THE Project Car Thread

[74novaman]

I know there are other motorheads on here. Thought we'd start a thread on our car projects to show off a bit.

I have to dig out some pictures, then I'll start making some posts.

Chime in with what your project is, how far along you are on it, what your plans are with it...

Gearheads unite!

[74novaman]

My first one is of course, the reason for my handle here.

1974 Chevy Nova. Got someone else project in high school. Been working on it off and on since. Project is currently on hold, awaiting my gun addiction to subside a little to open up some funds.

It had a 4 speed and a 350 small block through high school. True duel exhaust dumped in front of the rear tires....loud, obnoxious....perfect high school car. Then one summer it went KA BOOM. Towed it to the shop....drained the oil and anti freeze came out. A trashed motor started the rebuild.

Here she was waiting on me to come home and start working on her when I was in college:


Front end yanked off:


Why I needed a new motor:


Frame yanked off:


Old suspension parts pulled off:


Frame and arms were sandblasted, repainted. New bushings, springs, shocks. Upgraded from drum to disk brakes:


And here is how she sits now:


And then I graduated, got married, moved, started work, lost work, started work, on and on. With a wife in Med school, its gonna be a few years before I have the money to keep working on it.

[74novaman]

My whole family has projects...

Meet my little sisters 53 Chevy pickup.



Its going onto an 80s S-10 frame, and has an LS1/6 speed waiting on it. Modern suspension, modern engine, old school looks.

80s S-10 frame halfway prepped:


Test mounting the body on the new frame:


Test fitting the LS1:

[schufflerbot]

i didn't think posting pics of hot ladies was allowed!!

LOVE both of these projects and cannot wait to see the next milestone images!!

how bored out were those cylinder walls before the piston exited stage left?

[74novaman]

how bored out were those cylinder walls before the piston exited stage left?

I didn't build the motor (someone elses project I bought 1/2 done) but I dont think they were. One of the valves dropped and that's what caused the boom. You could even see the oval pattern the valve was wearing into the head before it broke. That's what I get for buying someone elses problem I guess!

[schufflerbot]

not a resto video, but a finished product:

[youtube][/youtube]

[Lupine]

That 74 Nova didn't happen to have bondo around the trunk key lock. I bought a 74 Nova from a friend. His mom had won the car in the divorce settlement. So his dad took a shotgun to the rear of it. lol. Replaced the rear window and bondo'd the trunk. Same blue color. Traded it for a Mustang in 86.

[74novaman]

When I bought it she was primer grey. Original color was some horrible lemon shade of yellow. It wasn't blue until I had it painted in 2003, so not the same car.

Funny story though!

[74novaman]

And I need to encourage others to share their projects...

I know I'm far from the only one on here that has the gearhead sickness as well as the gun disease!

[nakedbike]

74 260Z :) Going to get started as soon as I get an AR I've got small block plans for this one.

[74novaman]

Nice! Those little cars are fun, I had a buddy in high school that had a quick one.

[alexrex20]

[youtube][/youtube]

For anyone in the Houston area, I usually have the car at the Coffee & Cars meet in Spring, and at the Nifty Fifties meet (also in Spring) once they start up again. Just look for the green/gray Audi with the motor sticking out the hood. ;)

[mrmagnum]

Good looking projects, here is the beginning of mine....74 Plymouth Duster

[74novaman]

[youtube][/youtube]

For anyone in the Houston area, I usually have the car at the Coffee & Cars meet in Spring, and at the Nifty Fifties meet (also in Spring) once they start up again. Just look for the green/gray Audi with the motor sticking out the hood. ;)

That's awesome.

[mrmagnum]

Not an old school but did a minor update to the current ride.