18X7 in the front and 18X8 in the rear tires will be BF Goodrich. Inside will be stock with bench seat (cut out for shifter). Let us know what you think good and bad.

Thanks Rick

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Pro-Touring%20Stuff/69%20Pro-Touring%20Nova/tn_Nova_025.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Pro-Touring%20Stuff/69%20Pro-Touring%20Nova/tn_Nova_017.jpg

[Rick D]

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Pro-Touring%20Stuff/69%20Pro-Touring%20Nova/tn_Nova_016.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Pro-Touring%20Stuff/69%20Pro-Touring%20Nova/tn_Nova_014.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Pro-Touring%20Stuff/69%20Pro-Touring%20Nova/tn_Nova_010.jpg

[Sales@Dutchboys]

I want to see pics when its done.....

[Steve68]

Tub it!!! the rear wheel wells suck on the Nova, I'm missing half a knuckle from them,

[XcYZ]

Sounds awesome, Rick. Definitely keep us up to speed. :thumbsup:

[Hdesign]

What a great car to start with!

I like the plans you have. Personally, I would mini-tub it and shove some fat rubber under there.

[69Nova]

Awsome. I'm a huge fan of 3rd gen Novas. Own a 69 myself(as if the user name didnt give that away). I say white with a light silver two tone. I also say drop the stock bench seat for some better buckets. Keep the updates coming.

[Rick D]

Thanks for nice coments. As for mini tub, time is not going to let that happen on this project. My 69 Camaro is all cut up for mini tubs, and it is almost as clean as this Nova. The Nova is more of a way to show what we can build. We will take to some shows and then it will go up for sale. We have another Nova even cleaner that this one that will be built with the works. But I won't go in to that now. Just for info anyone know how big a tire you can put under a nova with mini tubs? I know Camaros can get 345mm but was not sure about the 3 gen novas.

[protourduece]

Hey badrs69, that is a very cool project Nova. I hope you can meet that deadline. Keep us posted on the progress. :hail: :hail: :hail: :unibrow:

[71Nova]

Acording to Detroit Speed 315's with DSE mini tubs.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Acording to Detroit Speed 315's with DSE mini tubs. :yes: would look sweet. nice project. nice shop too! Please keep us posted.

http://hometown.aol.com/gumbydmit22/images/72rearmock003.jpg

[Rick D]

Ok OK OK we ordered the DSE mini tub kit today will ship out Wednsday with the frame connectors. Got the car back from blasters today had all jams and window areas blasted came out real nice but with the good comes the bad. 24 inch dent in rt qtr panel :mad: and this was on the better qtr :mad: :mad: . Owell good thing I know a thing or two about body work :yes: . The car will be in primer this weekend, than will start to cut for mini tubs. I will post up some more pictures later this week.

[Rick D]

:yes: would look sweet. nice project. nice shop too! Please keep us posted.

http://hometown.aol.com/gumbydmit22/images/72rearmock003.jpg
Hay Vince looks real nice and thanks on the shop. Could you tell me what wheels and offset you are using on that nova, looks awsome. :thumbsup:

[protourduece]

Hey Vince, It appears you are using a stock unmodified Fuel Tank. Is that true? I thought with the DSE kit you had to narrow the tank. By the way, the car looks awesome!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

[USAZR1]

18x9.5's would fit that car and would preclude the need for minitubbing.
However,the latter idea is a cool one.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

hey Badars, congradulations on the DSE mini tub purchase, you will not be disappointed. Let me know if you need and advice??

My set up is low buck to the max.
The rims are TTII 17x11 with a 5.5 bs which were bought used, tires are Sumitomo 315 35 17 whick are around 130 each on tire rack.com. The 8.5" 10 rear end is narrowed to fit rims.
Now the cheaper stuff.
The wells are cut and add stock tubs and landrum 175 lbs leaf springs.
The landrums are thinner than the DSE leafs so that allows me to retain the stock gas tank and move the leaf inboard with the use of spacers. I have 1" outer space and 1 1/4" inner space. The inner frame was notched but its not alot.

