76' Project ...need opinions (Photos)

[spacelove]

hi!
Well...it finally gets hot here in switzerland..
so hot you can not work on anything

But i made a few things to get the Nova finally sanded...
I got now almost everything to make the car ready for paint

BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT MAKE ME FEAR !
lets start a little photo documentry=


http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07430.JPG
this is how the car looks now_FRONT:grill,turnsignals,windowwashersarms and window chrome trim removed

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07431.JPG
BACK:taillights and bumper removed

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07436.JPG
why can't i remove the front bumper?_as you can see here i removed the 4 screws on every side but the thing won't move!?

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07444.JPG
on the passanger side are something missing i think...was there a nova sign?
and is this normal that there is no rearmirror?

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07450.JPG
ohh! this looks scary! ther is some oil licking down the car...the car stands 2 years there and i hope this amount is normal..is it?

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07451.JPG
the oil comes out behind the red thing on the black (oil tank?)..

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07459.JPG
this is one of the 2 big rust spots..on the left rear..

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07467.JPG
and the other spot...the car has about 10 more spots with rust but not so intense like here

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07462.JPG
i wonder how i can remove this part...what is down under that plastik thing?
it whould be cool to get a clean surface!?

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07470.JPG
this thing makes me cry! i removed the chrome triming on the front door as you can see on the rear i still have it on...because by removing the chrome i got bend them brutaly..and it looks like the can not be reinstalled...so i wonder where to get a complete new set and what i whould cost...

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07477.JPG
on the inside of the trunk it looks not that bad...like

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07489.JPG
..this photo from under the cars looks like a horror movie to me...

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07491.JPG
sometime i wonder what the hell are i am doing..is this shipp sinking or is it wort tryin???

---------

So i hope after that documentry you can send me some opinions and tipps what do to...

the plan is to paint it in december....

i wonder if there is a solution to get the underside sandblowed or so...

the car had to make ready for proof by the local department for vehicle,and i wonder what to mechanican need to fix for getting the car fit for the streets...

on May 1St. 2007 i hope to roll out to the big us-car gathering in switzerland

IS THIS MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? OR AM I JUST MAD?

LET ME KNOW - THANX A LOT!
Hypering to get your post!

http://www.psyfreak.com/photos/nova/2/DSC07496.JPG
:chev: Greetings Spacelove

today is :nascar: racing :-)))

[Canter]

Grüsse in die Schweiz aus Deutschland.


Good luck with your project, pal. Looks like alot work to do. And finding parts for the Nova here in europe is really hard. You have to import almost everything. But there are some really helpful guys around here.

[jade76]

Nothing's impossible if you have the heart. If it makes you feel better, here's pics of my 78 Rally I'm getting ready to start on, much worse than yours, and these pics don't show half the problems: 78 Rally Project (http://www.gen4novas.com/gallery2/view_album.asp?Ad_ID=38&CatLevel=3&Cat1_ID=4&Cat2_ID=3&Cat3_ID=&Cat4_ID=&FromSearch=True&SearchPage=%2Fgallery2%2Fdefault%2Easp%3FCatLevel% 3D3%26Cat1%5FID%3D4%26Cat2%5FID%3D3).


None of the chrome trim is currently available new, you're stuck with finding someone that has them. Fortunately, I have 2- 4 doors with the chrome trim on them and if I can get it off without damaging them, we can make some sort of deal on them. Shipping overseas is always expensive from US, but may be your only hope there.

For your front bumper, there's another bolt under the core support that has to be removed to pull the bumper shocks out. The other option would be to remove the other 4 bolts on the inside of bumper so you don't have to remove your fenders and core support.

You'r car looks to be in much better condition than what many of us here in US have to start with, so I wouldn't sweat it if it's something you like to do, and have the patience for it.

More info available at my site in signature if you need it!

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Canter]

WOW Tony.... That Nova looks terrible. I wish you all the best for your project. But im sure this Nova will be really nice once you have restored it.

[Green Dragon]

Looking good !

Honestly, the car looks slick from where I'm sitting ( although I love the 4 doors :-) .

The rust doesn't look unfixable, if you saw my medalist when we started.... that was a nightmare,

the front fender mark - is there holes there for a nameplate / emblem ?
it looks a little low to me, might have been a stick-on side molding that was improperly prepped and painted over.

the rust by the tailight ( on the side ), is unfortunately very common and will have to be cut out and a replacment piece welded in.
good news is, the trunk looks real solid, unlike my 78, so worth putting some time and effort into.

the oil leak - hard to tell from the pics, could be the oil pan,or a valve cover leak that has run down the motor in 2 years of sitting - has it been run any in that time ?

Tony's right on the door trim, only way to get any is used - although one option not mentioned is that you can remove them all and paint the doorframes - personal choice there, I'd remove them myself

the plastic side louver (plastic molding) covers a fresh-air vent, I have seen many 4 doros with that removed and a panel welded over the area to make it smooth - it REALLY helps celan up the lines on the car, and well worth doing ( imho) .

again, good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions, lots of guys on this forum with decades of Nova experience.
( I've been playing with X-body cars fro going on 20 years and still learn things on here every week ) .


