Old Schoolers; I need advice

[aaron_warshaw]

Hey nova owners, I just bought a 1975 chevy nova 350 2 dr non hatchback. It has a model called the 4bbl which I found out was mine, I assume its the carb. Anyway it has 66k original miles and no rust. I wanna restore this vehicle to its former glory, nothing for a drag strip just some common installs that make it fast but not a gas monster. Any suggestions to making this car a panty dropper but not wallet breaker? Also I gota hunch I should pay a machine shop to rebuild the engine, and if I do what are some things I can uprgrade to add some extra torque since they are opening the engine up anyway? im 21 and mostly ignorant to cars, I know basics but not too techincal....:o

[Scooter]

For the engine, a new high performance intake, carb, and camshaft, and maybe headers should work wonders. Talk with your machine shop, they should be able to fix ya up. 4bbl refers to a 4 barrel carb. It will be a fun car, good luck with it!

-Aaron

[Funkmaster Zachy]

but not a gas monster.


Good luck with that...:D

[reo78rally]

Panty dropper?.......
I see where this is going. I was there once too, but I was fortunate enough to have a hatchback... fold down seat and all.

Anyway.
Aaron has you in the right direction.

Good wheels, shiny paint, good sounding exhaust, better souding stereo.
The girls like all of that, but if its the car they're lookin at and not you, be careful.

Lucky guy, no rust. Be sure to check all the common spots though, people tend to hide the problems rather than fix them right. Paint over a problem you didn't see fixed incorrectly, and you'll be sorry later on down the road.

If you not going to race the thing, a modest engine build with a good cam, small compression increase, Edelbrock performer intake, Holley carb, Headers, tuned exhaust. Make sure your tranny, rear end, drive line, including u-joints are all up to par. Nothing like puting a lot of work into a strong motor and trans, and having a $7 part leave you on the side of the road lookin pathetic.

Have fun, remember its not only the end result, but all the fun you had gettin there.

Rich

[Zoom]

I agree with what everyone else said. If you plan on driving it daily or often I would make sure it's reliable before you start buying too many go fast items. Drive it around and enjoy it for awhile before you tear into it. Check the brakes, suspension, tires, engine tune, anti-freeze, give it an oil change and take care of all the little things that may keep you from getting from point A to point B. This will also help you spot any problem areas the car might have that need addressed right away.

[jade76]

Don't be afraid to put it on stands for a while so you can rebuild her right. Mine took me 2-1/2 years off and on.

Start with new stock suspension (leafs, shocks, springs), cost you less than $350 if you do it yourself and will be one of the best investment to get her back to life, other than the engine and drivetrain.

A decent mild cam and intake should give you what you're looking for. Build it up too much and your going to start spending some money, and gas mileage will considerably decrease.

Good luck, post some pics when you get a chance, we want to see it!

[69NovaSS]

Any suggestions to making this car a panty dropper

Carry a UNOPENED bottle of Lemon Gin around in the glove box...that stuff is better known as "panty remover" or at least it was when I was in highschool;) :)

that will get the results your looking for with the smallest intial investment:D

[the FLYER]

so ya mean ta say everytime ya opened yer glove box ya lost yer panties ???


don't get yer panties in a bunch... i'm jokin' :rolleyes: :D :D :D


heheheheheh :D

[69NovaSS]

so ya mean ta say everytime ya opened yer glove box ya lost yer panties ???


don't get yer panties in a bunch... i'm jokin' :rolleyes: :D :D :D


heheheheheh :D

well somebody lost them whenever I would buy a bottle of the stuff:cool: .....man the good ol' daze...lol;) :)

Just dont drink it straight...it has a warning right on the bottle about doing that

"Do not drink straight. May cause temporary blindness"....crap I just about spit my drink out when I read that...lol.:D...(it was straight of course;)):)

[the FLYER]

ima gonna get a case of it and call a few honeys :D

[69NovaSS]

ima gonna get a case of it and call a few honeys :D


well you'll be good to go then...:cool:

[aaron_warshaw]

jade,zoom and reo thanks for the advice. it means alot and to everyone else, seriously its like steak to a pit of alligators I throw in a reference to a pair of panties and you guys tear it to shreads. ( it takes talent) :D ;)

[69NovaSS]

jade,zoom and reo thanks for the advice. it means alot and to everyone else, seriously its like steak to a pit of alligators I throw in a reference to a pair of panties and you guys tear it to shreads. ( it takes talent) :D ;)
sorry man....we were just kidding around.......didnt mean any harm by it:o

[aaron_warshaw]

no seriously im going 2 cry, I came on this thing for advice and you guys broke my heart with your panty references and insults. I may never return to this awful site, well maybe one day when I develop a sense of humor. (get it, its sarcasm)

[69NovaSS]

just have the motor rebuilt to stock specs but change the cam to a good torquer type cam or an RV type cam put on a performer type intake(just the basic performer not the air gap etc) and use the 4 bbl carb (I assume a quadrajet carb) that came with the car. Put on a set of SMALL tube headers and duel exhaust. Install 3.08-3.30s or so gears and you should have what your looking for....JMO:)

[novaboy009]

Big Block, 4 speed 4.88's. Gas mileage is for Japanese cars.

Kev (Got one of both:):):))

[69NovaSS]

IMO too keep a stock type convertor and possibly install a basic shift kit to help improve the crispness of the tranny shfts...this and the suggestions in the other post should give you a very torqury car that should get pretty decent MPG BUT it will run out of breath at about 4000-4500rpm...so it will be a low to mid range rpm kinda car...just want you wanted:)

[big dog ss]

i would look into buying a new gm crate motor, nothing fancy just the basic 260 horse 350. change the cam, add performer intake and carb and headers and you have an easy 300hp motor for around 1500 bucks. plus all the parts are new!!:)

[aaron_warshaw]

great feedback you guys rock! im defeneatly going to stick to the basics, nothing insane. thanks alot guys I appreciate it.:geek: