My 1969 Chevy Nova

**lopedawg** · 04-20-2010, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by KahanaReef

Yes... Yes you will!

+1, we've got your back bro.

Many would like to have the chance to do what you're doing and may would kill to be able to start with something as straight and rust free as your Nova.

**Conrad283** · 04-21-2010, 05:22 PM

I found some rust today. It's under where my feet would be at the pedals the floor is rusted through.

**KahanaReef** · 04-21-2010, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Conrad283

I found some rust today. It's under where my feet would be at the pedals the floor is rusted through.

How bad is it?

**pajeff02** · 04-21-2010, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Conrad283

I found some rust today. It's under where my feet would be at the pedals the floor is rusted through.

Nice thing about owning a Nova -- you can get all the sheetmetal you need. I didn't make a good choice for my first restoration project as I can not find any sheetmetal for it. Everything is going to have to be handformed. Keep posting pics as you go so we can enjoy the progress.

**67CamaroRSSS** · 04-21-2010, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by StuntmanMike

Great movie, awesome ride!!

Originally Posted by 1fastcamarosss11

the real one sold on ebay for 24k. it was a rusted piece of shit too.

I really like the duck they used for the hood ornament.

**Conrad283** · 04-22-2010, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Nice thing about owning a Nova -- you can get all the sheetmetal you need. I didn't make a good choice for my first restoration project as I can not find any sheetmetal for it. Everything is going to have to be handformed. Keep posting pics as you go so we can enjoy the progress.

I'll finish taking out the dash today and then take the carpet out too and really check it out. But I think I'll only need a small piece to repair the floor.

**Conrad283** · 04-22-2010, 11:52 AM

Found the original owners manual in the glove compartment ... Pretty cool

**KahanaReef** · 04-22-2010, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Conrad283

Found the original owners manual in the glove compartment ... Pretty cool

That's awesome. I kept mine from my last Chevelle. I almost gave it to the guy who bought it, but, decided against it. I kept that, the front plate and the grille bowtie

**67CamaroRSSS** · 04-22-2010, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Conrad283

Found the original owners manual in the glove compartment ... Pretty cool

Does it have the POP attached to it?

And, if you don't know (most don't), the "POP" or Protect-O-Plate is a metal plate with letters and number embossed that indicate all relevant info on the car for the dealer for work purposes. It will have a reversed Dymo label attached to it with the owners name embossed. This was used with a credit card type device to imprint on the work order for warranty and maintenance work. All of this was attached to the last page of the original Owners Manual. This is what was used in the days before barcodes and computers.

In the case of high performance cars (SS's and the like) it's indisputable proof of the cars provenance as it contains the VIN as well as most of the option codes the cars was born with. This is one way you can document a high performance car without the engine or tranny being present.

I kept this info (original "pink slip" as well as the owners manual with POP) from the 1st one of the many 67 Camaro's I've owned.

**Conrad283** · 04-22-2010, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by 67CamaroRSSS

Does it have the POP attached to it?

And, if you don't know (most don't), the "POP" or Protect-O-Plate is a metal plate with letters and number embossed that indicate all relevant info on the car for the dealer for work purposes. It will have a reversed Dymo label attached to it with the owners name embossed. This was used with a credit card type device to imprint on the work order for warranty and maintenance work. All of this was attached to the last page of the original Owners Manual. This is what was used in the days before barcodes and computers.

In the case of high performance cars (SS's and the like) it's indisputable proof of the cars provenance as it contains the VIN as well as most of the option codes the cars was born with. This is one way you can document a high performance car without the engine or tranny being present.

I kept this info (original "pink slip" as well as the owners manual with POP) from the 1st one of the many 67 Camaro's I've owned.

The car was sold to Marion Oppenheim on 1/13/1969

**Conrad283** · 04-22-2010, 03:42 PM

Got the dash off

**pajeff02** · 04-22-2010, 06:26 PM

Good to hear that you can save the carpet and found the manual and stuff. How about a build sheet? I have never yet found one in any of our cars... still hoping though.

**Conrad283** · 04-24-2010, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by KahanaReef

How bad is it?

Not a big hole, no bigger than the diameter of a basketball

**Smittro** · 04-24-2010, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by Conrad283

Got the dash off

Looks like you've got your work cut out for you. No pun intended..

**Firebirdjones** · 04-24-2010, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Conrad283

Thanks ... I hope so ... Everyone was raggin on me at work ... I'll show them

You will. I've seen people start with some real crappy heaps that are 10 times worse. At least when you are done you'll have something unique to drive to work while they all drive cookie cutters.

**Conrad283** · 04-25-2010, 01:28 PM

Progress, this is it:

**pajeff02** · 04-25-2010, 02:16 PM

Make sure to take lots of pictures as you go to document everything. I keep a notebook by the car during teardown and write down notes on how things are oriented, order of assembly, etc. I have also found that using baggies to hold all the hardware works great. Slip a piece of paper in each baggie with enough information to tell you where stuff goes. If you don't have one, an Assembly Manual is a great thing to have as well. Good to see steady progress.

**Conrad283** · 04-25-2010, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Make sure to take lots of pictures as you go to document everything. I keep a notebook by the car during teardown and write down notes on how things are oriented, order of assembly, etc. I have also found that using baggies to hold all the hardware works great. Slip a piece of paper in each baggie with enough information to tell you where stuff goes. If you don't have one, an Assembly Manual is a great thing to have as well. Good to see steady progress.

I ordered the assembly manual. I have already started to baggie things ... But some of them maybe a little contaminated. Mostly all of the bolts are rusty, so unless I can get them super cleaned, I might buy a front end or whatever bolt kit. We'll see.

**Smittro** · 04-25-2010, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Conrad283

I ordered the assembly manual. I have already started to baggie things ... But some of them maybe a little contaminated. Mostly all of the bolts are rusty, so unless I can get them super cleaned, I might buy a front end or whatever bolt kit. We'll see.

Take all your bolts and nuts to a Alt rebuild shop. Ask them to run them through their bead blaster. It will clean them up nice and give you a better idea of what can/can't be reused. Helps if you know someone there too of course. Other wise, it's off to the wire wheel and hope not to shoot your nuts/bolts across the shop.. Just my .02

**pajeff02** · 04-25-2010, 05:33 PM

I usually blast and wire wheel the bolts. I used to paint them, but they would always chip on installation. I picked up a black oxide kit last year and have used it quite a bit. The whole kit was around $60-70 and gives a factory look to the bolts. Granted, it does not provide the best rust protection, but so far has held up well on all the suspension and frame bolts on our Cutlass.

I know Eastwood now offers a black oxide kit. I purchased mine through Caswell, Inc. Here are some pics of the rear sway bar end link bolts for our Trans Am in the blackening solution (no current required like some metal coatings):