My 70 Nova project (Formerly looking at this mustang)

With that narrowed rear end and the potential to break out of the 500's in HP (depending on what you do), you're going to want those subframe braces. For your trans crossmember, have you considered modifying it and moving it rearward so you're not cutting so much of this critical ladder brace out of your chassis? I ask because I've found this to be easiest in the past. I've no experience on 1st gen Novas, though.

Since you're thinking about it, I would also consider how a hoop and harnesses changes a car. I have two cars to my name, both have cages. They add a good bit of weight to the vehicle and make it hard to get in and out. Forget groceries and suitcases. My wife gets a little irritated with the harnesses. I won't admit to it, but... there's a threshold to having too much racecar on the street. It gets tough to balance both worlds.
 
The rear is stock width, just a 9" so I can play some if I want and not break it. I know the 10 bolt wouldn't hold up even for a moment and when I priced it out the 9" was the least expensive. With housing, brakes, and a trac loc it will be about $1450. 12 bolts were $2500 and up. I already had a 3.50 center section.

For now I'll be around 400 hp, but yes it could be more. The goal now is to get it on the road and then add goodies later.

I can't really move the brace. It has the rear sub frame mounts in it. So it has to stay put. And no way to move the engine forward far enough to miss the brace. So I'm stuck cutting it.

The more I think about a roll bar the more I like the idea. And years back I put sub frame connectors on my IROC and there was a night and day difference. Summit has this for $57. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cee-3022/overview/year/1970/make/chevrolet/model/nova

I know you can have too much car on the street, my camaro is like that. It was built for autocrossing and road race schools and it's on rails, but as my daily it was tough on my body.
 
Wow It's crazy how much prefabricated staf you have available and with affordable prices. That main hop for the roll bar will take me an entire day to bend up and i'll pay more than 50$ for the materials, as for your welder i don't see a reason why you are doubting it or your self. I use straight CO2 and 0,8mm wire and my mig is 160a with it i can do just about anything car or house related. For the rear axle i understand they come from the factory and is easier to fit a straight axle but in my opinion IRS is way better option and makes any car much better to drive, handle and with today's technology they can hold the power levels and abuse better then ever. Might be worth taking a tape measure to an 15 and up mustang rear end or an explorer IRS .
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I wish I had the skill level to put an IRS in. I'm worried about replacing floor pans.

I've been reading about using C02 and it says it's a deeper weld. Argon is supposed to give a messier weld, taller. Argon/Co2 mix seems to be the best for mild steel and all around work other than on aluminum. And I'm not set up for aluminum at all.

I'm not set on either gas yet, same price just need some guidance on which way is best for what I'm doing.
 
Co2 is great genral purpose and it's cheaper by a little here any way. I suggest argon/Co2 for sheetmetal because more penetration is not necessary for what your doing. This is my experience I have used both and when your starting out you have a tendency to burn through anyway. Either one will work tho. Watch Welding Tips and Tricks on you tube you will learn quickly his camera is the best you can see the puddle and the way he weaves and fills the joints. I wish the video tutorials were around when I was starting out it would have been a time saver for sure.
 
When i was starting to work on cars there was no internet, no books on car repairs or modifications in my native language, so i become self taught. That gave me the confidence and some of the skills i'm using every day. On the other hand i've made and had to fix many mistakes. I don't know how much your project costs, but in my opinion best way to learn is by doing it. Set a goal and find a way to overcome all the obstacles. Cheap cars are good for learning and sharpening your skills learning to weld is second in fabrication using an angle grinder properly to its full potential and safely is more importantly. Installing IRS this days is very simple, IRS comes in units and if you threat it as a unit is as simple as positioning it right, knowing geometry and how to measure helps and then making brackets to the subframe bushings and spring seats and shock mounts very simple.
 
I agree cheap cars are good to learn on.

When I was 14 (48 years ago) I bought a 55 chevy bel air for $25. Two door hardtop, 3 speed, had a wonder bar radio in it. The guy let it freeze and break the block. My dad helped me tow it home. I got a 283 that was in parts and put it together but couldn't get it to run. That's when my neighbor showed me I had the timing 180 out. Fixed that and drove it for years til it was stolen when i was in boot camp. Wasn't much left of it when I got home.

I'm happy with the ford 9". Strong and relatively inexpensive. I'd rather concentrate on the LS and the T56 combo. I've modified almost 500 T56's for cable speedometer. Its about time I got to enjoy one.
 
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alloy said:
I agree cheap cars are good to learn on.

When I was 14 (48 years ago) I bought a 55 chevy bel air for $25. Two door hardtop, 3 speed, had a wonder bar radio in it. The guy let it freeze and break the block. My dad helped me tow it home. I got a 283 that was in parts and put it together but couldn't get it to run. That's when my neighbor showed me I had the timing 180 out. Fixed that and drove it for years til it was stolen when i was in boot camp. Wasn't much left of it when I got home.

I'm happy with the ford 9". Strong and relatively inexpensive. I'd rather concentrate on the LS and the T56 combo. I've modified almost 500 T56's for cable speedometer. Its about time I got to enjoy one.
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Alloy,
I hope all is well with you.
Is the Nova project on extended leave?
 
Well the project is on hold because I had a stroke last month.

I've been learning to walk and use my right hand again. Its been slow going but it's getting better everyday.
 
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