New guy from SoCal

As has already been said, that is a great looking wagon! I've had both a '65 Nova SS and a '67 Nova, but both were just lowly two doors, never stepped up to a Nova wagon . I once passed on a FACTORY four speed '64 Nova wagon, still regret it to this day. Again, looking forward to more pics, welcome!

Arvid Svendsen

 

LRS

so dude....whats the plans for her?

 

I bought the car about a year ago. I was expecting to use it as a daily driver, but a few things came up over the last year and I wasn't able to get everything fixed on it that I wanted to. I think I've driven in about 475 miles and 460 was on the trip home from buying it. I really haven't done much to the car since I bought it. Here is a list of stuff that the seller sent me when I was looking into buying it:
______________________________________
Motor is a Targetmaster 350 with about 30 k
New Motor mounts
Doug Throlley Y-tri headers with ceramic coated
New exhaust with Dual Dynamax mufflers
200r4 trans from a 1987 GN with a D5 converter
TCI vacuum lockup switch
Bowtie over drives trans crossmember with New trans mount
CPP S-10 front disc brake conversion with New Calipers
CPP mini subframe kit with upper and lower tubular control arms (http://www.classicperform.com/NewProducts/2006/NewFiles/NovaSubFrame.htm)
CPP Front Sway bar Kit
New KYB's front and rear
New rear 5 leaf springs
New front stock coil springs with 1 coil removed
New front coil spring perches
All New front steering ie: ball joints, tie rods, etc....
New power steering ram
New brake lines hard and soft
New rear brake shoes
New rear Brake cylinders
New mini starter
New aluminum radiator
New Hei
17" Boyd Hoopsters
floors and roof have been POR 15 and dynamated
New front seat belts
All New window felts
All New Rubber seals ie: windshield, doors, rear side glass, etc.....
All windows and door mechanisms removed and greased
New passanger door mechanism changed
New window cranks
New headliner
front and rear seats have been recently rebuilt
outside body has been sanded and sealed
primered and single stage painted by Macco in fremont ( still has warranty )
New rear tail light lens
New felt in the doors where the window slides on
New outside mirrors. drivers and passaengers
New door and lock gaskets
rebuilt rear tail gate window crank
New windlace
New Grill
New Bumpers front and rear
New signal lights front and rear

What needs to still be done IMO:

I tightened the steering but still couldn't get all the play out.
the exhaust still has to be finished off (just dumps over rear axle)
one speaker has to be installed
fuel gauge is acting strange ( dunno why )
rear cargo area has to be customized ( you could leave it but I wouldn't )
radiator bottom bracket could be refabed ( it works but it's kinda micky moused )
could use new brake pads in the front (I think new ones might make it stop better. stops fine now but theres always better )
need New shifter knob
______________________________________


In addition to what the seller told me, here are some things that I think need to fixed (off the top of my head):

• steering box needs to be replaced, it has about 2" of play - I have a replacement sitting in my shop
• should be converted to manual steering - power steering wasn't working well, so power steering ram and pump have been disconnected. I have the parts needed to convert to manual steering
• exhaust was mounted poorly (no rubber mounts) and needs to be finished so that it doesn't terminate under the car
• I don't like the way the brake pedal feels - the car stops but the pedal feels hard. Not sure if new brake pads (like the seller noted above) would fix the issue.
• some wiring issues need to be worked out - fuel gauge doesn't work and dash lights flash when brake is pressed
• needs a shift indicator
• new door panels
• new carpet
• headliner - seller was doing poor job of installing the headliner and stopped about half way through. I removed it and may need to buy a new headliner.
• front doors don't open from inside - seller took mechanisms apart for greasing and now they don't work
  
  

The plan is to tackle the steering issues first. Haven't decided if I'm going to do this myself, or take it to someone that has a lift.

I'm also not a big fan of the wheels, so I have to decide what I'm going to do. They're a little big IMO, and look like they'll need new tires soon. 16" Torque Thrust II's or just some plain jane steel wheels with caps are more my style.

-LRS

 

holy....sounds like she was great purchase!!
thats quite the NEW list

i get the steering thing.....the old push/pull rams werent exactly a great idea....(Ford did them too)

 

Spent the last couple of weekends cleaning the wagon up and taking car of some of the smaller/easy issues.

Building cribbing boxes this weekend, then hoping to tackle the steering box and manual steering conversion soon after.

 

LRS! Very nice wagon!

Sounds like you're in my part of "so cal". Perhaps I'll see you on the road soon.

 

Where are you in SoCal? I'm in the Riverside area.

Went with a buddy tonight to look at a car and he bought it - 62 Chevy II Wagon. I think we'll do some cruising Sunday!

 

Oh and I've had a busy 2 or 3 weeks of doing some stuff to the wagon to get it to daily driver status:

• made cribbing boxes - the rockers are about 22" off of the ground right now.
• steering box replaced
• converted to manual steering - need to take it to get aligned
• exhaust finished off - my first shot at doing tailpipes and I'm very happy
• engine bay cleaned up and painted (as well as I could without removing the engine and other items.

Purchased:

• shift indicator
• new dipstick and tube
• grounding strap
• knob for shift column (installed)
• battery tray (installed)

Pics will be posted at some point

 

Here's an updated list of what I've done over the last month or so:

• made cribbing boxes - was able to get the rockers are about 22" off of the ground for steering box replacement
• steering box replaced
• converted to manual steering
• exhaust finished off - my first shot at doing tailpipes and I'm very happy
• engine bay cleaned up and painted (as well as I could without removing the engine and other items.
• touch up paint on engine
• steering column and steering wheel cleaned up painted
• added seam sealer to tailgate channel area, seam sealer painted
• fabricated and installed spacer for alternator
• shift knob, battery tray, grounding strap, hood stops, cowl to hood weatherstriping, purchased and installed
• fixed glove box - was locked & shut - no keys seemed to work.
• gas gauge troubleshooting - I think I've narrowed the problem down to a bad sending unit.

Purchased:

• shift indicator
• new dipstick and tube
• finned aluminum valve cover, air cleaner cover and breather

... and some pics...
Longroof repairs, 03.16.12-04.10.12

 

Here are some pics from a couple of weeks ago. my buddy and I took our wagons out for some pics:

04.15.12 - A short cruise, a hike, and another short drive....


I need to update my list of what I've fixed too - I plan on using the wagon as a daily driver starting next week :banana::banana:

 

took the car on it's first real road trip since I brought it home... 200 miles round trip. Here are the pics:

Longroof Camping in Malibu Creek SP




_

 

Kepp it up, LongroofSociety! Looking great!

 

took some pics of wagons at the SoCal Novas PCH cruise. Also saw some non-novas at Donut Derelicts beforehand:
05.19.12 - PCH Cruise Wagons