1972 Nova Build: The Wrong Way! | Not Rod Ep. 1 

New subscriber, LOVE the home garage stuff! Can't do it anymore due to health problems (I'm 61), but I recall fondly the butchery we used to inflict on whatever we had, late at night, hopped up on... well, never mind... just to pull out on the street and fill the interior with tire smoke, giggle like school girls, and get it back in the garage and shut down before the cops showed up! Funny, they never asked about the black stripes in the street... Guess because we ceased and desisted, it wasn't worth the paperwork. Good times! Rock that Nova!

You have no idea how helpful at 7:53 you are, I’m also missing those stupid washers, thanks for the gem to look at a shock on the Cherokee.

I subscribed a few days ago and you had about 700. Today it says 1.45 k. There’s definitely a market for real world wrenching. Innovation,mistakes, modification it’s what makes it so enticing. Looking forward to future episodes!

Far from perfect but back in the road! Meanwhile I stare at my car in primer for the last 30 years, not wanting to do anything but perfect, while it’s just beggin to see the blacktop again. Thanks for the inspiration. Nicely filmed and edited too. You’re fortunate to have a buddy to help and motivate.

My first car was a 72 nova. I bought it in 2002 for $800. Spent a year fixing it up and got to drive it to school for my senior year in high school. Kept it for 9 years until I finally let it go.

I love seeing people work on old junk. I had a similar problem with a body mount bolt on my '68 Camaro Project.

Enjoy your disposition. Your gonna make a great RU-vidr with anything you do. I had. 72 Nova in high school late 80’s lots of your issues are memories for me! Thanks for sharing.

The smiles on your faces when you drove off priceless I'm building two Novas right now a 73 and 74 your video is just motivation to get them done nice work

I've watched all your episodes and gotta say it's like a offbrand roadkill that's just as good I love these kind of shows and I hope yall make it big

This video has restored my faith in America.We will be OK.

fulfilling a childhood dream - priceless done it myself

Ah the memories. I'm 70 yrs. old now and watching you guys work on that old Chevy could have been me and my brother in law in the late 60's working on 50's and early 60's cars. Chevy of course.

Im willing to bet, that when you do get a strong motor in this car, when you rev it high-quickly, the doors will unlatch and open on thier own. BTDT in 1976 with a 1967 Nova. 327/331. We had to weld in connectors (box tubing) and cross braces to the sub frame members to get the car to track straight in a drag race. My first build and race car. Have fun!

Great video people don't have a clue what it takes to toy around with older cars

Twist ties! 😂😂😂 You guys are the best! 🔥🔥🔥

Good job guys another Nova saved!!!

I seriuosy love this ...cant explain. Its for me like looking back in the past like 20 years ago....this is so great!

real good to finally see a video of real down to earth building and fabricating ,without a bunch of selling,keep up the good work friend,you are one that gives the last chance of a true talent,craftsman done without all the bells and whitsles

You can get those clam-shell washers at tractor supply stores. It's the same washer John Deere uses to hold the tractor blades in place.

That use to be our family car growing up back in 1993& 1994. I grew up around that car. Good job on restoring it. It's A oldie Goldie for sure. It was downn florida back in 1994.

Love this series man. Im living this life at the moment. 331 stroker and t-5 into a 84 ford ranger. Love how you show all the headaches as this is how it really is building something. Kudos and respect from Nova Scotia.

gratulation for building this dream and thanks that you show me this part of youre live and youre passion...... best regards from Dresden/Germany

Novas especially shoebox Novas are my favorite amongst any car ever made love this build, a subscriber for sure unfortunately I have the flu and I'm tired of puking I'm going back to bed will continue watching tomorrow morning to help me through my death

Dude!!!!!! You and a friend took something special and made it even more special. And you did it with a friend!!!!!

Great show guys. I did a similar project with a 74 Ventura last year. New (used) subframe and a 454 out of a 91 Chevy truck. Keep it going. Ill definitely watch.

It’s amazing how you feel when you replace all them front Part’s I been there done that makes you feel like a professional lol 👍🏼

WE NEED MORE DOWN 2 EARTH THINK ON THEIR FEET ( & ON THE FLY ) BUILDERS LIKE THESE GUYS TO SHOW # TELL THE YOUNGER GENERATIONAL WRENCH TURNER'S & BUILDERS ( WHO USE WHAT THEY GOT USUALLY THERE AT THE SHOP OR ETC,..... ) !!!!!! ... can't wait to see & watch for more down to earth builds like this nova ...............................

I like how your 72 Nove has 73 Nova doors without the vent windows and 69 through 71 Taillights, my 72 Nova has a 68 Nova bumper on the front just like yours and the 69 thru 71 taillights to match.

I love those 1 Lane county roads!

