ABANDONED Chevy Nova Rescued + BONUS Parts!

I just love rescuing an old car that's been abandoned and forgotten. I had ZERO knowledge about this car, aside from the fact it had been sitting a LONG TIME. I also didn't know what year it was. And I didn't know what engine it had in it, or how long it had been off the road. I bought the car based off of a little picture on my phone, so it was hard to tell just how rough it was. It belonged to a local man, who drove it in the 1990's and recently passed away. His daughter was cleaning out the back yard and garage, and a mutual friend reached out to me to see if I knew of anyone interested in buying a junk car and an extra engine. I took a gamble and agreed on a price before actually going to see the car and engine.
As it turns out, the gamble was a good one, even though the car is ROUGH. Real rough. I was thrilled to dig through the glove box and find out that it was bought NEW right here in my hometown of Dayton, TN. That alone is cool, but the Lynyrd Skynyrd cassette tape really sealed the deal for me. I can only hope that the wiring for the cassette player hasn't been chewed up by whatever has been living in this thing for the past 24 years.
The mystery small block Chevy engine has lots of parts with it (I'll make another video about how to decode it, so we can figure out if it's a ratty 305 or a hot 327. I ended up making an offer on a '70s Honda CL350 to throw in as well. All together, I think I'll come out ok on the deal, and I'm excited to see if I can get this abandoned junk running again. Is the Nova too far gone? You'll find out more in a future video, but for now let's evaluate this abandoned back yard find, and drag this stuff home so we can take a good look at it.
#abandoned #nova #rescued
00:00 What Have I Done?
00:20 On My Way to See The Nova
00:52 My First Time Seeing It in Person
02:06 Inside the Garage
03:13 Dragging the Abandoned Nova onto the Rollback
04:47 I also bought the Honda CL350
05:30 Unloading the Crusty Nova
06:07 Full Evaluation Begins
07:45 Mileage Report
09:05 What's Under the Hood?
11:00 Nova Cowl Tag Decode
12:57 What's in the Trunk?
14:52 Nova Rallye Wheels
16:25 Rusty Floor Pans
17:20 VICTORY!
20:50 Digging in the Glove Box
22:05 Last Registration 1997
23:45 More VICTORY!

[@marshallwarden4240]

I had a clean 78 nova about 12 years ago. It was stock when i got it with 305 in it. I built a hot 355 & built th350 with 4:10 gear it ran 8.30s in the 1/8th. After about a year I ran across a killer deal on a brand new LS3 crate engine with a carb intake & healthy cam went 7.20s....put a lot of street miles on it. Absolutely loved it

[@davida.p.9911]

She's definitely seen better days. But you never know, there might be some bright lights at the end of the tunnel. If there is enough sold metal surrounding those floor pans, there might be able to attached some new sheet metal. And trunk lids for those Novas are fairly easy to find. Very cool, especially seeing all that old paperwork. Thanks for sharing and keep us updated! 👍

[@shadygingergarage]

I love those disco Novas. Too bad they rot like an International Scout. We built a 427 powered big tire 75 Nova in our highschool votech class.

[@bowtieman55]

I’ve got a real love for these late model Novas. Good find and companion for your daughter’s four-door 👌🏻

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thanks Earl, these Novas are growing on me.

[@shitbox82]

75-76 you can identify by the park lights in the grill, and long speedometer, 77 is easy to spot because they have the 75-76 style steering wheel with round gauges, 78 is identical to a 77 except for the newer style steering wheel, and of course the 79 has one year only headlights, grill, and taillights. Looks like your 78 has an 8.5” ten bolt too, good find, can’t wait to see you get this car cleaned up and back on the road! 👍🏻

[@windowlicker4192]

Perfect dirt track car. I have a 74 that gets around the track nice. The rust is just Waite reduction.

[@alanwood5857]

That's a fun one to grab, lots of X body parts around if you decide to fix it up a bit. 1 owner!

[@christianbattestin9747]

My uncle Ed had a Nova of that generation. It was a '77 4-door, brick red, 350/350, and he bolted giant towing mirrors to the front fenders.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Nice! I bet that thing was cool back in the day.

[@fordfandiecast]

Cool find. Will be a great project

[@blainerudy2255]

The pack of cigs had a bunch of Camel Bucks.They came on the back of the pack, and you saved them up and you could send away for mechandise. Marlboro had a similar gimmic with Marlboro Miles . Midland C B radios were at one time a very good brand. They are named for where they are made, Midland ,Texas.

[@garygarner1095]

cool find hope you can get it running and driving

[@icerazar713]

That Midland CB radio is worth something if it works. The square black speaker is an external speaker for the CB. That Camel Light cigarette tin is collectable and worth a few dollars to some collector somewhere.

[@user-js4vh2lw6n]

The little black speaker in the passenger floor board is an external speaker for the CB radio.

[@joshuagibson2520]

I came here from Ohio 5 years ago. I was amazed at how nice most Tennessee cars are after 25+ years. This Nova does not fall into that category. Lol. This is one of the worse off TN cars I've seen. Looking forward to see what yall to do / with it. Even if you decide against making a driver, there are lots of good parts there that will help someone out on their build. Parting out / scrapping them takes a lot of time and effort though.

