Today the interior plastic trim and parts were all cleaned and painted. The previous owner attempted to make them look better with some red spray paint and it didn't work well. Some of it was still original with the color fading out and those pieces were easy to bring back. The ones with the red blotchy paint were a little more difficult but all turned out well. I also painted the dash bezel and dash pad I purchased from WhitecatD at the "other" Nova site :rolleyes:.

Here is a before and after shot of the faded seat belt cover. The parts in the back ground still have the cheap paint treatment. I used OER brand interior paint; it is very transparent so it takes several coats to change color or hide someones shoddy work, but it is a great product. The bright sun makes the colors look more red than it actually is.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/interiorpainting1.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/interiorpainting2.jpg

The dash pieces before

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/interiorpainting4.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/interiorpainting6.jpg

And after

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/interiorpainting9.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/interiorpainting.jpg

And all the other stuff. the rear side panels did not turn out as good as the rest of the parts. Too much cheap paint applied poorly to try and cover up.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/interiorpainting10.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/interiorpainting11.jpg



I also had time between several work call outs to get the front disc backing plates finished. The factory coating appeared to be galvanized. When the plates were bead blasted it was then just bare metal. I used Rust-Oleum Hammered Finish paint in silver. They look like new factory backing plates, of course once the rotors are on and it drives through a few rain storms it won't matter :)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/brakes/backingplates.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/brakes/backingplates1.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/brakes/backingplates2.jpg

The new bearings and seals for the rotors were picked up today and the calipers, pads and hardware will be in Monday. By Tuesday I will be able to roll it around again :)

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/brakes/brakerotors.jpg

Next up is interior wiring, sound insulation and carpet; when the upholster finishes my seats I will be able to drive it :hurray: but there will still be work to get the creature comforts installed, IE: power windows, power door locks, Air Conditioning and some sort of music machine.

lookin' great Dad... maybe i can help ya find the bottom of that work bench in a couple weeks :D

It's looking great!..:thumbsup:

Looks great but OMG what a mess you need a maid so I'm going to send you mine in a week or so.:thumbsup: Oh wait I see he already contacted you about that....

Thanks guys, John can you move that arrival to Monday instead of Friday. The extra 4 days will be needed to find the top of the bench :D
Just taking a break now for lunch. Then back to work so I can have the car drivable by the time the "Flyer" pulls into the driveway.

Today I made a bracket for the park brake cable and have that all hooked up. Installed the front rotors, got the camber and toe set close enough to drive the car and ran some wires for the tach and shift light.
The upholster called with good news and bad news. The good, seats are done, the bad, he will be out of town until Friday.
Photos tomorrow, now it is time for bed and then off to work in the morning.

i REALLY wish you'd Quit using such FOUL language on the board... this IS a Family site !!! :mad:


W-O-*-K :eek:



such language !!! :eek: :rolleyes: ;)

Black exterior?

Chuck as good as that would lookand the body is straight enough to pull it off, it will probably be white.The factory color was a gray metalic, but I really do not like it on this car.

For comparision here is a photo of the backing plates/dust shields before refinishing. The pattern is different now, but the finish is close.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/brakes/originalfinish.jpg

The interior pieces look fantastic. The great thing about a drag car, (mine) you don't need a nice interior. or any, for that matter. :)

Coming along nicely, Philip. Can you drive it yet?

The interior pieces look fantastic. The great thing about a drag car, (mine) you don't need a nice interior. or any, for that matter. :)

Coming along nicely, Philip. Can you drive it yet?

Not yet but with John's help last week we got quite a bit done. It now will start using the ignition switch, the interior is closer to being done and the brakes are bled and working.

I have been on call this week and long work days have kept me from doing anythisng. Today was a recovery day, but in a little while I am going to go do some small stuff.
install the speedometer cable
finish the gauge wiring
work on the steering column

and of course start it up with open headers again, what could be more scary on Halloween :D

Well got way side tracked and decided to install the power windows. This is not going to be an easy task. Removing the glass and manual regulator was easy. The power regulator and motor when assembled will not fit into the door opening. Gave up and decided to read the instructions :rolleyes:
To install the regulator the motor has to be removed, but when the regulator is in place there is no access to the motor bolts. The Fisher Body manual has a template in it of where to drill the door so that the motor bolts can be accessed. It also shows a real nice photo of the holes that will be used to install the power regulator as they are not the same ones as the manual set up. The investment in these manuals has just paid for itself in the frustration it has saved me. I am running out of hair to pull out :D

maybe you should just buy more hats !!! :D

If I had been thinking clearly last week I could have said
"Hey John install these power windows while I take a nap" and not had to deal with it :D

