1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard

[L78_Nova]

Do you guys think that is the same car ? Color isn't mentioned in the article. In my mind it has always been silver/grey because I was trying to buy a silver 71 at the time... Funny. Love that Nova...

Looking at that picture cost me some time and money. Back then mini tubbing was not very common yet. It was hilarious after I finished because everywhere I went someone would be rolling under my car to check out how I did it. No Detroit Speed back then. My buddies and I would just giggle. Getting it low with (near) stock rails and leafs was a challenge. I sectioned pieces of the trunk floor to accommodate/hide the rear hangers and shackles so I could keep it all tucked and look semi stock from the trunk. Fuel cell for a while then later sectioned both sides of a stock tank and tucked it back under there.

This car is a LOT of fun on the street. 11.60's at the track, with 11:1 solid cammed 358, 5speed (Liberty Faceplated) TKO 600, 9 inch 4:33's



Back to the Green Bastard.

[olredalert]

Originally Posted by L78_Nova

Do you guys think that is the same car ? Color isn't mentioned in the article. In my mind it has always been silver/grey because I was trying to buy a silver 71 at the time... Funny. Love that Nova...

Looking at that picture cost me some time and money. Back then mini tubbing was not very common yet. It was hilarious after I finished because everywhere I went someone would be rolling under my car to check out how I did it. No Detroit Speed back then. My buddies and I would just giggle. Getting it low with (near) stock rails and leafs was a challenge. I sectioned pieces of the trunk floor to accommodate/hide the rear hangers and shackles so I could keep it all tucked and look semi stock from the trunk. Fuel cell for a while then later sectioned both sides of a stock tank and tucked it back under there.

This car is a LOT of fun on the street. 11.60's at the track, with 11:1 solid cammed 358, 5speed (Liberty Faceplated) TKO 600, 9 inch 4:33's

Attachment 214163

Back to the Green Bastard.

----Love the Flys!!!

[L78_Nova]

Back to regular programming;

Another shot of the trunk/tub cleanup and epoxy prime



The panel is trimmed and fitted... same as RH side, MANY trial fits and trims. Tape note to add faux spot weld dimples along drip rail edge then ready to go





Door jamb welding. Striker pulled inside reinforcement plate tight before welding. Plus long reach welding vice grips wherever possible and a screw here or there if required.



Trunk corner reinforcement





Trunk latch box re-installed to new NOS tail panel

[L78_Nova]

The magic of the internet... let's strip the trunk





Done



And re-installed

[L78_Nova]

How does this even happen ?? without damage to the outer skin ??
Ah yes the Green Bastard.



After the better part of 90 minutes and getting creative I managed to get it reasonably straight... sorry for the poor pics the angle makes it still look wonky but it really is much better... trust me

[L78_Nova]

I did not have any photos of roughing out the RH side. not sure if I lost them or just didn't take any. At any rate.. here we go on the left side. Game plan is to rough out the entire panel in 80 grit with the longest board that will fit the particular areas. The 18" board on the roof is probably used most often.
For the top side of the quarters and the doors I have a 30" board.
First one or two rounds with Bondo, then a full spread of polyester glaze after.

I sometimes use an air board for the very first rough cut but after that I do everything by hand with Blocks... start to finish. Never touching it with orbitals.



For the roof seams I first welded the plug welds and inner structure. Then welded a solid bead at the outer joint, slowly building up to a fairly wide bead. 3/8" to 1/2" wide (the raw fit is pretty wide and deep ). For these joints and the seam weld at tail panel above the taillight I used AllMetal filler for the base work



Spreading filler across the entire area then block sanding the majority off to get it straight.







I had also installed all the trim nail heads into the rear window jambs and spot welded them from the back sides before installing the 1/4's.



Not pretty at this point... many rounds and hours to get it straight.

[L78_Nova]

Sealing all the roughed out bodywork with DP90 (Epoxy Primer). Some second round work on the lower rear.



Sill working the tail panel a little.







This picture is actually from Fall of 2019 when I brought the car back home but this shows how it looked when it went to storage for the summer of 2019 (but it still had the front clip on it then).

[L78_Nova]

Fall 2019 Car returns home from storage. With the rear quarters complete the body can now go up on the rotisserie. Full teardown begins (with many detail photos to capture whatever original details remain for reference later).

Here are the rough disassembly steps. So... recall I only have one bay to work in thus the piling of of removed parts under the car for some time.

As returned in Fall 2019 still a roller (actually still driveable).

[L78_Nova]

[L78_Nova]

SIDEBAR;
MCACN 2019 We brought my friend Ken Kiernicki's 69 L78 Chevelle Convertible.



Man I got so sick starting Saturday Night, I was off my feet for two weeks and not fully recovered for a month! Covid this year was a breeze compared to that one.