My new 1968 Nova L79 project.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Jason...they are most likely 2 or 3 different colors....I believe the codes related to the engine/trans combo application for each vehicle. It will be interesting to see if any other 68 owners have color code info available. You need to rig up some rollers to hold the driveshaft and allow it to spin while you apply paint with a small brush....a foam one might work best.

wilma

[jasonL78]

In the picture it does look yellow. That would be the last stripe towards the transmission. The three stripes were 14 inches from the rear. Did you find any on your blue nova?

[MosportGreen66]

Jason,

Send the drive shaft to Quanta and have them reskin it. Much more correct than blasting and painting.

Dan

[jasonL78]

reskin it????

[MosportGreen66]

I imagine they put it on a lave. The result is a high polished finish. Apply the driveshaft paint and then hit with a satin clear for proper protection.

Dan

[jasonL78]

That's what I thought you were referring to a lathe and have it turned and polished. I wouldn't call it a re-skin. They are most likely removing material which I don't care for. I would have one made before I go that route. Even a new piece of steel you buy has some sort of scale from the heat treating and forming process. Or something on it to protect it from surface rust. I'm sure they weren't that shinny when they were new. But that's just my opinion. I have a couple of ideas I am going to try.

Thanks for the reply.
Jason

[Nova Jed]

Jason, I would have to dig out my driveshaft to check, but I think mine may have had green in it. I will check now that I am thinking of it.

[Nova Jed]

Mine is an 05D 69 Nova. 6cyl Torque Drive car originally. 2.73 open rear. The stripes start 12" from the end of the tube by the tranny yoke.

Colors are ( respectively going from trans to rear) orange, brown, and green.

Jed

[jasonL78]

Jed thanks for looking for me. With mine being a factory 3 speed car and 1 of 317 total production cars with this borg warner M13 3 speed transmission I don't think I will find another to compare it too. If the stripe has something to do with what transmission was in the car. Still very interesting. I am going to go with 2 orange stripes and one yellow I think.

Can you take a picture of yours and post it or e-mail it to me. I would like to compare yours to mine. Maybe the second stripe on mine should be brown? But to me the first 2 rings look the same color?

[Nova Jed]

I will take a picture tonight and email it to you and then you could post it.

[jasonL78]

Brent Johnson e-mailed me a picture of the drive shaft from his 1968 SS350 nova he used to own. Orange, brown, and green stripe. It was a 4 speed car. Interesting how jeds 69 automatic and the 68 4 speed car have the same colors?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Brentsold68.png

[Nova Jed]

Email sent Jason

[jasonL78]

Jeds 69 drive shaft. What a great picture..

Thanks Jed

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/69novadriveshaft.png

[Nova Jed]

Thanks Jason ! I took Marlins advice on finding that. Wipe it with wax and grease remover, let it dry and spray lacquer clear over it to preserve it. As you can see, it works.

Jed

[jasonL78]

Well I think my drive shaft came out nice. I went with orange brown and yellow.


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/l79driveshaft.png

[67 Nova Boy]

Jason...very nice job!!

I want to know who turned while you painted? Like the wheel action on the dolleys!

Dave

[jasonL78]

LOL... I figured you guys would like my wheel set up. Some times you just have to think out of the box. No need for help, I am a one man show.

[Nova Jed]

I need lessons Jason! Looks great!

[jasonL78]

Jed is Benny coming out to leabanon valley labor day weekend to race? If so you should go and you guys can stop by the shop to see the car?

[Nova Jed]

Not sure Jason? That would be fun.

[Nova Jed]

Not sure Jason? That would be fun.

[jasonL78]

I found something very interested on the L79 tonight. I would never think I would see a fiber optic wire on a 1968 nova. Was this common on GM cars in 1968? The fiber wire comes off the corner of the dash light over to the ash tray. When I pulled the dash out I seen this wire but never really looked at it until I broke the dash down over the weekend to clean everything up. I was shocked and thought it was a really neat option. On the 1968 nova ash tray which is a 1 year only part the fiber wire pushes into this little plastic tab. I guess when you pulled the ash tray out to clean the ashes out you would have to unplug this fiber from the ash tray housing. I have never seen this before at least on a 1968 nova.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Dashfiber2.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/dashfiber.png

[L78racer]

i had a '68 nova that had the same setup. it had custom interior but i don't know if that makes a difference on the ashtray optic.