Just how I would do it....so nice to see! plain ol hard work! and Nova...thats so amzing!

So funny watching you installing the distributer , I had the same problem and slightly massaged it like you . I figured old points distributed was smaller in diameter then the hei

Building a 70 nova right now putting in a small block 350 in it

Ran into the same problem on my 68 Camaro with the hei distributor hitting the fire wall. Actually had to recess a small section of the firewall before paint and body was done but looks like it came from the factory now. I believe ive read that they make a "small" version of a HEI that will work. Like the build.

The way its meant to be done! Outstanding job guys!

Did I mention that this is by far the best new RU-vid channel!? Awesome stuff..

I used to know someone who put a stock Cadillac 503 in a 72 Nova. Most parts were stock off the donor car. The Nova rear axle lasted 1 burnout... Once that was dealt with, it ran like a bat out of hell!

This is my new favorite channel! Thank you guys, keep it coming!

Thanks for sharing man. Have fun!

Interesting choice of powertrain/driveline. While back in mechanic school(1986-87) a fellow student had a '69 Pontiac Firebird with a built 350 Chevy(he claimed it was in LT-1 configuration) but due to lack of funds he installed a Saginaw 3 speed(dog-leg 1st) manual tranny. Somehow he was able to put a Hurst shifter on it. The darn thing ran mid 13s with that less than optimal 3 speed Saginaw gearing. One day during lunch he let me drive it, besides having zero brakes(it had manual 4 wheel drums on it!) the thing just pulled nicely, so nice we smoked a then new Corvette while merging onto the nearby freeway entrance :-)

Love the '68 - '72 Nova. I believe HRM did a project series in the 80s where they did your era Nova with a small block 400 they got from a junkyard which they did a correct but budget rebuild/balance on. I think their car ended up running in the low 10s? Keep it up - not much on the road these days has as much soul as these old cars.

In the true sprit of hot rodding. Loved it

Love it. Looks like every nova I ever owned.

this was awesome,keep them alive instead of going to the crusher.they are making exactly zero more new novas,chevelles,etc so everyone saved is golden!!

I have to say you two or three made my day a lot going in in my life and I just wanted to look a RU-vid on video about novas cause I own a 69nova I want to get my 406 rebuilt it’s in a short bed truck now I want to pull it out and just mark up but when I seen all that you guy’s did it made forget everything and just go do it thanks for the inspiration love the smiles when yah was racing that nova the the streets and hwy thanks again

Watching Brandon pound on that pickle fork at 2:15 reminds me of my dad doing the same to get a knuckle out of an 86 Chevy C20 that needed new ball joints. He hit on that thing so long it mushroomed the end of the fork where he was hitting it. But he eventually broke it free. We didn't have a garage or air tools back then so he had to do it the hard way. Also Ryan I love the clutch setup you put in this thing and the fact that you're re-using stuff you had laying around, specifically that 3-spd. I am a fan of manual gearboxes. 3 out of my 4 vehicles have them. And if I can ever find the right donor vehicle my 79 K10 pickup will be getting a swap some day :)

Love the 72 Nova it brings back memories!

Liked and subscribed! Reminds me of the cars I built as a kid in the 2000's. Living in a small town I got most of my "parts" from the local hardware store. I "restored" (if you can call it that) a 68 and 69 Firebird and a 67 and 68 Camaro. Love that you use what you have or come up with the most affordable alternatives.

What part of Washington are you in? I'm just north of Issaquah rebuilding my 74 Nova. It was my first car and I've held on to it since. Finally putting in the hours to do it right.

Hell ya this is inspiration for my to finish up my 71 nova, was a straight 6 now it's going to have a 350 lt1 from a camaro.

Good work guys looks like a lot of fun.

Really enjoying the Style of the filming and how you do things, like any other DIY home garage would.

Awesome show. Love the content and now I know how to modify my clutch to be hydrolic! !

Love it. Elderlyiron would be proud.

Loved the video. I'll admit I went over to the ls twin turbo side. But I'll always love a good ol small block and big block chevy!!!!!👍🇺🇸

Nice Yellow Chevy Nova Amigo, "Viva La Chevrolet"🙂👌

Budget builds are awesome.

It's Beautiful Nicely made

in the early 90s had a 71 that did mid 12s. built it myself for under 1000 bucks. nothing made me happy like taking down sho,s and vettes most anything. lost a few but they had thousands into them. fallin apart rusted sleeper nova that went like a bastard. theres a certain proud state of doin the work yourself and cheap and takin down a new 30,000 dollar car. of course most cars were slower in the 90s but mid 12s is still pretty quick. memories

love this! Hopefully getting my nova today

Picked up this info online and passing it along to you guys,,5 inches in from the pinch welds on the rockers (each side) and 111 inches for wheel base should put your subframe where it should be.

wheelies and side loading can do really nasty things to a sub-frame car

I want another nova so bad.

