Restoration Quandry

Man.... I got this 72 Nova that's far from a basket case but I can't decide the order of work to do on it. I'm in the process of welding a new floor pan on the right side, which will look good and be hidden anyway. Here's my problem, my funds come in lumps kinda far between. I'm at the point where I need to buy things for the body. The previous owners thought they would make more tire clearance by taking a right angle grinder to the wheel openings, chopping up the outer wheel houses in the process. I have decided to use Q skins to keep costs down. The tail panel is also bent and bondo'd. These 5 items along with a door skin will wipe out this round of cash.

I have all the front end stuff I need as far as bushings, new steering gear, radiator support etc. Getting the front end on the ground is just a matter of painting it and assembling it.

My question is, would you guys do the interior and engine first? Or would you get the body fixed and then move on? Thanks

On my car I did (am still doing) the body first. The Int. will be last after the care is running. You can drive a car with a ratty Int. and fix it up as cash comes in. Also that is the most money.

Wow, I thought that would be cheaper. Ok, well thanks for the reply. I might could save some time and money by dropping a new Vortec 350 I have in it for now. Still need heads and cam for the 427. But the bottom end is balanced and ready to assemble.

I would get it running good first. Get all the bugs worked out. You don't want to be working on the motor after the paint job if you don't have too. Second finish the paint and last the interior.

I say get the subframe underneath the car.Get the two subframes tied togother.(Your gonna do that right)Then do the body work.When you have the car rigid like it's going to be you can set your door gaps better,Along with the rest of the gaps as well.When the body is still moving around setting those gaps is useless.

That has been the thinking behind my project this whole time.Get it to be a solid car.Then make it look like a solid car.Then I get to start making it a pretty car.

My car was also a basket case pos.And all's I have to say is it takes so much time and effort.Not only just working on the car.But finding the correct parts and what works and what wont.I never dreamed building a car was gonna be like this.But I love it and the progress I have made makes me feel good as well.

Good luck with and just keep pluggin away at it.You'll get there.

In depth body repair is probably the one thing that cannot be done while enjoying the car, so I would make that the top priority. I drove car with the front seats all worn out and they being done now, so do what has to be done to get it mobile and the rest on the fly. You'll appreciate the car more this way.

Hey Guys, thanks for the ideas. Seems like I can't stick with a plan, having so much to do. After getting the right side floor pan welded in I noticed under the bottom there is a gap of about a half inch from the floor to the sheet metal where the spring hanger mounts. I neglected to fit everything underneath up before spot welding and now I"m going to have to figure out what's going on. All in all the floor went in pretty good. I did noticed some railroad tie inside the traction bar on the right side. That may have something to do with the alignment issues. I know the spring hanger was jacked back about 3/4 of an inch. If I knew how to post a pic, it's easier than trying to explain it. I just hope I don't have to pull the floor back up.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/72ss427/BeforePics24.jpg
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/72ss427/FloorGap5.jpg
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/72ss427/FloorGap8.jpg

Today I drilled holes all the way through the flat metal there and used bolts to pull it up to the floor pan and then everything just fell in place. I still have some warping where the spring hanger wrenched it but a little heat and a hammer will fix that.



One reason I was wanting to do most of the body work and paint is that this will be a complete color change. From Glacier Blue to Hugger Orange, and wanted to avoid a lot of overspray with things assembled.

This is the new floor in place before final fitting and drilling for spot welds. I got this from SS396.com and it fit really good. You can see the old floor was like swiss cheese.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/72ss427/BeforePics45.jpg
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/72ss427/BeforePics54.jpg
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/72ss427/BeforePics75.jpg
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/72ss427/BeforePics20.jpg

Lookin good.I like the control arms and subframe in the background of that pictured.Looks like mine!

I already did my passenger side floorpan and had the same problem as you except the front instead of the rear.

Keep up the good work.Looks like your doing a good job and have this under control.I have managed to stay with my plan due to the fact that set sorta simple goals and just think about it like that.

Instead of install a steering column and steering box hook up the rag joint and pitman arm.I just think of it as making the car steer and that seems to control the anxiety a little bit.