[jasonL78]

Not as rare as I thought.... I guess 7,508 novas in 1968 got the RPO U28 ash tray lamp option according to the nova resources page. It had to be part of a package I would think. My car has custom interior also. Still kind of neat. They offered this option in 1969 also.....

Jason

[Nova Jed]

I pulled a couple of those sockets out of various year GMs over the years. It provides just enough light in the ashtray.

Jed

[jasonL78]

I finally got my driver side fender bolted onto the car today. I have been real busy with all the small parts like the heater box assembly, steering column, dash, wiring harness etc. These things take a lot of time to detail out. I will have my AC suit case assembly Monday night from Vintage Air. Once I get my AC box installed I am going to install the passenger side fender and finish the front end assembly, the grill, headlight bezels etc. Then onto getting it running, I only have a couple things left to do. The exhaust, install the radiator and distributor then add coolant. I hope to have it running in a couple of weeks.
Pictures from today.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/fender2.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/frontfender.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/steeringcolumn.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/steeringwheel1.png

[kwhizz]

The "Talent" of the people on this site never ceases to amaze me......Great Job Jason!!!!

[jasonL78]

The AC suit case assembly came yesterday. I installed it last night; man this engine compartment is tight. Not enough room to do anything. LOL! I hope I never have to change that Number 6 spark plug…..

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Image5.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Image4.jpg

[Mr70]

You ain't kidd'n.....Looks nice.

[Nova Jed]

Look at all that good stuff!

[jasonL78]

Yesterday I was like a kid on Christmas morning. My NOS 68-69 grill showed up. The box shows its age but the only thing that matters is what’s inside! All the trim on the front of the L79 will all be NOS. This was the last piece I needed. I didn’t think that would be possible 40+ years later.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/grill.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Grill1.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Grill2.jpg

[Salvatore]

Nice!!

[Plowman]

x2 Nice!

[kwhizz]

Great..................

[SS427]

Nice find!

[Nova Jed]

Jealous!

[302moz]

What are you going to do for the rivets?

[jasonL78]

Found a Nos set on ebay. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/shocked.gif They were the exact same measurements as the originals I took out. The originals are aluminum. You can find the steel ones but the aluminum ones seem to be harder to find. My guess is they installed these with some sort of air clamping tool to give that flat top and rolled over rivet on the bottom side. Just a guess on my end. What I ended up doing is using my vise and another set of hands. I just crushed the rivet in the vise. It is almost impossible to get a punch in from the back side with the angle of the grill. The vise worked great. It gave it that flat top and almost perfect rolled flat rivet look on the backside. I will post some pictures after I paint the top of the grill black. A 68-69 nova detail....

Jason

[300deluxeL79]

hey jason, whose valve covers did you use and your take on them. or did you rechrome the originals? thanks.

[jasonL78]

I re-chromed an original set of valve covers that came with the car. A previous owner had bought them. Actually I had a lot of parts re-chromed. The valve covers, air cleaner lid, the rear nova emblems, my door handles (outside and inside) the floor shift trim ring and fender bezels. I still have to have my original bumpers and bumper guards re-chromed. Re-chroming is expensive but with what I have been finding out about aftermarket fit and finish you are so better off in the end. Not all parts you can restore and have to resort to aftermarket. It all depends on what results you want in the end I guess.

