A few Nova questions

[napa68]

Have you thought of redoing the bench seat but using a memory foam, like in a mattress? Ive seen it in a few high end builds and it would seem to be the ticket for comfort and support while keeping the bench seat esthetic.


http://www.foambymail.com/

Tim

[Postsedan]

I say go for a test drive first. Go find a local Buddy that owns a Nova with Buckets.....offer to fill his gas tank and go for an hour ride......if I owned such a car I would let you have it for a week or longer to experiment.

Note to Bill: A Nova will never give you the same driving experience as your New Corvette.

Dan

[WILMASBOYL78]

Bill...you have done a great job with the car. I was glad to see Jason chime in about the leg room and comfort aspect of the buckets. If you can drive a bucket seat Nova as Dan suggests it could help you make an 'informed' decision. I have driven a few Novas [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] and personally I find the bench seat more comfortable...but each person has to make their own choice. If originality is not an issue, you could look for a set of 72 Nova hi-back buckets....they have more support and perhaps would be more comfortable...but, I kind a think you like things to be correct so this may not work. The deluxe interior will have the upgraded door panels and back seat panels...there will also be armrests in the back. {let me know if you need a pair, I might have a set]

If you do the bucket route...you can adjust the firmness with new foam/padding and also by some work on the springs. I usually test the seats out of the car at the upholstery shop...sometimes with just the padding/foam in place...easy to make changes before the covers go on and they are installed.

As for the shifter...you will need a console model...there is a difference. You will also need the console base which gets welded to the floor...basically the shifter comes out more 'straight up' vs the offset with a bench seat. If you opt for the factory gauge package that means an in-dash tach would replace the current gas gauge [which moves to the console].

If I can help with other info let me know.

tom

[Bill Rose]

Thanks for the pictures Jason. The seat/floor brackets in 68 are different. The 69-72 brackets are the the ones I need. I'm not sure about the 68 outer brackets. They may be the same for 68. I'll look in to that.......and yes, I'm aware of the Nova seat tracks being different. I have a set coming on Monday....Thanks again.

The bucket seats in a 69 Nova, are the same seats I have in my 69 El Camino, 68 Chevelle, and the 71 Chevelle I drove around for many years. I did a lot a 2 hour trips to car shows.....and back home again, with no back aches. Same with my 68 Chevelle. I don't drive it as much, but the bucket seat is way better on my bones than the Nova bench seat. I have no problem with let room in the Nova. I also put together a 2nd set of Nova wheels with radials. They helped a lot too.

We have 7 vehicles around here, between the old ones, my Silverado, my wife's cars, my junk snow car etc, and the only one that gives me aches and pains is the bench seat Nova. Soon to be remedied.... If I ever sell the car, which in unlikely, and the new guy wants the bench seat set-up, he can deal with it.

[Bill Rose]

Tom, I do want to stick with 69 Stuff/seats. All the old cars I have, have the same bucket seats, and I have no problems with them. The seats are going to be completely new. New springs, foam (which I did a lot of research on) and covers of course. I will go with a console, but I may leave the gauges out for now. I have good gauges under the dash. Sounds like I will need a new shifter. I wasn't sure about the rear arm rests. I thought the custom interior might have arm rests. I may be calling.

[Furback]

You have to remember that there are two type of Nova bench seats. Standard and the Deluxe. The standard seats are crap to the point that you are sitting on edges everywhere. The deluxe bench with better foam and deluxe vinyl upholstery is about the same as the buckets as far as comfort goes.

[Furback]

The best Nova bucket seats I ever had were in a 72. Same as the 71 up Camaro seats but with the basket weave pattern covers.

[ban617]

Bill , I may have an extra set of rear arm rests, did you decide on a color ?

[Bill Rose]

Project new interior done. I love it. Way more comfy and doesn't smell musty any more. New bucket &amp; rear seats, console with the aftermarket (accurate) Autometer gauges. New carpet, shifter, and door panels.

[Xplantdad]

Looks great, Bill!