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'66 Nova


Slotto

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As seen in the mock up thread, the AMT '66 Nova Restorod.

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to get the two popsicle height I like I had to carve out the wheel housing a bit and move the perches inboard to allow for the wider meats.

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then I shaved some off the axle and added a few lowering blocks.

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here's the look so far. I'll have to fabricate mini-tubs soon and attach the axle and leaf springs to the chassis.

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With all this, it gets me in the ballpark.

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2 cents: watch out your front wheels can be in-board far enough to look like they can be steered. If they are up against the wheel opening, well....I run into this a lot upon choosing wheel/tire combos. Just sayin' - not much room in those fender wells 🤓

Edited by customline
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For the wheel tubs, I usually grab a pill bottle and slice off the bottom. This time I'm trying something different...

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I always have a bunch of bottle caps around I use for mixing paint or as a place to hold paint -I primarily use craft acrylics for everything. Anyway,

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I grabbed a cap. I think this one is from snapple. Definitely from a bottle of tea. I held the cap up to the wheel opening and the radius darn near matches perfectly. I ground out the inner threads and held it back up to the wheel opening and mark it where the cuts will occur. Then I made a series of relief cuts until the mini-tub fits perfectly. I apply some Testors to the edges on the cap and add it to the chassis. Then for good measure I ran a bead around the perimeter of the match lines. There's enough of the remaining cap for the other mini-tub.

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it's close enough for me. If you try this, let me know how it worked out for you.

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passenger side wheel tub is in place. I cant leave well enough alone though. I want to squeeze another 1 - 2 scale inches out of the ride height. I noticed that the center section was banging up against the bottom of the chassis so...

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this gets me where I want be.

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and I added a patch for good measure. 

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and for kicks, I was curious if i could shoehorn in a 396. She fits but it leaves little room for headers. I'll figure that out later. Now I'm onto the front suspension. 

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Disc brakes all around and the inner fenders are in. I'll let everything settle down before I sand and fill.

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also since it's such a tight fit, I had to make my own headers. Scrap sheet styrene, 18 gauge solder and aluminum tubing for the collector. 

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37 minutes ago, dino246gt said:

I like the way you figure everything out as you go, cool! Can't wait to see those headers bent into shape!

 

Yeah, that's how I work. Every car is different and requires a unique approach.

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I'm getting side-traked with other things and can't stay focused.

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Ive been casting parts to build up the bone yard. So far I've made engine blocks, starters, alternators, intakes, superchargers, carburetors, oil filters, water pumps and oil pans. I want to start headers but am having a hard time wrapping this one around my brain.

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The intent was to eventually never need a HEMI, 396 or a flathead again. More progress on the Nova soon. Although the Marauder has been calling me.

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2 hours ago, Slotto said:

I'm getting side-traked with other things and can't stay focused.

20230401_082500.thumb.jpg.e6e19bfb71aacf50a437dab7a67dda28.jpg

Ive been casting parts to build up the bone yard. So far I've made engine blocks, starters, alternators, intakes, superchargers, carburetors, oil filters, water pumps and oil pans. I want to start headers but am having a hard time wrapping this one around my brain.

20230401_082835.thumb.jpg.82be397cd31013b06260319e8eb7ac4a.jpg

The intent was to eventually never need a HEMI, 396 or a flathead again. More progress on the Nova soon. Although the Marauder has been calling me.

Steve, I don't think that headers, because the configuration will vary with the application, are worth the time and material with maybe certain exceptions. One would be open street rod types where all pipes are on a single plane (like for Ford flatheads) and possibly cast-type factory manifolds that you find on some high performance applications. Your solder headers are quick and easy to build and the ones I see here look good and it's easy to make adjustments to get them to fit the way you want.

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