A quick story on my green 68 L78 nova, I used the aftermarket fenders for the restoration. (That’s all that was available to me at the time) I thought less work. Ya that was a mistake! I returned the passenger side fender 3 times until I got a door gap I could live with. So about 6 years later a guy stops by to buy some nova parts. I show him the 68 and he looks down the side of the car and says you have aftermarket fenders. I say how the hell can you tell. He said been there and done that. He was doing a 69 and had it at the body shop, the car was all painted. When they went to put the side trim on, they noticed the front marker light opening on the fenders was like a half inch higher. it fell in line with the side trim. Oh did he sound like he was ticked off. He said the way to tell is look down the side of the car, on a nova the side trim goes under the door handle and above the key lock. I never noticed that before because the 68 didn't have side trim.. So since then I always try to inspect all aftermarket parts before I purchase them. Just a heads up on aftermarket 68-72 nova fenders. Maybe they have changed them since I purchased mine 6 or 7 years ago?
Sorry I got off the original topic. I have been screwed so many times on aftermarket parts. Don’t get me wrong some are good but the bad outweigh the good.

[Mr70]

Who replated your valve covers &amp; air cleaner lid?
Did they flash chrome em properly &amp; do you recommend them?

[jasonL78]

Not sure what they did? I never asked for flash chroming??? I am pretty sure they are just triple chrome plated. I guess I learned something new today. Thats what's great about these forums. Maybe you can explain flash chroming and what parts got this?

The company I use is New England Chrome Plating in CT. They have done a lot for me in the past couple of years. The last order took a bit longer than I expected 8-10 weeks. But I didn't need them back asap either. Lead time is around 4-6 weeks to get your parts back usally.

[jasonL78]

These are the rivets I bought. The heads are a little bit smaller in diameter but if they were clamped or riveted at the factory the heads would have been flattened out more like the original rivet pictured. After I crushed them in the vise the head is real close to the original rivet.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/grillrivets.png
After I painted the top of the grill tonight. http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/grillrivetinstalled.png

[jasonL78]

Passenger side fender is on. I just couldn’t resist putting the NOS headlight bezels and NOS eye brow moldings on the car.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/passengersidefender.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/frontend.png

I installed my original AC pump that I had rebuilt. Now it’s really tight on this side.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/enginebay.png

[Xplantdad]

Looks great Jason!

[jasonL78]

Well I have some good news. The L79 is now runing and man does she sound Good! Very very responsive! The bad!!!!! The dam heater core is leaking. It was a brand new GM unit. I was so sick to my stomach knowing I have to take that dam AC box back out just to get to the heater core, which is located in the inner heater box. I am hoping I can just remove the inner fender to get the ac box back out without removing the dam passenger side fender.. Just took 10 steps backwards.

Make me feel better and someone tell me this has happened to them before????

Jason

[napa68]

Oh yea. Air conditioned Corvette. I do feel your pain <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif

[jasonL78]

That does make me feel better knowing some else has had it happen to them!!!!

[ZAPPER68]

I feel your pain...I had to pull the heater core out of my 69 428 CJ Mustang one time.....thankfully it was only one time! What a royal PITA that was.

[Fireman_Ryan]

What a great project! You hve dome some great work. I look foward to seeing some more photos as you finish up.

[jasonL78]

Finally the car is back together with all the bugs worked out. The L79 has a very good tone to her.
Now onto the dash install so I can install the steering column and take this baby for its first ride down the driveway!
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/photoJPGmotor.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/th_IMG_0256.jpg (http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0256.mp4)

[day2killa]

I remember getting to this point in the restoration, could not wait to drive it, looking good

[Xplantdad]

Looks and sounds great!

[Nova Jed]

Looks awsome!

[300deluxeL79]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[Plowman]

Looking good and nice.

[jasonL78]

I have been taking small steps in getting the car back together. I finally got all the AC duct work and dash back into the car. I installed the steering column in the car last night. Tonight I actually moved the car for the first time using the clutch and steering wheel. Sure did feel nice to take that big step. I took a couple pictures of the car outside. It sure does look nice. I can’t wait to get the side trim on the car.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Novaoutside2.png

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Novaoutside1.png

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Novaoutside.png

I actually came across a NOS rear bumper. I just had to have it and I got a good deal on it.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/NOSrearbumber.png

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/rearbumper1.png

The dash all installed.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Novadash.png

[Salvatore]

great on the bumper Jason. Great on everything really!

[68COPO]

That's a really sweet looking car Jason and done right!
Rick

[Nova Jed]

Simply Awsome!!!

