[78chevyNOVA]

alright right now i have a 78 nova custom thats in pretty good shape, has a pretty new crate 350, just got a new paint job, all it really needs is the interior redone.. but i live in california so i still have to get it smogged and finding parts for a 78 custom has been pretty much impossible.. so what i was thinking about doing was selling mine and looking for a 69-71 nova which i wanted to get to begin with.. and iv always wanted my car to be manual and mine right now isnt. so my question is would you guys just keep the 78 and deal with the smogging and the hard to find parts and hopefully later on convert it to a 4 or 5 speed? or should i try to sell it and get a older nova? ive been thinking about this for a while now and dont really know what to do.. thanks

 

[1slonova]

:no:smog:no:

if you have to do a smog it makes it impossible to enjoy your car in california. just my .02

 

[78chevyNOVA]

yeah i totally agree with you. it was already a b!tch to smog it last time and its still stock pretty much..

 

[taz3]

I sold a car for that very reason and bought my BB 69.:yes:

 

[74 hatchback]

You have a good point, i had a 78 custom and couldnt find parts 20 years ago, had to paint my interior, as for smog, back then michigan had it and the nova just turned ten years old and was exempt. but because of having a cattalitic convertor and rust i stuck with the 3rd gend the next time around, but i do still miss my 78, it was my first car and was a real nice high school car, it was charcole gray with red interior with rallies and satin black ss striping and i had a 76ss grill, would eat 5.0's all day long.

 

[Stroker]

When you guys say "smog it" do you mean you take the car to a state facility and the car put on a dyno for a driving/idle ehaust emissions test?

 

[jwe]

I would trade 68-72 are sweet I have a 74 if i could i would trade for 68-72

 

[78chevyNOVA]

When you guys say "smog it" do you mean you take the car to a state facility and the car put on a dyno for a driving/idle ehaust emissions test?

yes that is what i have to do i believe every other year? its either every year or every other year

 

[Stroker]

So If you get a '69-'71 you won't have to take the test 'cause it's an older car?

 

[taz3]

So If you get a '69-'71 you won't have to take the test 'cause it's an older car?

Yep, it varies from state to state though. We call it E testing (emission testing) here in Ontario Can, our vehicles have to go every 2 years up to 20 year old, once a vehicle become 3 years old, but they want to make it for every vehicle built after 1987 and they will have to go for the remaining time it's on the road. It's little more then a cash grab though, something like 95% of vehicles pass, and 99% of 6 year and newer pass.

 

[DERYL ATANASU]

i too have to smog my nova. i just installed a new 383, dyno at 427 hp and 441 tq. i have added a 1 in. spacer since dyno, should boos both number up a tad. still in the process of tuning it in, but should pass smog with no problems. i run a holly 750 dp daily, will have to switch to quadra-junk for smog. i ran my first track laps ever last weekend first pass was the best at 12.9's @ 109mph. with a good driver should be low 12's. i have a tko 500 and 3.23 rear gears. it's a blast to drive and gets 22 mpg on hwy.

 

[Stroker]

You guys got it good. Where I live if your car is fairly new, you go every two years. They charge you twice the yearly rate though...what a scam. Other than that we have to go every year no matter what age the car is. There are some exceptions but basically if you want insurance, you have to have the car tested and passed first.

 

[ChevyBelly]

Well, you should really look at it as a blessing to have to do smog. This earth we've destroyed cant handle any more muscle car era's. I really want to do something wild like an electric Nova someday.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!:yes:

 

[Zoom]

Not to change the subject.........DERYL, do have better pics of your car? What rims are those?

Back on the subject.....78chevyNOVA, that's a tough call. IMO, the smog test stuff is a pain, but if you like the car, keep it. It sounds like you really don't have what you want anyway, so you answered your own question. :yes:

 

[nova75mike]

Well, you should really look at it as a blessing to have to do smog. This earth we've destroyed cant handle any more muscle car era's. I really want to do something wild like an electric Nova someday.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!:yes:

Unfortunately, the amount of smog generated by muscle cars equals less than 1% of the worlds smog. There are some NEW cars that put out more emissions than older cars.

 

[DERYL ATANASU]

Zoom;

the photo was taken when i had 18 in. 7 in. front and 9.5 on rear coy's on it. i have since changed to billet specialties (street lites). 15 in. 6 in. front and 8 in. rear.

 

[Zoom]

Did the Coy's rub? Got any pics with the Street Lites on?

 

[DERYL ATANASU]

Zoom;

the rears will rub with stock rear. i had my rear narrowed 1 1/4 each side. rear wheels were 18x9.5 with 5in. backspace. tire had 11 in. tread width.
i havn't taken pictures yet with the street lites. will try and take some.

 

[Philip]

alright right now i have a 78 nova custom thats in pretty good shape, has a pretty new crate 350, just got a new paint job, all it really needs is the interior redone.. but i live in california so i still have to get it smogged and finding parts for a 78 custom has been pretty much impossible.. so what i was thinking about doing was selling mine and looking for a 69-71 nova which i wanted to get to begin with.. and iv always wanted my car to be manual and mine right now isnt. so my question is would you guys just keep the 78 and deal with the smogging and the hard to find parts and hopefully later on convert it to a 4 or 5 speed? or should i try to sell it and get a older nova? ive been thinking about this for a while now and dont really know what to do.. thanks

What parts do you need? The cats can be replaced with high flow type that most exhaust shops carry and install. As far as the AIR pump if you need one it would be the same as any sb V8 of that era. That was about all the smog stuff these cars had. The AIR system can be non functional but all installed and look good. I have a 76 with a 305 I will be parting out soon. I can not tell what smog items are on the engine until all of the pack rat mess is removed. My 77 is supposed to be emissions inspected but I was able to get an exemption because it is not a daily driver and I live outside the city limits.

 

[DERYL ATANASU]

Zoom;

pictures of car with street lite tires.