Aye I'm the new guy. Planning on building a lowbuck gasser... Lowbuck and gasser shouldn't even be allowed in the same sentence but we're gonna give it a shot! I'm going to start with this '65 Nova II 2 door Coupe that I picked up awhile back. Pretty solid 283/Powerglide car. No real rust other than surface sunburn. I already have a number of good parts. Vintage Stahl fenderwell headers from back in the day, a old mopar 8 3/4 rear end that measures 48 inches hub to hub. Going to just be a single carb'd 350/TH350 for now. The rear setup is going to be ladder bar/leaf (cause I already have that setup...) and I'm not sure what to do about the front yet. Like I said I'm trying to stay as low buck as possible.. because I'm pretty well out of $$$. So a mail order straight axle is outta the question. Thinking of trying to find something that will fit at a local junk yard or just making something work... like a damned farmall axle.. Anyway here is what I'm starting with. Any suggestions are welcome. Even if its to take it to the scrapper.
How early? This is my first dive into a straight axle car, so I'm not sure what will fit under the car width wise.
Why don't you just work with what you have, you could put stiffer springs under the front. You can always swap an axle in later. I'd hate to see you putter out and run out of money to not get it on the road ever. You have plenty of work getting the engine and rivetrain in there. Nickels and dimes for bushings, mounts, etc. Don't give up, It'll make a bitchin' ride.
Thats no joke about the nickle and dime part. I have a ton of left over parts from projects to get this one 75% done. I haven't set foot in the shop in about 2 years.. so now every time I go out I find something "new" that I had forgot I had. Like the Aluminum Griffin radiator I found today, still in the box up in the rafters. I thought about putting some stiff springs up front, but I really want that nose bleed straight axle look.
Make sure you radius the back wheel wells...Novas look slick as hell with the rear wells cut out and the tires sticking out a little...Late 60's Econoline van axle should do the trick..
Selling the chrome on ebay will help your build, '65 chrome is some high dollar stuff nowadays. Especially the pieces on top of the quarter pannel. If its a 283/pg car its pretty uncommon nowadays too. Straight axle novas are getting a little played out, that things screaming to be altered.
http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/ For any Nova specific questions (just in case you didn't already know) .
Go for it! i insist. As a side note, i was thinking that since the nova doesn't have a full frame---it only has the front subframe, as a business idea, if someone could come out with a front subframe gasser kit for novas(and/or other unibody cars) they will "get all the marbles." The kit should be: a) 100% bolt in (unless welding is better) b) 100% complete including axle, brakes, all nuts and bolts, odds+ends etc. Also, have the skinny front wheels/tires as a delete option. i believe, in the long run, this would be a cheaper/easier option than trying to DIY in many cases.
Beat again. i noticed that these 62-7 novas apparently had the subframe attached to the firewall? Whereas later novas, camaros and other later unibodys have the subframe attached to the floorpan. The earlier way doesn't seem to be the best way to do it, but apparently it worked?
Bob, in our club builds them. Check out or site: http://www.gassersinc.com My Nova has a 46" Speedway axle and it's a bit narrow, the 48" would fit much better, but it wasn't an option when I ordered mine. I think the van axles will be too wide.
I was wondering how common the 283/PG setup was in 65's. I know its the first year for 5 lug hubs on a Nova. Apparently its worth something, a fellow was told that I have it and he's been calling me every other day trying to talk me into selling it. The way his offers keep climbing it will be hard to refuse soon.
P.S.I. made a kit in the late 60's for the Nova. I bought a complete ORIGINAL NOS kit a while back, it's been on the shelf for "someday" Complete with axle, spindles, kingpins, firewall to sub connectors, springs, directions, more stuff -- haven't looked at it in a while.... I'll part with it for $1500 ... haven't found that Nova, just keep putting Econolines under all my Fords.
Thats not bad. I saw there was a "Nickey" subframe on egay. I didn't know that Nickey Chev made a Nova gasser front clip.
1964 was the first year for 5 lug, Your engine and trans are worth however much anyone will pay. But 500-1000 is about right. Novas had a specific nova only chevy v8, the oil filter was recessed into the block and they are taped for a pivot ball for the manual trans linkage, as well as having their own casting #'s. If its the motor he needs to complete his car, and the date codes are right its worth a considerable bit. These Chevy II 283s will take a 4 inch bore no problem making them a 302.
My mistake, I was thinking '65 was the first year for 5 lug. The guy I mentioned is wanting the whole car. Something about his first car was a '65 coupe with a 283/pg. Last offer was about $2200 more than what I paid for it...
2200 more! Just what seems to be your dilemma? If it was mine, it'd be sitting in his driveway right now. There are always more.
Yep, the whole car and boxes of parts. No delima... just waiting to see how bad he really wants it before I let it go. To be honest its kind of special to me as well. Its only the 2nd '65 I have actually seen in person. Not that it is rare or anything, you just don't see them around here and that would have been the best candidate in my eyes for the gasser I've always wanted. But if or when it does sell, that will be the backing to my frankenstein dream of mashing the totalled '01 Chevy extended cab with a 40's-50's pickup of whatever make. From the suspension/brakes to the instrument cluster and every last inch of wiring... The 5.3 and 4L80E should make it a good cruiser. Although it would be a long build. But thats a dream too...
I would not let the Nova go. do not need to go with straight axle, especially on a low budget. You can build the 283 to do some good performing, and have the powerglide beefed up but, need positraction. Had a '65 SS with 327 that was blueprinted to 365HP. stuffing late model crap into a early truck does nothing for me, and will be harder and more expensive than you think - the original Frankenstein can never be topped.
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