Hey everyone, my family and I are still new to the site but have been reading up on everyone's projects and the invaluable amount of information on this site. I figured even though we've posted around in the introductions, etc that I would start this thread to follow our project into the future. So if you haven't seen it I introduce you to our 64' Chevy II Nova 4-Door family street rod project. We plan on trying to keep her looking fairly original but drive/handle/stop much more like a modern car in the end. Won't be racing, doing pro-touring, or anything, but I will probably end up driving her quite a bit as a half daily driver in the summer times. I just prefer older cars.
We picked her up a couple months ago and have been going non-stop on her since!  She was originally a 6cyl, previous (original) owner stuck a 307 small block in her at some point, otherwise she is totally stock with drum brakes, 2 speed Air cooled power glide, radio delete!, had a fresh (10 year old) original Aqua Azure paint job done (then sat unfinished in a warehouse for a decade), etc, etc, an original Colorado car, and NO RUST!
The day we picked her up from her decade nap sitting in a woodshop warehouse not put back together:
An entire new upholstery set from PUI just sitting in the car, along with just a ton of new parts (weather stripping, most of the original chrome, etc) in the trunk ready to be put back on.
(notice the plates that were on her were from 01')
Fast forward a month or two later, all of her trim (minus the one piece I'm missing) and emblems are back on (dumped the 6cyl tags for some V8 ones though), all the rubber hoses/lines replaced from sitting for so long, lots of mechanical, some of the weather stripping installed, front and rear seats torn down to the springs and done up with all new foam and covers, tons of cleaning a decade of wood dust and grime off her, and even taking her to a Nova only car show! Still years and lots of $$ left to go of course but that's what projects are all about. The family loves having her around and even just running to get ice cream in her. 
What she looks like now:



Front seat recovered

Rear seat recovered, wrinkles all worked out with a day or two in the sun.

Spiffy'd up the engine a bit while replacing gaskets/hoses and putting in some sensors for some temporary gauges (couldn't stand not knowing temp, oil pressure, volts even for just now) until I decide how to do the dash for good.

The cheap and temporary gauge install (I didn't drill any holes! Used stock ones). In trying to stay mostly original I think I'll put in a SS cluster with a tach in the middle...but not 100% sure yet of course.

For now we are still working on installing all the parts that came with the car and making it as road worthy as possible. We will probably go ahead and finish the interior first then move on to upgrading mechanical. She runs and drives great right now but also like a 1964 Nova
with V8 power. I have a very well built small block 350 that's pushing near 400hp that will eventually end up in her with a 700r4 (not sure yet) behind it. Really though even that little fairly stock 307 makes that car move impressively. Wife and kids love the car which is great as it is our family street rod, which also means it needs better brakes
, steering, and a bit of suspension work too. We are all for the project which of course is why we bought her. We will do our best to keep updating this thread but progress will probably be boring and slow to start.
Thanks everyone, we have a ton more pictures and details of everything we've done. I also know a ton about the history of the car. I just glanced over it so the first post wouldn't be 5 pages long, and it's not much compared to what I have seen on the site so far!
to Steves.it looks like you are well on your way to having one fine Nova.You will not regret doing a 700r4 swap if you choose to do so.
), package tray, Steering wheel chrome/horn part that is broken, few other misc things and the interior will be mostly done after I have professional install the headliner. Oh and I need to install rear seat belts!
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