I luv Nova's I owned a 68 that actually raced in quarter mile in Vegas with balanced & blue printed 327 Super T- 10 4 speed, 750 Holley aluminum Edelbrock, duel point distributor, electric Holly fuel pump.Hurst in-line shifter with aluminum 202 heads & aluminum flywheel. You launched at 6000 rpms hit 2nd with tire's burning once it hooked run to 7000 and finished the quarter in 3rd gear. Can't remember the ETs. But; I remember blew the doors off a few big block Plymouth's Road Runner's and Super Bees street racing for money on week ends. The other was a 62 Nova replaced the 6 cylinder 3 speed with a balanced 327 bored 60 k with 202 cast steel heads, 2 Holley 360 Holley 4 barrels on a highrise Edelbrock with a 40 Lb flywheel, Super T-10 & inline Hurst shifter. Then a strait axle under the front. Painted it chrome yellow, I swear ran that thing to 10,000 rpms. Only never got to race it. Got married sold the engine to my buddy 43 Years agp it's setting on engine stand to this day in his shop. Sold the body to another buddy he says it was still parked in a garage some where in North Dakota. Im 65 years old now divorced twice still broke still cherish the memory's of the women and building the car.

Good stuff.

Awesomeness i glad you get to live your dream.

perfect nova. i love this beast boys

U cant go wrong with a Nova

Good job! Very first car was a '69 Nova SS350, in 1979. Owned it almost 30 years. DO NOT use silicone on gaskets...silicone IS a gasket. Weatherstrip adhesive works best or brown gasket cement. AND...if you plan on taking valve covers off frequently, go buy some long 1/4-20 set screws and make valve cover studs.

Good stuff man. Glad I stumbled on this channel

Hey thats my home town and my uncle lives on that road! Sweet

That was an interesting video. I love novas also. I used to have a 68 with a 307. Fun car.

Great video. Pt2 up next

My first ride was actually a 72 Nova. Turbo 350 was a good trans.

Scott Blankenship's younger Brother? Glad to Support your Channel!😎👍 It's all about the "Shade Tree Mechanics". We "find a way" to make things work! Take care, 🤓 -Thomas Skagen

The SS badge is my favorite part.

you can use hydraulic clutch parts from a 1986 chevy C10 as well, use a bellhousing that has a mount fo rthe slave cylinder from an 80's chevy as well, and basically everything bolts in. Thats what I did in my 53 Bel Air

I have a 74 nova that’s a 4 door with a built 454 th400. I have it for sale but I’m thinking I should save it and look for a junkyard 2 door nova and swap all my parts over

Good deal 1800.getting hard to find.

This video makes me wanna drive my Charger sooooo bad

its like roadkill is back on youtube

Man way to cool.

First time watching really enjoyed the show!

Its amazing it's in Washington now though for sure.

Suggestion, cork valve cover gaskets. Just use a little wheel bearing grease. Helps to take then on and off.

Awesome content man can't wait to see more of this stuff ✌️

Nice quality and good work man

fun looking at this video

I just discovered your channel and have to say I am already a fan. You have great content, keep it up!

Absolutely great content fellas! You've got a new viewer over here! Keep it coming!

Love Nova, american cars:)

I changed my inline 6 350turbo 78 nova to a 454 with 4Speed. Went with manual brakes and Z bar clutch and 550lb/in front springs, the rest was a bolt in. Works ahsome. Any questions, ask away.

I use to have a 71 n I make it front disk brakes from 73 , 74 nova . 350 , 350trans I miss that guy😞

This channel rocks. Subbed

Hey a 98 mph trap speed isn’t bad with everything working against you! Good job keep it up!

HEI fit to firewall is a common issue on those cars,,hammer seems to fix it unless you want to make a recess in your firewall. Ive found it much easier to hang the drivers side heard from a fenderwell( in your case anything that works) BEFORE you drop the engine it,,saves a bunch of grief and curse words;) liking your build,,im doing about what you are doing at present on my 71 Nova

i love the novas i have a big tire 68 that i drag race owned since i was 16yrs old 540 big block twin turbos

That distributor issue was probably caused by that 1/8” difference when bolting the subframe back in

It came with 307 corvette engine& 350 turbo transmission that was changed out. Over to A?Muncie 4 speed& 350 with headers on it back in 1990. That car was sold with that gold door back in 1992 in whaneta,Florida when I was 11.,12 years old. The car got hit on the right side by A mustang GT 5.0 the guy did not look behind him before gassing up his car. Cause he& his wife was arguing at that time when it struck the side of our car.

Looks like a fun place to hang out👍. You are onto something good here! Subscribed...

Cool episode bud!