ranma Posted January 16, 2021 Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) This is the second copy of the 1963 Nova wagon I got the other day. This copy has a chassis/engine from a AMT '66 Nova kit. The transmission/drive shaft tunnel was removed just behind where the firewall mounts ( left a small loop to attach the fire wall to). The rear wheel well's had to be trimmed down as did the rear chassis plate. I also had to trim down the fire wall/radiator support to fit into the body. The Bodies engine bay was also cut out to allow the detailed engine bay of the '66 nova. I added the turn signal switch, gear shift, and window cranks to the interior of it. The blue on the windshield was done with a light blue sharpie marker. The body is painted Krylon short cuts rose gold, Krylon short cuts gloss white for the roof. Interior colors are Rose gold, off white, and rose gold mixed with flat black for the floor. Edited January 16, 2021 by ranma
Tom Geiger Posted January 16, 2021 Posted January 16, 2021 Looks great! And you are fast! Can you flip it over and post some chassis pix? That may help people thinking of same conversion.
espo Posted January 16, 2021 Posted January 16, 2021 Great looking little wagon. I like the stock appearance and the color looks like something you would have seen at that time frame.
Snake45 Posted January 16, 2021 Posted January 16, 2021 4 minutes ago, Tom Geiger said: Can you flip it over and post some chassis pix? That may help people thinking of same conversion. Was just gonna ask the same thing. I'm working on a '66 Nova pro street chassis and was thinking of building up a junk '65 Nova body to add to it, "Switchers" style. But I found out it won't go, due mainly to problems at the rear end. Would love to see how much you had to remove to make it work. Thanks!
ranma Posted January 16, 2021 Author Posted January 16, 2021 Need to find the missing drive shaft otherwise here's the bottom. Note I added the spare wheel pan from the '63 nova's chassis to the 66's The '66 Nova chassis is a stock chassis.
ranma Posted January 16, 2021 Author Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) On the amt '66 chassis the rear wheel well juts out so it got trimmed flush to where the jut started from. The chassis behind the wheel well's also needed to be narrowed down on each side. The fire wall/radiator support trimmed on each side that contacts the body. Leave a little of the transmission tunnel so the firewall can attach to the chassis. On the inside of the chassis plate cut the tunnel off till flat to the chassis plate. Also shave some of the front of the rear wheel well's down so the '63 Interior will fit smoothly. This may take a few times to get the adjustments to fit nicely. Note that the wheel backs will also require trimming to fit the body correctly, and the mounting plate on the inside of the front bumper/grill will need to be cut off as well. I also removed the tab that is on the front of the interior as well. Edited January 16, 2021 by ranma
Classicgas Posted January 16, 2021 Posted January 16, 2021 Nice. Might I suggest not photographing into light. Light your subject from behind. Use a piece of white poster board to set it on. Will make it much easier to see.
Snake45 Posted January 16, 2021 Posted January 16, 2021 Thanks, Ranma--very useful information! I appreciate it!
ranma Posted January 16, 2021 Author Posted January 16, 2021 25 minutes ago, Snake45 said: Thanks, Ranma--very useful information! I appreciate it! Your welcome! There are a few of the factory stock copies on ebay for decent price.. Look for the stock red nova on the cover either copy of it .
TransAmMike Posted January 16, 2021 Posted January 16, 2021 This '63 Nova Wagon kit seems to have become a huge favorite here (tho I don't quite understand it) . Nice build Rick!!
ranma Posted January 17, 2021 Author Posted January 17, 2021 16 hours ago, TransAmMike said: This '63 Nova Wagon kit seems to have become a huge favorite here (tho I don't quite understand it) . Nice build Rick!! I think the reason is 1. it has not been avaliable in stock form for over 40 * years. 2. It's not another model a ford, 57 Chevy, Mustang, Camaro or over produced muscle car kit. 3 This must be bugging the living tar out of those who claimed that it wouldn't sell because it's a lowly four door wagon....
Snake45 Posted January 17, 2021 Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) 18 hours ago, ranma said: Your welcome! There are a few of the factory stock copies on ebay for decent price.. Look for the stock red nova on the cover either copy of it . Oh I have several copies of that kit. I'm currently working on building up a Pro Street version using junk and castoff parts, and was thinking of seeing if I could build up an equally junk '65 Nova body to swap onto it, "Switchers" style. Your details told me exactly what to look for, and where. I think I can trim down the PS chassis to fit under the earlier body and still have it usable under the '66. Here's the junk '65 body I want to rehabilitate and put on the same chassis, too. Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread. I apologize. Edited January 17, 2021 by Snake45
wrenchr Posted January 18, 2021 Posted January 18, 2021 13 hours ago, ranma said: I think the reason is 1. it has not been avaliable in stock form for over 40 * years. 2. It's not another model a ford, 57 Chevy, Mustang, Camaro or over produced muscle car kit. 3 This must be bugging the living tar out of those who claimed that it wouldn't sell because it's a lowly four door wagon.... Yup, wagons are cool. You have 2 built and mine has not even delivered yet.
Snake45 Posted January 19, 2021 Posted January 19, 2021 Ranma, following your tips, I now have the '66 frame sitting under the junk '65 body. Thanks again!
BeakDoc Posted January 19, 2021 Posted January 19, 2021 Very nice! Gonna have to pick one of these up.
doorsovdoon Posted January 22, 2021 Posted January 22, 2021 Nice. I love the colour. I'm still waiting for these to turn up in the UK, can't wait to get started on one.
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