Black Betty Build(pics)

So I decided to make a build thread on my Nova Black Betty:)

The po had used it as a drag car he put the sub frame connecters on and and the Z-gate It ran a blistering 15.52 with a stock 400,400 combo he lost intrest and it sat since 2001

This is pretty much how I got the car No motor trans and enough acorns and rat **** in the back to fill two trash bags and a big @**** dent in the drivers side quarter

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/nova-1.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/scan0003.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/scan0002.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/scan00011.jpg

And this is what sold the car I think im gonna keep it just cause it seems to piss everyone off:devil:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/scan0001.jpg

I had tryed to get it up and running before i graduated so i bought 509 400 2bolt out of a 79 blazer that needed the heads rebuilt.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0196.jpg

I got it in there started it up and it smoked like a freight train and didnt have ANY power at all

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0200.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0201.jpg

That kinda got me dicouraged so i pulled it out and started to work on the little things

Recovered my sunvisers
and dash, the dash didnt turn out as good as the one i did for my pickup so ill have to do it again. Heres some pics of them

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0332.jpg

I also played around with some spray paint tryin to decide on a color

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0161.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0328.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0199.jpg

shes coming together, did you get the quarter welded up?

About a month ago I got it move into the shop so i could really tear it down and do it right like I wanted to.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0501.jpg

first thing i did was rip out the interior
Fyi for any of the 73-74 guys there is about 50-60 pounds of undermat on these cars And each of the bumper shocks weight 8 lbs a peice

Next thing i did was started straightening up the pass side

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/1212360975.jpg

I really love the way it turned out i sprayed it with a little gloss and it was perfect ive still got a little bit to do on the door tho

Last weekend I got my quarter fitted up and welded on

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/1212362731.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/1212362195.jpg

Next week Im going to cut out the rusted out part of my floor pan and weld up the dash where the ac was then it will be ready to go down to my bosses so i can start bending the cage and get it fitted!

shes coming together, did you get the quarter welded up?

Yeah but ive still got to do some filler work.:)

Keep up the good work,it's coming along nicely!:yes:

Nice progress you're making. The pass quarter looks great. Keep up the good work.

Lookin good!

Thanks guys:)
I havent worked on it for a couple days its been too hot and i need to get the other fan wired up in the shop so I can work on it.:)

nice stering wheel screws:yes:

JK, looking good.

seems 400s are popular around here lately

Nice work!!!!!!


Keep the pics coming!!!!!!!

good luck with the car

Some new progress its been pretty hot last couple of weeks in the 100s most afternoons and bettween that and a friends truck and a peice of metal that got in my eye at work, I havent done much mostly bodywork

Passenger side 1/4

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0729.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0730.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0731.jpg

the drivers side door is done::D:D:D

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0734.jpg

the drivers side quarter replacment is coming along slowly

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0735.jpg

I took some of the interior down to bare metal and painted it.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0728.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0726-1.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0724.jpg

And i cut out the only rust part of my floor pan it could have pushed my foot thru it if the connecters hadnt benn there.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0727.jpg

Thats pretty much it for now I wish I had ac in the shop:rolleyes:

Nice work !!!!!

I can only hope Black Betty's cousins in my yard straighten out that well.

Ive got a new distraction:rolleyes:
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0781.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0782.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0783.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0785.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0784.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0786.jpg


Its alright got a few parts that are good on its 350/350 combo needs 1/4s

im just gonna let it sit and think about what to do with it, but right now a tube chassis car sounds pretty good:devil::)

Hi there
looks very nice! doing a great job there! just curious, where did you get that quarter panel from? what brand is it? is it a 80 % quarter panel? thanks


About a month ago I got it move into the shop so i could really tear it down and do it right like I wanted to.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_0501.jpg

first thing i did was rip out the interior
Fyi for any of the 73-74 guys there is about 50-60 pounds of undermat on these cars And each of the bumper shocks weight 8 lbs a peice

Next thing i did was started straightening up the pass side

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/1212360975.jpg

I really love the way it turned out i sprayed it with a little gloss and it was perfect ive still got a little bit to do on the door tho

Last weekend I got my quarter fitted up and welded on

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/1212362731.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/1212362195.jpg

Next week Im going to cut out the rusted out part of my floor pan and weld up the dash where the ac was then it will be ready to go down to my bosses so i can start bending the cage and get it fitted!

I got it from a place called Westco in Oklahoma city it was $115 and it is Actually a 68-72 quarter panel that i cut the top off of, it goes from the bootom of the 1/4 to just the bottom of the sail. Im sure theyve got a larger supplier like goodmark. i can give them a call if you want to see for sure, NPHNP:)

thats a good idea to use the 72 panel and just cut off the top for your 74. what did it look like before you cut the top of the quarter panel? it wasnt a full quarter panel right? also how thin is it? i see you butt welded it, did you notice it being much thinner than the original? if its no trouble and you can find out if the brand is goodmark or dynacorn sure, let me know
thanks so much
:)
I got it from a place called Westco in Oklahoma city it was $115 and it is Actually a 68-72 quarter panel that i cut the top off of, it goes from the bootom of the 1/4 to just the bottom of the sail. Im sure theyve got a larger supplier like goodmark. i can give them a call if you want to see for sure, NPHNP:)

Dynacorn, It looked like a 70-72 half skin it went up the sail a couple inches above my window. The thicknesses were pretty much the same not enough that I noticed.:)

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_1036.jpg

very nice work, you got your hands full for sure now, glad to see more 73/74's being saved.

I balanced the crank today and tomorrow I going to build a short block:D
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_1058.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_1057.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_1056.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_1061.jpg:D

I got the rods and pistons in today and the timing cover and the balancer on.
The pan and oil pump pickup should be here this week

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_1062.jpg

It's coming along nice.

I got the rods and pistons in today and the timing cover and the balancer on.
The pan and oil pump pickup should be here this week

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s122/cr74nva/IMG_1062.jpg

what brand or kind of pistons are those? thanks

Cast flat top from enginetech