~ AL

[jade76]

Canter WOW Tony.... That Nova looks terrible. I wish you all the best for your project. But im sure this Nova will be really nice once you have restored it.

Yeah, and I didn't even show the trunk or engine compartment. To somewhat explain, it needs 2 quarters, a trunk pan, both front floor pans, passenger cowl, core support, trunk lid and hood could also use replacing. The only thing good on it is the fenders, bumpers, dash, roof, glass and couple interior trim panels and seats.

But it's an original 78 Rally RPO26 w/4spd and buckets so I feel obligated to bring her back to life. Notice she's in the Near Death section of the photo gallery. That'll change as time progresses. I have a straight, clean 76 4 door that I'm getting all the sheet metal out of for this project.

Spacelove, forgot about the oil. As Al said on that one. Looks like its been running down the side of the pan so would either be a bad pan gasket or valve cover, but in either case that should only happen if it's been run.

The rear mirror you're talking about, the passenger door? Not all came with a passenger mirror since they weren't required. If there's no holes drilled or filled in on passenger door, then it came that way from factory. A lot of people end up removing the passenger mirror and filling the holes in anyways to give them a sleeker look.

[Novajay]

Spacelove,

Al and Tony are right about the bumper. Look for a bolt on the underside of the subframe about 8-12 cm back from the 4 bolts that you took off. Bumper should slide out with the shocks still on it.

The Nova does not look too rusty. Patch panels for wheel well and back corner will fix the problem. Not sure how to take off the back vent panels but it looks like you have a little rust there also.

Good luck with your Nova!
Jay

[bbdon]

I don't know what the economics of this would be overseas. But around here, it would cost about $6000.00 to fix the body and put new paint on it. Then when it was finished, the value would be about $2000. It would be OK for a person who likes to do body work, or someone who can get it done at low cost. But it would make no sense for most.

[spacelove]

THANX A LOT FOR THE TIPS!

your post makes me feel better!:)

i was just at the garage and search for that bolt at the subframe to remove the frontbumper....but i can't find one? has someone a picture of the spot?
i know i can remove the bolts from the inside of the bumper but as i remeber from my work as carpainter the bolts do fall inside the bumper and it is a hell of a work to get them back to the holes...

and how to remove some ******* of a screw that won't move?
it's the one from the door handle....chemicals? drill out?

again thanx a lot for the friendly help! i will post more later this time...

:chev: greetings spacelove

[aaron_warshaw]

wow seeing your car makes me feel so much better about what I have to do to mine, I feel lucky thank god im no where near the ocean or salt in the roads! you have the blues brothers car, good luck man

[Philip]

Here is a photo of the bolt you need to remove to pull the bunper shocks out of the frame. It is on the top of the frame.
Rear vent panels have nuts that need to be removed from inside the car.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/bumperretainer.jpg

[spacelove]

HELLO NOVASTERS!

Hi Canter!
hast du auch ein projekt oder fährt dein nova schon?
grüsse nach deutschland!

---

Hi Jade76!

Yes i got the heart! thats why i won't give up,it's my first US Car and it already is a part of my life history...not to drive this car whould be a shame for a man.

That Chrome Trims on the doors i will not put back...i will paint the spots,it looks more better i think as some half-well chrome...but on the front and back windows i want it back on.

there are no holes for the passenger mirror,therefor i don't need one
...cool!

thanx for the tips ! the pictures of your project really makes me feel a bit better!

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Hi GreenDragon!

yeah the rust isn't that hard,but there are comin g up spots every day i work on it...hopefully the inside of the car (under the carpet) is alright..
as downside the car it looks terrible, i just want a broken axel or something, better let check it on a garage after paintjob is done

the frontfendermark i think now is just a scratch from something else...

the oilleak - the car was not runnig the 2 years it stands here .the engine was last startet up a year ago (there was a bit of black smoke comig out the pipe-ends)

the chrome trims are now removed...

the plastic side louver i have removed too...and what a joke! there are no opening for air to come in, just the holes for the plastic and a small wave to the inside...the plastik is not gone back to the car..this comes smooth thats for sure!

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BBdon:
yes...it make no sense for most to build up this car...but there are always people here that call them self not "most" and have the heart for the american flavor;-)

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THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE HELP!
especially philip for the photo of the bumper bolt!

the screw on the door handle i got out..by vibration with the drill the get loose
bumper,plastik vents,chrome trims,door rubers,door panels, and all the plastik cover around the doors are removed.

i will start grindig off the rust next week and make the car outside ready for primer...
the doors,trunk lid and hood i will remove later when i get space in the garage next time...

today i clean up the edge in the garage (got no space there) where i have all the removed parts...then i wonder about the chrome parts?
can i re-chrome them for cheap?especially the grill i whould like to get in new high shiny chrome!

thats it for now!

I Fell much better now after make a few things on my Nova and always glad to join this friendly community here!

Have a Nice Day! - Spacelove