1969 Chevy Nova SS

[ModelcarJR]

I painted this one today to beat the weather. I thought I was going to build it stock but after looking at the kit decals and the other build option for drag racing I think I'll paint the alternate hood tomorrow and build it as the drag option. It will probably be mostly box stock but maybe I can work on some engine detail. The paint is Tamiya Champagne Gold. I'll buff it out tomorrow and get started soon. Thanks for looking! ?

Edited November 18, 2023 by ModelcarJR
Copy text

[Bills72sj]

Mmmm. Looks tasty. Following.

[espo]

Great looking color and any sponsor decals should show well with this as a background. 

[dragcarz]

Great color, I’ll be following!

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Bill, David and Roger! I appreciate your comments! 

The nice thing about this color you can't really tell when you have rubbed it out what has been rubbed out and what has not! Also you can't really see the foil on it. I have rubbe out the body, painted the alternate hood, and foiled the windshield and back window which is really all that is needed except for the Nova scripts. So now I am ready to move on to the engine, chassis and interior. Thanks for looking! ?

[Zippi]

Good looking color on the Nova.  This should be a nice build.  

[floodstang]

I’m in the middle of this kit right now. A friend had a gold one a few years ago so that’s the color I went with. I like this Champagne Gold. 

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Bob and Chris! I appreciate your comments! 

Spent a good part of the day yesterday assembling and detailing the engine. Added a fuel line with a piece of the boot material that comes with the MAD plug wires so that I could push the pin on the second carb onto the rubber wire and then continue on to the fuel pump. I then painted it aluminum. for the plug wires using the MAD pre-wired distributor, I saw a photo of one that had much more structure but I sorta copied it. It had more hangers at each wire loom on each side but it essentially strung the wire through a four-hole loom, drop one wire to the plug, then a three-hole loom, drop another wire to the plug, and then finally a two-hole loom for the front two plugs. It worked out pretty well, keeping the wire tight so that it would fit through the opening in the exhaust headers and into holes drilled in the block easily. Thanks for looking! ?

Edited November 20, 2023 by ModelcarJR
Copy text

[ModelcarJR]

I added a few things from the parts box for this build. I wanted to use a seat that at least looked like a drag car seat so I found one and cut the headrest off. I also found a  Co2 bottle and the roll bar that from either a 67 Chevelle or 66 Nova kit, not sure which. I modified the roll cage to fit and I wanted to add a five-point harness to the seat. I painted all three and kept the roll cage and seat in primer since I am using black masking tape for seat belts. I used some MCG PE for the seat hardware and taped in the belts with the hardware. So here the parts added and a mock-up. Thanks for looking! 

[TransAmMike]

Wow John, that looks great.  Really like the belts!

[ModelcarJR]

Thanks, Mike! I appreciate your comment! 

Finished the interior and it fits well into the body. It would be better with some adjustment PE on the belts and maybe some Simpson decals. But I like it better than just using what was supplied in the kit. BTW, I would think that the seat would be adjusted forward to get the driver up on the wheel or else that driver would have to have long legs to reach the pedals! ? Thanks for looking! ?

Edited November 21, 2023 by ModelcarJR
Copy text

[ModelcarJR]

Chassis is done and the wheels are on.  Glass is next and then on to final assembly. Thanks for looking! ?

[ModelcarJR]

Body/interior/chassis are together. I had a little bit of an issue with the rear wheel position being to far back. I was able to remove the axle from the leaf springs and driveshaft. Nothing else had to be removed. I shortened the end of the driveshaft and then re-glued the axle about 1/16" forward on the leaf springs while also gluing the driveshaft in place. Now the tire is very close to the front of the wheel opening and looks much better. Chassis fits snug and no need for any glue. Hood fits nicely. Next the hardware and decals. Thanks for looking! ?

[ModelcarJR]

I hope everyone had  a Happy Thanksgiving and are enjoying the holiday! This one is done and final photos are in the 'Under Glass" section. Here's one - thanks for looking! ?