[NorthernMainer]

So I put the tail lights, and rear bumper on today. The back bumper that came with the car as you can tell is not straight 😆 but it will suffice until the car gets restored. I'm going to try my best to adjust it some.

I'm waiting on the front grill filler panels to show up, then I'll put the front together. I have a 68/69 bumper for the front. I'm missing the trim for the windshield, but I think my buddy has a complete set I can get.

I'm thinking I might use my surface countour tool, and strip the car down to bare metal, and epoxy prime it for the summer so it doesn't look so bad.

 

[NorthernMainer]

So I've been ordering some parts when I can. I have new leaf springs, and related hardware on its way. Today I scored a 200-4R for the car. I know they might not be the strongest, but when it blows up I'll build it to handle some decent power. Supposedly this should swap right in place of the powerglide with the exception of the transmission cross member, but I've got one for a th400 on order which should do the trick once cut the mount off, and center it.

Has anyone swapped in a 200, and can confirm its the same length as the powerglide? According to my math it should be.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

Not a clue but, here's a link to tons of posts on the 200 into a Nova.. Right here on SNS!

Search results for query: 200r4 into

www.stevesnovasite.com

 

[NorthernMainer]

Not a clue but, here's a link to tons of posts on the 200 into a Nova.. Right here on SNS!

Search results for query: 200r4 into

www.stevesnovasite.com

If you'd like to comb through a bunch of threads to possibly find the answer, and report back then feel free 😎

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

If you'd like to comb through a bunch of threads to possibly find the answer, and report back then feel free 😎

You ask a question others have asked over and over... for decades. We oft attempt to locate the answer first here from other posts... If we do our research, it's typically only a few posts in if you know how to search... all those other posts and their posters did their homework too... I was offering you some opportunity to see what others have done at your leisure instead of waiting for an answer... which I see you still don't have so... Just trying to be helpful... Comb away Hope someone here can help. Nice score too! Should be a big help with the overdrive

 

[sudden_impulse]

Looks like if you have the 12" tailshaft on the PG you'll be fine with your current driveshaft.

 

[NorthernMainer]

Looks like if you have the 12" tailshaft on the PG you'll be fine with your current driveshaft.

Thank you sir! I don't have a lot of time to comb the internet. I drive log truck, and it's almost mud season so we're working as much as we can. They call this time of year the dash for the cash.


On another note I scuffed, primed, and painted the new grill filler panel tonight, in the correct argent silver. I'm going to paint the center slats of the grill black, and repaint the black on the headlight bezels too. It will look better than the rest of the car, but that's ok. In my opinion the grill area of these cars are a huge focal point so I want it looking decent.

 

[sudden_impulse]

I've seen the picture of the transmission lengths before, so I knew it existed. I just googled "powerglide vs 200r4 length" lol

My uncle drives log trucks, just sold his after owning them for 35 years and drives for someone else now. He likes being able to take vacations and not be responsible for maintenance. He owned straight trucks with the boom attached, and pup trailers that had the extendable tongue and would be transported in the cradle of the truck when empty (terms used might not apply to logging trucks, but best way I can describe it).

 

[NorthernMainer]

I've seen the picture of the transmission lengths before, so I knew it existed. I just googled "powerglide vs 200r4 length" lol

My uncle drives log trucks, just sold his after owning them for 35 years and drives for someone else now. He likes being able to take vacations and not be responsible for maintenance. He owned straight trucks with the boom attached, and pup trailers that had the extendable tongue and would be transported in the cradle of the truck when empty (terms used might not apply to logging trucks, but best way I can describe it).

That's cool! I had my own on the road for a little bit, but I thankfully sold it right before fuel prices skyrocketed. I like driving for someone else, I get my weekends to myself.. but if I'm at work, and something breaks on the truck I'll fix it, if I'm able to. I figure make myself as useful as possible when I'm on the clock.


So this weekend I got a few small things done. I got a pair of headlight bezels off a friend of mine, and I already had a grill. I took and masked them, then painted them how I like. They aren't perfect, but I'll be the only one who notices the imperfections.

This morning I took on the task of swapping out the leaf springs for ones that have a 7.5" free arch, vs I think normally they have 6.5". I wanted the wheel opening to sit flush with the top of the tread, and it does. I know it will settle some, but not much. If anyone wants the part number for the springs I'll post the pic of it. I got them off rock auto. One issue I ran into is the rear end was built for a mono leaf setup.. but I made what I've got work. I'll be on the hunt for a different rear end, or just buy new perches, and weld them on so i know it's right.

I'll be laid off soon for mud season so I'll have a good solid two months to work on the car. I'm going to patch up all the rot, get the body as straight as I can, and spray it with black epoxy primer then run it like that for the summer.

 

[NorthernMainer]

So the color of the car has been chosen! I went with 1970 Nova paint code 48 forest green. It's an amazing color. I wanted to spray it the original cottonwood green, but I just don't like the color enough to justify spraying the car with it. I've got everything I need to metal work the car, body work the car, and I mean EVERYTHING. So as soon as I'm laid off it's time to get to work on it. The goal is to have it painted by June. I don't see why I can't have the body straight, and painted by then.

I should have the driver's quarter skin done this weekend if all goes to plan, and maybe start the passenger side. This car I believe was side swiped at some point, or it lost control, spun around, or went sideways, then hit something. All very repairable. As you can see they caved n' paved it, they probably kept bondo from going out of business that year. The skins are for a 73/74 so at the back where the side marker is, I'll just cut the panel there, and leave the factory piece on the car.

 

[NorthernMainer]

Well I started working on the body yesterday, and discovered that I wasn't fully prepared! I starting cutting away at the driver's quarter panel with the intention of having the new one done by tonight, but I didn't realize how bad the outer wheel house was. I've now got both sides on order.

The driver's rocker panel was caved in pretty bad (literally folded under) so I pulled, and cut out a good section of it, and was able to straighten it. There was a replacement rocker panel in the trunk, but it was definitely home made, and didn't fit at all so I also ordered a new one..

Overall the sheet metal work should be done fairly quickly on the car. I found some rot around the rear window that I'll need to repair, no big deal. The quarter skins aren't the best quality, but I'm not going to use the entire panel anyway. The passenger side is fairly rot free so I'm going to just patch it using a piece or two from the quarter skin. The only reason I'm replacing most of the driver's side is that it was so crunched up, but I cut out most of the damage, then proceeded to hammer, and dolly the edge where it meets the door.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

Good to cut out all rot now... Surprises later on really stink! Keep plugging along!!

 

[NorthernMainer]

Good to cut out all rot now... Surpries later on really stink! Keep plugging along!!

Agreed! I don't like leaving hidden rot, plus you can see where the wheel housing is crinkled some from its accident.. it was worse, I hammered it out some, but once I realized how rotted it was I hopped right on summit, and got the parts ordered.

It would be cool to see this thing painted by June 😎 a buddy of mine is giving me a free $1000 60 gallon Ingersoll rand air compressor so I'll finally be able to paint right here at home. All it needs is a new switch which I have. I just need to install a double pole breaker, and run some 12/2 out to the garage.

 

[Stroker Ace Ventura]

Agreed! I don't like leaving hidden rot, plus you can see where the wheel housing is crinkled some from its accident.. it was worse, I hammered it out some, but once I realized how rotted it was I hopped right on summit, and got the parts ordered.

It would be cool to see this thing painted by June 😎 a buddy of mine is giving me a free $1000 60 gallon Ingersoll rand air compressor so I'll finally be able to paint right here at home. All it needs is a new switch which I have. I just need to install a double pole breaker, and run some 12/2 out to the garage.

Awesome!! On all counts!