[kwhizz]

Absolutely &quot;Awe-Some&quot;........... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwhizz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Absolutely &quot;Awe-Some&quot;........... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif </div></div>

X2 to that!!

[scuncio]

Love it! I really like the whitewalls.

[jasonL78]

I have been picking away at the interior slowly. I finished up the headliner and sail panels today. Overall it came out good a couple of small creases that will come out over time. I also finished up the dash and A-pillars.
I just got a phone call from the chrome shop that my bumpers are done. I should have them next week. I think I see light at the end of the tunnel.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Headliner_zps225ce6d2.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/headliner1_zpsca3cc1c0.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/dash12_zpse1bc8d27.png

[Nova Jed]

Looks great! Fwi, a heat gun and ever so gentle movement will make those wrinkles disappear. I just wish I had something that original to restore!

Jed

[firstgenaddict]

I love the dark blue, the car looks great!

[jasonL78]

I was going through my interior pieces which the previous owner bagged and tagged real well. I only found 5 female seat belts, two for the front and three for the rear? This car is a bench seat car. Are 2 for the front seat correct? Was the nova considered a 5 passenger car? Being a bench seat car I would have thought, it would have had a center seat belt in the front?

[jasonL78]

Another thing I need a little help with is; in the above picture of the dash looking at the shifter trim ring. Does the carpet go over the top of this trim ring then the chrome ring over the top kind of sandwiching the carpet between the two? Or does the carpet go under the above picture trim ring then the chrome trim piece? I didn’t remove the carpet, so I really don’t know what is the correct way to install the shifter boot assembly? I wonder if it is in the assembly manual shows the correct way.
Jason

[x Baldwin Motion]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I was going through my interior pieces which the previous owner bagged and tagged real well. I only found 5 female seat belts, two for the front and three for the rear? This car is a bench seat car. Are 2 for the front seat correct? Was the nova considered a 5 passenger car? Being a bench seat car I would have thought, it would have had a center seat belt in the front? </div></div>

69 Nova bench, two seat belts

[Nova Jed]

The rubber boot goes onto the sheetmetal, the black ring screws to the floor, then the carpet tucks under the tabs on the black ring. Finally, the trim ring goes over top of it all.

Hope that helps?

Jed

[WILMASBOYL78]

Jason...bench seat 69 has 3 sets of belts in the front...look at the pics in the slideshow for the 69 Granny Nova...also, our 70 black bench seat car, which has a floor shift, has 3 sets. Hope that helps...wilma

http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff433/WILMASBOYL78/1969%20Granny%20Nova/?albumview=slideshow

[jasonL78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nova Jed</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The rubber boot goes onto the sheetmetal, the black ring screws to the floor, then the carpet tucks under the tabs on the black ring. Finally, the trim ring goes over top of it all.

Hope that helps?

Jed </div></div>

Thanks Jed, Thats what I thought but wasn't sure.

[jasonL78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jason...bench seat 69 has 3 sets of belts in the front...look at the pics in the slideshow for the 69 Granny Nova...also, our 70 black bench seat car, which has a floor shift, has 3 sets. Hope that helps...wilma

http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff433/WILMASBOYL78/1969%20Granny%20Nova/?albumview=slideshow

</div></div>

Thanks for the pictures Tom. So the link you posted of the front bench seat has 5 female buckles in the one picture. I am guessing this 69 nova has the shoulder seat belt option?. My car does have the shoulder seat belt option also.We all know 68 novas have some odd differences. I just find it odd that the previous owner removed only 5 pairs of seat belts. 2 were bagged for the front and three bagged for the rear. I will have to do a little more digging. Thanks for the help.


Jason

[WILMASBOYL78]

Jason...I checked the photos of our yellow 68 car...bench seat..3 sets in the front seat...this car does not have the optional shoulder harness.

http://www.chevynova.org/TomWilliams/1968ButternutYellow/Page1.html

I think there should be 5 female buckles if you have the shoulder harness option.

tew

[jasonL78]

You are correct Tom. I just was checking all my 68 nova pictures and found Tommy Turners low mile Gold 68 nova had the 5 female buckles for the shoulder seat belt option. Thanks again...

