[73 project]

Ok. I picked up a 73 nova for 175 bucks. It has been completely gutted. No interior, engine/trans or front clip. I'm looking to turn this into a street/strip car. This is my first project of this caliber and need guidance. I'm gonna go ahead and start with what I've got. I.E. getting the frame cleaned up, upgrading suspension, rearend etc. It has the factory 8.5 rear in the car. It also has a roll cage installed minus the two bars that go from the main hoop to the trunk.. So really I guess I need to know where is a good place to start. I've been doing some reading and know that I want to run wide rear tires but have come across the term "tubbing" alot. Now I know what it means but not how to do it. Also input on suspension upgrades, brakes, would be appreciated. Thanks....Greg.

 

[Nova_Power4]

hey,greg

well if u have stock power front disk or manual disk ur allready a great step ahead. all u'd have todo is upgrade to a good pad and rotor
for suspension......hard or sencatrack shocks are good start, front lower springs either heating or cuttiing a coil out or v8springs and traction bars in the rear make a decent daily race car.
personally l'v never boxed a frame or tubed a car but its a good idea.......my experience involves twisting so hardcore it blows out rear windows splitting front windscreens and permentently leave a car bent hahha

 

[73 project]

Thanks for the info.

 

[JRouche]

For me I wish I would have thought about the FINAL objective. I ended up going forward just to go backwards, poor planning and vision on my part.

For example. If you think wider tires may be in your future, and the stock suspension (rear) wont allow for it dont upgrade the stock system with nice parts to just have to remove them for a rear end transplant or a mini or full tub.

Or like on my front. I welded in a new cross member and decided to keep most of the inner fender wells. I did a lot of work to make them look nice, welding and filling large sections, primed and painted. Just to remove all my work a short time later cause I had a better idea.

Or my firewall. Smoothed it out as much as possible, prolly five patch panels, primed and painted, looking nice. Just to cut the entire thing out and make an entirely new firewall, all within a short time span, not talking years here.

Sometimes I think I spend a quarter of my time re-doing areas I have already worked on. Poor planning and vision.

So my best advice, look ahead, seriously think about the big picture. And do what I didnt do, put it on paper. I dont do any paper planning or building. It saves SO much time if you do. I build from the head and thats a major mistake. JR

 

[73 project]

I know wider tire's are in the future, what I don't know is what to do to make them fit. I'm very new to this and don't know what all it requires. I also have a good Idea as to what I want the car to look like at the end.