This is just something we did in the past and I like to go old school once and a while. But the DSE kit does cut alot of time and labor off of the job.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

That should make an interesting combination. :rolleyes:
thanks clint...fixed it. 2 track mind. :lol:

[Rick D]

Well I have been off the Nova for a couple of months. We had to get a 68 chevelle ready for vettfest. Cool car, old school 80's style. Anyway going back on it today will post up some more pictures soon. We got the LS1 and T56 for the car now need to get wiring harness. What is the best ls1 harness out the?? Also has anyone put a T56 in a 69 Nova? What I wanted to know is how much you had to bring up the trans tunnel?? The goal now is to have all the fab work, mock up, and body work done by mid of December and hope to have it at Detroit Autorama :lol: :eek: We will see if that happens. Also need a name for this anyone got some idea's??

[71Nova]

I put a t56 in my 71 Nova. It is the same as yours. I did not need to do anything to the trans tunnel except cut the hole for the shifter. It might be different with an LSx. Clearences are tight but did no need to raise the tunnel. Just dont plan on using lower body bushings.

[Rick D]

Wow I keep looking at the tunnel and thing there is NO way that is going fit with out cut and chop! Maybe it is different with the LS1. I know you can get it to fit in my 69 Camaro but there is WAY more room in that tunnel than in the Nova. Was yours a 6 banger or a V8 car? That TV show on Spike Muscle Cars put a ls1 in a Nova and they cut most of tunnel out but that is TV and they do like to make things look cooler.

[G-Body]

Nice looking project all that really looks familar heres a photo of our 72 keep the nova photos comming baby!!! :thumbsup:

[NvrDun71]

Looking forward to the pics, sounds like a cool build.

[71Nova]

Mine was originally a v8 car. Yea I watched the blue hair episode on spike tv as well but he raised the engine. I thought he was silly for doing that because of the oil pans and mounts available on the market now. He is odviously more concerned with strait line performance. It fit for me using the old gen 350 small block. Maybe it is different with the ls.

[71Nova]

I have about 1200 miles on the car with the new trans and have never heard a bump or anything from the trans hitting.

[Rick D]

Mine was originally a v8 car. Yea I watched the blue hair episode on spike tv as well but he raised the engine. I thought he was silly for doing that because of the oil pans and mounts available on the market now. He is odviously more concerned with strait line performance. It fit for me using the old gen 350 small block. Maybe it is different with the ls.

Cool I have a LS! mock up motor and a T56 case so next week I will put it together and slide it in and see where I'm at.

[NvrDun71]

We need an update and some pics :yes:

[69Nova]

:yes: I agree

[Sales@Dutchboys]

We need an update!!!!

P.S
(My buddy is going to call you on those control arms.)

[Rick D]

The Update is there is NO Update. The car is on the back burner for now :(
To many customer cars going on now. I hope in the next month to have a couple of weekends to do all the mini tubs and shock crossmember stuff. Thats the deal you have to do customer work to be able to play:yes:

Paul he called me last night but I've been sick last couple of days so went to bed early. I will call him to day! Thanks

[Rick D]

Nice :thumbsup: What wheels are you running??

[Rick D]

Well it's been a long time for updates but here you go. Took the Nova down off the lift where it has sat for the last year or so. Started to go over it again and put together a game plan. Took the end of last week and most of this week to finish up the body work, and prime and block once then reprime. Then we started on the mini tub's. Here are some picture's of where we are at. Should have the tubs done Tuesday then we will start to make some plan's for where this thing is going.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Chevy%20Vett%20Fest/HPIM1854.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Chevy%20Vett%20Fest/HPIM1853.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Chevy%20Vett%20Fest/HPIM1878.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Chevy%20Vett%20Fest/HPIM1876.jpg

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Looks good Rick, nice and straight.

You figure what rims you are running yet?

[Rick D]

Well the mini tubs are in and done. We are now putting everything together for what we will do for the rest of the car. We had bought DSE Drop leafs and the rest of the kit but now I don't think that is going to be used. Maybe Qlink or G bar?? Any way the front sub frame is going to be AME talked to them friday sould have that worked out next week. Here are some pictures of the finished mini tubs.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Pro-Touring%20Stuff/69%20Pro-Touring%20Nova/HPIM1909.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/RS_427/Pro-Touring%20Stuff/69%20Pro-Touring%20Nova/HPIM1906.jpg

[Rick D]

Looks good Rick, nice and straight.

You figure what rims you are running yet?

Thanks Vince no we have not really set anything up as for what we will do to the rest of the car.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Thanks Vince no we have not really set anything up as for what we will do to the rest of the car.
Cool Rick, nice to see you back on it.

Very nice shell but I wanted to ask you if that rear window base was new repop or NOS?