The wife will be happy! She will now have a spot next to me...LOL

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/tn_20080704027-1_edited-1_zpsba965516.jpg

[jasonL78]

I am getting ready to redo my interior panels for the L79. I bought the non-assembled door and rear panels. What has everyone used to hold the new panels to the old metal tops? From the factory they looked like the metal was crimped to the cardboard. I thought about using a rivet to hold the new panel to the old top frame. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Nova Jed]

Jason, doing the rivets is the best way to be able to line up the door panels onto the door. If you use the metal reinforcement, you can put that onto the top of the door after you have the new panel screwed to the door. Just an easy way to have everything lined up when everything is finished.

[jasonL78]

Thanks Jed. After looking at the top metal panel and removing the old door panel material. I just re-used the crimp the factory used. I bent all the tabs up by using the end of a file as a guide. The hole is square that was punched from the factory. The end of the file through the hole let me bend all the tabs up. Then just putting the new door panels over the tabs; line everything up, and on a hard surface use a hammer and tap the cardboard over the tabs. When it was all done it looked just like the factory. No rivets needed. I did both my door panels today and they came out great. Still waiting on my rear panels they are on back order. I will take some pictures when I do my rear panels.

[Nova Jed]

I forgot that I had done that in the past too. Cool!

[Tommy]

Jason, i don't own that gold Nova anymore. Zach Carter has that car now in Texas. He has really cleaned it up and made a sweet ride out of it. Like that one though, my old blue 68 also had the same seatbelt combination.

Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif

[jasonL78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tommy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jason, i don't own that gold Nova anymore. Zach Carter has that car now in Texas. He has really cleaned it up and made a sweet ride out of it. Like that one though, my old blue 68 also had the same seatbelt combination.

Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif </div></div>

I new you sold that car tommy. It sure is a nice original 68...

Ok I tried installing my carpet today in the L79. The rear piece went great. But the front carpet piece that goes over the tunnel fits like crap. Anyone have any tips? I don't have a carpet steamer. Will a heat gun work. I was afraid of burning the carpet with the heat gun. I am actually thinking of ordering another carpet. This was a trim parts carpet which I thought was the preferred choice by everyone. I was so mad I had to walk away from it……

[Nova Jed]

I used Auto Custom Carpet and I had the same trouble. I used the original style carpet sound deadener under mine. Seemed to help a bit? You almost have to cover it in plastic and put a couple of bricks on for awhile. In the foot wells that is. It takes a little bit for it to relax. Also getting the seatbelt bolts in place help too.

[olredalert]

----Jason,,,This isnt the best time to put carpet in as its really good to sit the carpet outside in the sun. I dont really have an answer for you except that. I dont think I would use a heat gun. Sunlamp maybe???
----Secondly, I dont think Trim parts make thier own carpet anyway. They probaby source it from Auto Custom Carpet......Bill S

[jasonL78]

Thanks for the tips. I checked on the carpet last night I think I am going to be ok. I just needed to walk away. Sometimes when you come back to a problem it just goes so much better...

[jasonL78]

Windshield installed.... top window trim installed... lower trim is fighting me.(had to walk away) Lol!

Has anyone had any luck with the lower windshield trim outer clip. The set I bought aren't even close to my 1 original I have? Any tips? Am I missing something?

http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/store/product/14781/Windshield-lower-molding-clips/

[Nova Jed]

Performace years Pontiac has the right clips.

[jasonL78]

Jed are these the ones you used? (RFF44B)

They look different then the ones I bought, which are the ones from the link.

[69L78]

Jason, I have a used set if you need them.

[jasonL78]

I may need them.I will let you know. Those kind of look like the ones I have but have a notch on the top side. Is there a coating on them? After I posted I went back up to the garage and looked at another piece of trim with the original clip on it. I don't think I had the clip in far enough on the trim so the angle was off. So the clip wasn't lining up with the bolt. So know I have to bend that clip back because I tried every other option before walking away. I will try again tonight. I will figure it out.

