Restarting My '70 Nova Project

[BleedingOrange]

Looking great ! I,ve been wondering how your wheels were coming along, and watching for updates. Nice to see you finally got them ready to have your tires mounted. Are you going to use lead weights or stick on weights to balance them up ? I switched to stick on weights many years ago that go on the inside portion of the wheel, which eliminates scratches from the lead weights and gives the wheels a much cleaner look.

 

[BravoXray]

Looking great ! I,ve been wondering how your wheels were coming along, and watching for updates. Nice to see you finally got them ready to have your tires mounted. Are you going to use lead weights or stick on weights to balance them up ? I switched to stick on weights many years ago that go on the inside portion of the wheel, which eliminates scratches from the lead weights and gives the wheels a much cleaner look.

I was thinking about that, going to ask if the tire shop can use the stick on weights.

So it's been over six weeks of waiting just for the rims to be finished up. Guess I should have gotten started on them earlier in the process, but I didn't imagine I would have all this trouble.

 

[dodge man]

Chrysler had a similar wheel on their cars called a road wheel. I restored a Challenger in the late 80’s and didn’t mask them off and used a Scotch Brite pad to get the paint off the spokes. It was a royal pain in the butt.

 

[BravoXray]

Chrysler had a similar wheel on their cars called a road wheel. I restored a Challenger in the late 80’s and didn’t mask them off and used a Scotch Brite pad to get the paint off the spokes. It was a royal pain in the butt.

I believe these wheels were also called Magnum 500s. I think Chevy called them Super Sport wheels. Several cars uase the the same basic wheels with different trim rings and center caps.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Yes...Magnum 500
I have a couple sets. AMC, Ford, Chrysler, GM used them. Some chrome, others painted.

 

[BleedingOrange]

What have you got left to finish up once the wheels and tires are on the car ?
I believe you can get the stick on weights in silver or black. I,ve used both, depending on the color of the wheel.

 

[dodge man]

At least on Mopars the Magnum wheels were chrome with no trim ring. I think 1969 was the last year they showed up on factory Mopars. Starting in 1970 they started using the “Road Wheels” which were similar but had a trim ring around the edge. They weren’t as nice a wheel and cost less. A lot of Mopars end up with a Ford Magnum, same bolt pattern but an inch wider.

 

[BravoXray]

What have you got left to finish up once the wheels and tires are on the car ?
I believe you can get the stick on weights in silver or black. I,ve used both, depending on the color of the wheel.

Next task is the vinyl roof, then the front and rear glass, cowl panel, and window trim. I'm also thinking about putting black racing stripes on the hood and trunk lid.
I had them use stick on weights, picked them up this afternoon, and when I got them home, the weights on one of the front wheels had fallen off, so I had to make another trip back to the tire shop. Fortunately, it's only 7 miles away.
Came back and unloaded them out of the truck and used SOS steel wool pads on the raised white letters to brighten them up. Took them down to the shop and installed the center caps and trim rings. Wow, what a difference those make! Mounted them on the car and finally took it down off the jackstands. On the ground at last!
Had to charge up the battery and got it started up for the first time in a few months. Tries the clutch, and wow, it takes hold about an inch off the floor, even though it has 1 1/2" - 2" free travel at the top, but it moves the car backwards and forward. Tried the brakes, and the brake light came on on the dash, and when I got out and looked around, there was brake fluid sprayed behind the right front wheel, as you can see in the picture. So I guess I have a bad brake hose, and if I remember correctly, I had some reservations about that one when I put it on, but it held fine when I was bleeding the brakes. I'll check at the local speed shop tomorrow, and if they don't have one, I'll get a pair of front hoses ordered from Summit Racing.
After dinner, I went back down and took the new hood louvers out of their boxes and tried fitting them on the hood. I used the old louver bases to drill the holes in the hood before it was painted, and the old louvers fit perfectly, but I had to elongate a few holes just a little to get the new ones to fit.

Tomorrow, I'm going to call the vinyl top installer and see when he can get mine installed.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Looks great. I wouldn,t be able to sleep til it was completed and driveable. LOL You certainly have lots of patience, and I admire your do it right attitude. Beautiful car. The stripes will give it a totally different look. Are you thinking black stripes like the ones that came from the factory way back when ?

 

[Duds13]

Next task is the vinyl roof, then the front and rear glass, cowl panel, and window trim. I'm also thinking about putting black racing stripes on the hood and trunk lid.
I had them use stick on weights, picked them up this afternoon, and when I got them home, the weights on one of the front wheels had fallen off, so I had to make another trip back to the tire shop. Fortunately, it's only 7 miles away.
Came back and unloaded them out of the truck and used SOS steel wool pads on the raised white letters to brighten them up. Took them down to the shop and installed the center caps and trim rings. Wow, what a difference those make! Mounted them on the car and finally took it down off the jackstands. On the ground at last!
Had to charge up the battery and got it started up for the first time in a few months. Tries the clutch, and wow, it takes hold about an inch off the floor, even though it has 1 1/2" - 2" free travel at the top, but it moves the car backwards and forward. Tried the brakes, and the brake light came on on the dash, and when I got out and looked around, there was brake fluid sprayed behind the right front wheel, as you can see in the picture. So I guess I have a bad brake hose, and if I remember correctly, I had some reservations about that one when I put it on, but it held fine when I was bleeding the brakes. I'll check at the local speed shop tomorrow, and if they don't have one, I'll get a pair of front hoses ordered from Summit Racing.
After dinner, I went back down and took the new hood louvers out of their boxes and tried fitting them on the hood. I used to old louver bases to drill the holes in the hood before it was painted, and the old louvers fit perfectly, but I had to elongate a few holes just a little to get the new ones to fit.

Tomorrow, I'm going to call the vinyl top installer and see when he can get mine installed.

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Looks incredible! My dream is to own a muscle car, in silver so I am drooling over these photos. And the fact that you did the work yourself is even more amazing. Awesome work!