1977 Chevrolet Nova - trpositd

I saw the latest “Disco Nova” in the September issue and thought it was time to share mine.  I’ve had this car for twenty years, originally buying it to drive to college.  At the time, it sported dog dish hub caps and a custom paint scheme I called “Urban Camouflage” consisting of faded red, touch-up brown and natural rust.  

It was a straight six, but is now on its third small block.  The engine is .040 over 350, with 9 to 1 compression, a Crane cam (228 duration, 480 lift), World Products S/R Torquer heads, a Summit Stage 3 Air Gap manifold, and a Holley 770 Street Avenger carb.  I had to change the cam after my last trip to Atco flattened two lobes(those pesky oil additive problems).  The ignition is MSD with their Super HEI kit.

The headers are mismatched 1 5/8 inch (I crunched the driver side header at the car wash because the front is so low.  It got caught on the chain drive mechanism.  They had to close the car wash while the tow truck lifted the car and pulled it out.  The header folded like an accordion.  It took a sawzall and pry bar to remove it). They connect to 18 inch long 3 inch diameter extensions, cutouts, and 2 ½ inch Flowmaster mufflers.

The trans is a TH350 with a Fairbanks shift kit and 2500 stall converter.

The radiator is from my old 1972 Cadillac El Dorado.  I replaced the mechanical fan with two 9C1 Caprice junkyard electric pieces.  It also has auxiliary trans and oil coolers up front.

The back tires are 275/50/15 BFG Drag Radials; the fronts are 15 year old off-brand radials; the wheels are 15 x 7 Cragar SS.  It has a line-lock with the switch mounted on the shifter handle to help heat up the rear tires.  I cut 1 and a half coils out of the front springs.  The rear has Gabriel air shocks actuated by a 1977 vintage Sears controller that I found on Ebay.  The suspension has all poly bushings and I added subframe connectors and slapper bars.

The body now sports a Rustoleum red paint job (yes, I rolled it on in the driveway). The hood scoop is an aftermarket Boss 429 style and the stripes are Boss 302 inspired (I like Mustangs, too).  I run a Holley electric fuel pump and have two fuel pressure gages mounted on the rear of the scoop - one for the inlet and one for a return line to ease the load on the pump.  Both bumpers are fiberglass.  I dumped the impact bracing and flush mounted the front bumper (totally useless in a crash, but it looks better).  I stenciled the letters TRPOSITD on the front bumper to reflect my wife’s name for the car (That Rusty Piece Of S --- In The Driveway).

The interior has second hand RCI seats with 5 point harnesses in front, and a sheepskin cover over the original duct tape repaired rear seat.  It has Auto Meter gages and a Hurst V-Matic shifter with a homemade cue ball shifter knob.  It has a parts store plug in fan since there’s no a/c.  It also has a third brake light on the rear deck from my old 1986 Caprice.

It’ll never be a show car, but I enjoy it anyway.  My sons Nicky and Chris (9 and 7 years old) always yell “go faster!” when they ride in it.  Thanks to my father-in law, Earl, and my good friend, Bob, for all of their help, and especially to my wife, Melinda, for her patience and first aid skills.