Jason

[69L78]

Jason, These do have the ruberized coating on them, these are off a 69 Camaro.

[68_L79_Malibu]

Hi Jason,
The work that you have done to bring this L79 Nova back to better than new condition is absolutely astonishing. Well Done!
It was great talking with you.

[jasonL78]

I have been slowly making progress on the L79. Today I picked up my seats from the upholstery shop. I had everything ready so I could just install them. The only thing left in the interior is to mount the front seat belts. It’s coming along slowly… no reason we won’t be ready for spring. The next big challenge is straightening the one year only body side trim. The door trim will be a big challenge. They have a lot of door dings in them. Sorry about the pictures they are from my phone. I think the lens is a little dirty.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/rearseat_zps2507ae4b.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Frontseat1_zps28f6c133.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/frontseat_zps8ee581c5.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/FebuaryNova3_zps6dcde109.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Novadoorpanel_zpsd4aa24a8.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/FebuaryNova_zpsb367478b.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/FebuaryNova2_zps8d011c92.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/FebuaryNova1_zps530206c8.png

[WILMASBOYL78]

I saw those seats today in person...they look very nice...Jason is doing a fine job on this rare Nova..should be killer when it hits the streets... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

wilma

[Xplantdad]

Looks great Jason!!

[Salvatore]

that is a killer color Jason. Looks great!

[68COPO]

Beautiful car/job Jason!!!
Rick

[kwhizz]

Wow!!!!.....Just Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[elonblock]

It's a beautiful looking ride!

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

Great job Jason,you do good work!!

[jasonL78]

I mentioned I had to restore my one year only body side trim for the L79. Well I have acquired a bunch of 68 trim pieces over the years. I just couldn’t bring myself to junk these pieces. Well when I got all my pieces together I was sick to my stomach, saying to myself how the hell am I going to straighten the 6 pieces I need.
Did you ever do something that just amazed yourself? Well tonight I did the impossible in my eyes. It took me three hours to work all the dings and scratches out of one door trim piece. I Filed down all the high spots sanded the trim with 80, 220 then 600 grit sandpaper. Then I took it to the buffing wheel and this is the end result. I just sat back and said I can’t believe I just did that to this piece of trim. I am having a beer only 5 more to go. LOL!
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/1968novatrim_zps98a093fb.png

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/1968doortrim_zpsdaf52db4.png

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/1968Novadoortrim1_zps0355ce5d.png

[Xplantdad]

No beer...get to work <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[67 Nova Boy]

Wow Jason...that looks great! Nice work. You just saved $95 by doing it your self.

Now...was that 5 more trim pieces or... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

Dave
67 Nova Boy

[jasonL78]

LOL... only 1 beer and 5 more trim pieces to go.

[jasonL78]

Finally have all 6 pieces of trim finished. It took me close to 18 hours to bring the trim back to usable condition.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/Finished68trim_zps49e88bd7.png
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/finished68trim1_zpse7602ca6.png
I couldn’t have done this without this piece. Does anyone have an idea what it is? It’s not a small anvil it actually at one time served a purpose? My father got it thirty years ago. He thought to himself that may come in handy in the garage to beat on. LOL
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/railroadtrack_zps55840ec0.png

[Xplantdad]

Looks like a cross section of an I beam...

[Lynn]

That's a section of railroad rail.

[Lynn]

I am having a beer only 5 more to go. LOL!
Five more beers???

[jasonL78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lynn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's a section of railroad rail. </div></div>

Man you got it!!!!

My father was a boiler maker. One day there was all this old railroad rail in the scrap bin at work. So he cut a piece for the garage. What a handy piece to have on the work bench. I use it all the time.

[Lynn]

My grand dad had one on his work bench from the earliest I can remember. He was a tinkerer deluxe. Used to make us rings out of nickels. Still have one around here somewhere.

One of my brothers got it when grand dad died in 1980. Still has it on his work bench.

[jasonL78]

Thats awsome.