BTW did you see where I put the speedometer cable hardware ?? Jeez I hope it ain't on the work bench :eek:

If I had been thinking clearly last week I could have said
"Hey John install these power windows while I take a nap" and not had to deal with it :D


yeah but then that would've interfered with MY nap time :D


i dunno where ya put the speedo stuff dad :(

is the sometimer's kickin' in again ?

must be, I ran across them when we were working in the shop and now I can not find the bag. I think it may be time to organize that mess. I spend most of my time looking for the parts I want to install and then just give up because they are not found.

look in the trunk ;)

I think instead of offering a Hooters Girl a 50% tip you should just hire her as a maid to follow you around and clean up (just imagine her in a French maid costume and heels). Now think of the view from the creeper while working under the car!

Lascivious ole Big Dave

Hey Philip I found that when John is helping all you have to do is say "hey John do you know how to do xxx" then he will start doing it while explaining how at this point you sit back and take a nap he likes to hear his self talk so much he won't notice your napping.:thumbsup:

I think instead of offering a Hooters Girl a 50% tip you should just hire her as a maid to follow you around and clean up (just imagine her in a French maid costume and heels). Now think of the view from the creeper while working under the car!

Lascivious ole Big Dave

Dave a great idea, but I do not have enough money and Mary would shorten my life span considerably :yes:

Oh yeah I forgot you've been down that divorce road once before. Don't want to loose another car.

Big Dave

I wish it was just once, lost 3 houses, several nice hot rods and most of my retirement savings. But it was well worth all of that to have those women out of my life and the upside is I have 3 really great children.

Today was spent wiring, again :( I added a dome lamp switch circuit for the passenger side door and a glove box lamp. Those were optional and most Novas did not have them. The Concours model I have been parting out had all the switches and wires to make the upgrade in my car. The amount of wires for those items plus the ones to power the windows, locks, seat and trunk and the Autometer gauges has doubled the amount of wire under the dash. The relays for the locks and remote entry are hidden behind the kick panels. A junction point was added on the firewall which feeds a 50 amp breaker under the dash that powers all of the added circuits. I have about 40 hours into wiring so far and probably about 10 more to go. All of the connections are crimped, soldered and covered with heat shrink insulation. I'll take some photos of the routing across the floor and in the kick panels. Wires that crossed from one side to the other were run along the top of the dash and hung in the factory hooks. The console gauges, window switch wiring and power seat wiring all run under the console and up the firewall. I used factory plug connectors to simplify the installation of the seat and console. I still need to run wires for an amp and speakers to the trunk for a future sound system. I have a parts car with a Delco AM/FM stereo radio that will be the initial entertainment source, eventually adding a cd player/changer like the Hidden Audio unit from Custom Auto Sound. The dash will not be cut, it is way to perfect to even think about cutting it.

Now for a little diversion, as in heater air outlet :D The floor vent on Novas directs the heater outlet air down and across the floor. If a console is added the air needs to be diverted around the console so GM used a different outlet.

There are 3 that I know of for the 75 - 79 X body.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/Heateroutletdivertor2.jpg

This one is the standard model used in all cars without a console.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/Heateroutletdivertor4.jpg

This is for the cars that have the Nova type consoles.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/Heateroutletdivertor3.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/Heateroutletdivertor.jpg

and this one is from an Olds Omega. That type of console is longer than the Nova and required a different part. Because I moved my console forward to fit the TKO shifter into the auto transmission console the Nova console air duct would not fit. The Omega one does and will be used.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/77%20Nova%20project/interior/Heateroutletdivertor1.jpg

The crack has been repaired ;)

All 3 mount to the heater box the same way with 1 screw on the front and 2 tabs in the back. No modifications are needed to the heater to change from one to the other.

Doing sort of the same on my car, only going from factory red dash/interior to black via. motip vinyl spray new carpet and re-opoulstry

takes alot longer when you have to repolish every visible screw, nut, washer and bolt along the way

All my interior screws were painted red. I soaked them in acetone and then cleaned with a cotton swab and toothpicks to get all the paint off. They look new again, I believe they are stainless.
Initially I was going to go with a black interior, but I saw too many of them at the local shows. I stayed with red to be different.

This is the BEST! Tool i've ever bougth

http://www.stalkerzone.dk/upload/DSC016463454.JPG

It's saved my chrome trim moldings, the door sill plates, alot of screws and bolts and also restored quite a few engine peices so far.