1977 Chevy Nova

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lamboracer
  • 13 comments
  • 1,016 views
Lamboracer

Lamboracer

Messages
1,010
I just bought a 1977 Chevy Nova. Its a 4door and it only has 80,000miles. I think thats good. Any way it only needs minor things like plug and wires and maybe new tires. So what do you guys think. ANy info about these cars. Good, bad>?? I want to make it a 2door i know its probably near impossible. Any response is welcomed.
 
Congrats! do you have any pics?


Here's what I would do:

1. Block off the EGR Valve. EGR is evil.

2. Keep it a 4 door. it'd take more work than what it's worth chopping it, and getting it to fit right, but if that's what you want to do, go for it.

3. Headers. Headers are your friend. (if it's a V8)

4. Edelbrock performer 600 cfm Carb

5. Have fun with it, and do it your way.
 
menglan
Congrats! do you have any pics?
Here's what I would do:

1. Block off the EGR Valve. EGR is evil.
2. Keep it a 4 door.
3. Headers. Headers are your friend. (if it's a V8)
4. Edelbrock performer 600 cfm Carb
5. Have fun with it, and do it your way.
Click to expand...
All good advice!

EGR can be evil, but if you have to get the car emissions inspected, you may need it open. Some states don't require emissions inspection on cars that old.

I assume it's a smallblock? 350/307/V8. If so, headers, duals, and Dynomax mufflers will not only be comparatively cheap, they'll be an eye-opening experience. Meineke will whip you up a set for a couple hundred bucks maximum and the headers themselves will be like $150 from Jeggs.

Good luck! Old, simple cars are fun.
 
I used to have a '78 Nova, but it had 380,000 miles and rust everywhere. Also it only had a straight 6. It was $475 and I really wanted a car especially an old American car so I bought it...in the dark. :ouch:

Let's just say it was a bad buy, especially when you don't have a job to fix it up.



but your car sounds good. Make it last.
 
Duke
All good advice!

EGR can be evil, but if you have to get the car emissions inspected, you may need it open. Some states don't require emissions inspection on cars that old.

I assume it's a smallblock? 350/307/V8. If so, headers, duals, and Dynomax mufflers will not only be comparatively cheap, they'll be an eye-opening experience. Meineke will whip you up a set for a couple hundred bucks maximum and the headers themselves will be like $150 from Jeggs.

Good luck! Old, simple cars are fun.
Click to expand...

I just bought a Performer EPS manifold from Summit racing (for my Biscayne) yesterday, it was cheaper than Jeg's would have been. plus, it doesn't Have EGR.
I think the Performer 600 cfm 4 bbl Carb and Performer Manifold will make the old choked up 2 Barrel 305 a whole new beast.

Speaking of old cars, Duke, My buddy just bought a '65 Pontiac LeMans, (with the Pontiac 350) and was wondering what color would look good. Can you please give a couple suggestions? 65 is the same body style as your 67, right?
 
Lamboracer
I just bought a 1977 Chevy Nova. Its a 4door and it only has 80,000miles. I think thats good. Any way it only needs minor things like plug and wires and maybe new tires. So what do you guys think. ANy info about these cars. Good, bad>?? I want to make it a 2door i know its probably near impossible. Any response is welcomed.
Click to expand...

4 door novas make great SLEEPERS... esecially the late 70's ones. no one gives them a second look but they have some pretty good potetial...

What do you want to do with the car? a little dragging? some auto-cross? or just daily driving?

if you are into performance and don't care to much abou luxury or creature comforts gut the interior and loose some of the cars weight, also the carb, intake, header, exhaust upgrades are a must, you won't regret them. aso consider a LSD if it doesn't have on already.

If you want to go the sleeper route gut the interior, get an intake, carb, some headers and dual exhaust, and a LSD, and then paint the car beige, brown, tan etc... just pic an OE color that screams 'grandma's car'...
 
Summit Racing is good, too. I've ordered parts from both houses.

The '65 is basically the same shape, but not exactly ('66 and '67 were nearly identical). I believe the headlights are horizontal on the '65 like on the '64, and overall the car is more rectangular. The '66-'67 forms a halfway point between the squarer '65 and the "Coke bottle" '69-'72s.

I'm partial to the Rallye Red myself, which was a factory color for those years. My car was bought in Champagne, which is a pale gold color; it has a Parchment (off-white) interior and a black top. It was pretty in the Champagne, but a little dull. There is also a real Gold color that has a little more punch to it and looks good on the mid-Sixties cars.

Did you mention what color his interior is? A lot of cars in those days had interior colors keyed to the exterior color. There's a deep ocean blue color that comes with a lighter blue interior; they look good together but it would look awful with any other color exterior except silver or white.
 
I can't remember the Interior color, the outside is mostly a cream color.(it's seen lots of sandpaper) But there's no rust at all. I talked to him today, and he said he'd probably go Gloss Black or LeMans Blue.

Slimer - My dad's friend wants this Nova that his buddy has in a field, It's a '72 2 door with the 250 motor and the vinyl top is peeling off, he's been trying to buy it so he can put a 468 race boat motor that he's got in his shop in it. he wants to leave the 250 Badges on it, put the 468 in and make it real quiet. It'd look like crap, but Blow doors.
 
Nova's are really cool cars, I remember when I was little my mom had one for whatever reason.

But Jegs and Summit Racing will be your friends. Also YearOne has lots of resto parts if you need em.

Get some pictures up!
 
Well i dont know yet. I bought it for 400 hundred and just for profanity and giggles, i put it out front of my house to see if i can turn it arround for a couple hundred. Im not much a muscle car man myself but this is my first car so im not sure. If i put the time and money into for the exhaust and headers and stuff i might n ot make my money back. So im not sure yet. WHat do you guys think would be a good approach. And the car is a straight six and the smallest engine which sux.

Il post some pic tomorow
 
Lamboracer
Well i dont know yet. I bought it for 400 hundred and just for profanity and giggles, i put it out front of my house to see if i can turn it arround for a couple hundred. Im not much a muscle car man myself but this is my first car so im not sure. If i put the time and money into for the exhaust and headers and stuff i might n ot make my money back. So im not sure yet. WHat do you guys think would be a good approach. And the car is a straight six and the smallest engine which sux.

Il post some pic tomorow
Click to expand...


235 or 250? they make speed parts for the 235...
 
There's still speed parts out there, but I think there's more for the 235. I believe the 235 and 250 are completely different engines, If I read an article about the straight sixes right. '77 Novas came with V8's (and sixes), so it shouldn't be a whole lot of work to put a 350 in it. Why not look in your newspaer for classic car parts and stuff? You'd probably find a nice running 305 or 350 and be able to take it home for a couple hundred dollars.

I've heard that putting a new cam, new intake, 390 cfm 4 barrel carburetor, and headers can raise a chevy 6 cylinders horsepower by sometimes almost twofold. so.... in other words, 130 ponies. but, it's still a direct descendant of the archaic stovebolt.

That car would make a helluva sleeper.
 

Latest Posts

Back