[Xplantdad]

There you go! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

[68SSCamaro]

I have one in my garage too. Very handy. Mine is about a foot long. Martin

[jasonL78]

It’s been a long 2 month struggle, 1 side down 1 to go.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/novasidetrim1_zpsfd4f616d.png (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/novasidetrim1_zpsfd4f616d.png.html)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/novabodysidetrim_zps83710178.png (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/novabodysidetrim_zps83710178.png.html)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/novasidetrim_zps45ee22ac.png (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/novasidetrim_zps45ee22ac.png.html)

[Xplantdad]

Jason, it looks wonderful!!

[L78M22Rag]

Very nice... nice stance too!

[bergy]

WOW!!!!

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

You did a great job there Jason,bet you can't wait to test drive her.

[69VN]

I like that Fathom Blue in your Chevy II! That 327 w/AC, smog system and a factory 3spd. is killer!!!!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

[jasonL78]

Thanks everyone I couldn't have done it without all the support of this site and the nova forum. Hope to have the drivers side trim on tomorrow. Just a couple of small details to do. I have to put the 4 AC hoses on, charge the system, check the lights, work out any small bugs and put the windshield wipers on. I think thats it. Then to DMV to register the car. I will be the second registered owner. I figure I should be ready for the main voyage in a couple of weeks once the weather gets a little better. I can't wait to get the car outside for some better pictures. Shooting for the first car show in Rhinebeck NY if my sons baseball schedule agrees.

[PxTx]

Trim really looks good, but you've been doing a great job on the whole car!

I'm over at my dad's and seen this:

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/20130413_145911_zps4f9b31ef.jpg

It is an old coal mine cart rail from his uncle. The is a quarter for scale.

[jasonL78]

So did you bring it home for the work bench?

[jasonL78]

Driver’s side trim done! I got the car outside for a couple of pictures.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/4-13-14Nova1_zps61f76cb7.png (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/4-13-14Nova1_zps61f76cb7.png.html)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/4-13-13Nova2_zpsbc67a474.png (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/4-13-13Nova2_zpsbc67a474.png.html)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/4-13-13nova_zps6b0773b0.png (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/jasonchale/media/4-13-13nova_zps6b0773b0.png.html)

[VintageMusclecar]

Outfreakingstanding job. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[BJCHEV396]

WOW!Looks great Jason!Looking forward to the trim that you are gonna do for me.

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VintageMusclecar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Outfreakingstanding job. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif </div></div>


X 1000!

[kwhizz]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xplantdad</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VintageMusclecar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Outfreakingstanding job. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif </div></div>


X 1000! </div></div>

x 1,000,000,000,000

[scuncio]

Beautiful Nova. Nice seeing a non-SS car restored to that caliber!

[jasonL78]

Thanks guys. Wait till I post the video of her running she sounds nasty. As soon as I can figure out how to save the video to my computer. Stay tunned.

[jasonL78]

Let me know if this works for you?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/th_IMG_0442_zpsabadd505.jpg (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/IMG_0442_zpsabadd505.mp4)

[Xplantdad]

Works for me and sounds and looks great!

[jasonL78]

Thanks Bruce. Just a couple more things to finish up. I have to adjust the clutch, I found that out today. The windshield wipers need to be installed and I think my flasher is bad. My directionals don't blink they just stay on solid when the directional is selected? I also found I need to bleed my brakes again. Going to spend the next week or so working out all the little bugs. Then I'm off to DMV.

[Xplantdad]

Cool...it does sound like your flasher is bad...

You have real talent Jason! Thanks for taking us along for the &quot;ride&quot;! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[jasonL78]

Very good news for me today, about 2 years ago I talked with the original owner of my L79. We shared some good memories about his old car. Then Irene struck Louisiana and I haven’t been able to get in touch with him since. I tried several times. Well since the L79 is almost done I wanted to e-mail him or send him some pictures of the car finished. So on Friday I went out on a limb and put a want ad in the Louisiana Shreveport Craig’s list looking for the original owner. Well today he called me. How cool is that! It’s amazing what technology can do for you.

[jasonL78]

Registered the Nova today. I took it out for it's main voyage about 20 miles total. Not one issue. I still need a front end alignment before I really get on it. Well you know I just couldn't resist 1 time to pull some RPM's. The power is different than the L78 I had but I really think this L79 will pull some serious RPMS.

[Xplantdad]

Great...now we need some in car video <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Tracker1]

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae110/guyfromnewf/Nova1_zps83db580b.jpg (http://s962.photobucket.com/user/guyfromnewf/media/Nova1_zps83db580b.jpg.html)


http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae110/guyfromnewf/Nova2_zpscd1edb69.jpg (http://s962.photobucket.com/user/guyfromnewf/media/Nova2_zpscd1edb69.jpg.html)

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae110/guyfromnewf/Nova3_zps1b9b4c10.jpg (http://s962.photobucket.com/user/guyfromnewf/media/Nova3_zps1b9b4c10.jpg.html)

[jasonL78]

Guys how should I go about putting a value on my 68 L79 for insurance or possible re-sale.A restored car has never been sold in an auction or e-bay etc. I only know of 1 restored car that was sold in a private sale.

Jason

[jasonL78]

Wow normally when someone asks what a car is worth we ask for pictures and details to provide a estimated market value. I provided a full rotisserie restoration with detailed pictures and no one has any opinions? I guess I'm on my own.

[Salvatore]

Because the car is rare I bet there are a few thinking about your question Jason before they say anything. Not many out there like yours. Great job you did. I am sure you will get some ideas from the members here in time. Maybe Brent or Rick Thayer have some ideas. How about Dan Palchanes? He is a 68 nova guy.

[Xplantdad]

Jason, maybe get one of the appraisers on this site to do it for you?

[luzl78]

I would think your nova could command $40,000 with such a detailed and awesome restoration.

[jasonL78]

Sam, Bruce, thanks for the replies.

Bruce, one has never sold restored to the public so what would an appraiser use for reference? I just want to make sure I have enough insurance on it. How would I go about convincing the insurance company its worth XXXXX amount of dollars if I have nothing to compare it to? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif

Planning on taking it to the Muscle car Palooza show Memorial Day weekend at Lebanon Valley speed way. Anyone going?

[x Baldwin Motion]

the good collector insurance company's will provide an &quot;agreed upon value&quot; policy, start with MK our sites sponsor. use actual numbers, cost of car and all resto materials, true value of NOS parts, going rate for mech and auto body repair for ALL your time. even if that number exceeds what the market will get it will justify an agreed value. good luck.

[300deluxeL79]

chevy II looks great jason, nice work! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[tom406]

There's a limit with most insurance underwriters as to how much they're willing to &quot;over insure&quot; if your stated value significantly exceeds what could be argued as &quot;market value&quot;. You want to try and make sure you can be made whole again, but the insurance company doesn't want to write a $50K policy to cover restoration costs on someone's $15K car. Sure they can charge higher premiums, but they don't want to make it attractive for you to have a friend &quot;steal&quot; it or set fire to it because you decided you wanted your cash back and there wasn't any way you were going to get it on the open market.

As for the appraisers, you're right that its difficult setting a value when properly restored '68 L79 Novas are so scarce. However, if it were me, I would find some comparable '68 Super Sport 350 and 396 cars, and possibly even reference any '68 L79 Malibus I found and then '69/70 SS 350 and 396 cars. You could argue for using the '66/'67 L79 cars for reference, but their very different body style and unusually high values as of late make them kind of an outlier.

We could go around and around about rarity, and how hard it is to restore a '68 with all of its specific, non reproduced parts, but at the end of the day the underwriters (and if a claim is disputed, the courts) are usually most comfortable with data supported conclusions, even if its somewhat tangential data like I've described above. If I can make a case that other high performance '68 Novas are bringing X dollars, and I find a couple of similar Malibus with the same L79 drivetrain that also brought X dollars, and then a couple of nice &quot;69/'70 Hipo Novas (which most laypeople think look the same) that also bring X, then the underwriter is probably going to feel comfortable signing off on X dollars of coverage. Maybe even X plus 10%.

Good luck!

TOM BRESKE
VIntage Viewpoint LLC
Seattle, WA
Auto Appraisals since '96