[@googleusergp]

It's a 1978 Nova that has a 305 two barrel it. The VIN gets us the win: 1 for Chevrolet, X for Nova, 27 for two-door, U for 305 V8 with two-barrel, aka RPO code "LG3" (Chevrolet produced), 8 for 1978 model year, T for Tarrytown, NY (Westchester County) assembly and the rest is the production sequence. This style Nova ran through the 1979 model year and they were often made at Tarrytown, NY (like this one with a "T" in the VIN), Willow Run, MI ("W" in the VIN), or Van Nuys, CA ("L" in the VIN for Los Angeles. Van Nuys is a suburb of LA). The dealership that sold it new appears to be out of business. Nope, two barrel Rochester, 2GC (with coil type choke). The 305 did not come with a four barrel in the Nova in this year. The 350 V8 would have had a four barrel. 09B denotes the second week of September 1977 production. The other sequence numbers on the tag do not have meaning except for internal plant use, such as body number (to connect it to the right chassis/options) and sequencing codes. The other codes on the tag may denote things like the color of the secondary trim such as the dash, package tray, steering column, carpet and seat belts. You did the other codes correctly so I won't repeat them here. Since there is a "74" at the bottom, that leads me to believe it's denoting that the carpet matches being Carmine Red (which it is). My parents had a '79 Phoenix (also made in Tarrytown) which we only had for a year and half to wait out the 1979 gas crisis until we bought a Trans Am (which I still have). The car that they traded in was a 1968 two door V8 Impala, assembled in Georgia, with the VIN for the win: 1 for Chevrolet, 64 for Impala V8, 47 for two door coupe, 8 for 1968 model year, D for Doraville, GA assembly and the rest is the production sequence. It was bought on a Wednesday, November 23, 1977 right before Thanksgiving which was Thursday, November 24, 1977. I had a 1979 Nova four door with a 305 V8. My uncle was the original owner. I sold it in 1993 when I got it from him and used the money to buy dress clothes for my first interviews for jobs out of college. LOL. The Nova I had maybe had 70,000 original miles, but it needed work including rear leaf springs. It too was code #15 Platinum (Silver) paint like this one was originally. I didn't need the car at the time and he was going to junk it, so I fixed it up to make it run better and flipped it. You might get lucky and find the build sheet, although it may be very fragile given the condition of the interior. I'm also a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan and I've done a lot of reading on them and I listen to their music at least 3-4 times a week.

[@sandwichbar8226]

Wow! Soooo cool. I hope you stick with it. Best wishes from 🇬🇧

[@michaeljankowski8036]

The quarter panels look pretty solid,from what I can tell. It still has potential. Good Luck

[@steelmill]

I had a 79 hatchback Nova 250 six cylinder with a three on the tree.Only one I have ever seen.

[@jimstewart2457]

Can’t wait to see the Nova when your done.

[@apolloquinn1971]

My first car was a 1975 Nova. Swapped a 327 and a Muncie 4 speed in it, did a bunch of suspension work and a full repaint. Sadly a drunk driver took her from me

[@bradd1850]

Those 350 twin Hondas have rubber rollers in the cam tensioner you have to be weary of, they like to chip apart and loosen the timing chain leading to engine failure if not caught in time.

[@watsisbuttndo829]

The honda looks pretty complete. Very cool little bike.

[@almoffat7504]

Needs a bit of a buff , it’s a nice body shape good luck with it 👍🇦🇺

[@joeyheller2995]

Inside the cellophane of the Camel cigarettes was called “Camel Cash” you save them and there was a magazine you could buy from. Jackets, Camel shirts zippos all kinds of stuff.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Enjoyed!!! 👍👍👍

[@tommycook9620]

HELL yea man Love me some Nova's lol working on my 68 nova putting in floor pans in the driveway LoL fun me and the boy lol

[@hippydippy]

Those original invoices are very cool!

[@HotRodHoarder]

My favorite part is that it was bought right here in my home town. I love history, even if it's about a boring old Nova haha.

[@trainsbybike]

Cool, saving cars.

[@rafaelfiallo4123]

With just the Camel Cash and Skynyrd tape you're already in the black.....win.

[@RSJR74]

I just sold my 77 with a killer drivetrain but needed body work and interior for $10.5

[@davidtaylor1384]

That cassette is Skynrd friends, I wore that one out. Especially Sammy Kershaw's version of I know a little.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Oh man I didn't even realize that. That's cool...looking forward to hearing different band's versions of Skynyrd songs.

[@davidmaggard2796]

I know a guy who use to be a Chevy dealer who ordered one of this new rally nova he still has it 4speed car bucket seats consol.car last time I saw it he had vett rallys on it flat caps sharp car I don't like those type GM rims ether that car as been some ones pride and joy at one time been a fun car to drive v8 car most I ever saw was 6s Kool cb from the 70s should be a date code on the back great video 👍

[@brendangeraghty8865]

Disco Nova, baby!

[@HotRodHoarder]

YESSSS. These cars are really growing on me.

[@priscillawilliams6399]

Big project! It's cool going through history of the car too bad they let her sit too long

[@Sleeperdude]

I still keep notes on paper

[@samhudsonjr6604]

Some of the Novas came out with a 262 v8 . Ihad a 4dr with a 262 va rebuild the engine with 300;0000miles on it i still have engine and trans..The 262 v8 was only one year only .

[@buckeyejim2989]

That engine had the same stroke as a 283. Back in the day I wanted to use a crank out of one of them, in a 400 or 350 . With a solid lift cam, it would have to scream.👍👍

[@aeknikh]

Who in their right mind would trad a 68 impala for a god damn nova…

[@googleusergp]

Gas crisis, inflation. The Impala was by the VIN # a V8 equipped two door made in Doraville, GA, but by the late 1970s, smaller cars got the job done for most folks and they got rid of (what was then) the "big" cars.

[@462ANIMAL]

Looks rough, I have a 79 with the taillights with 3 on each side

[@wolfy5471]

Good stuff, keep it coming.

[@erikalbertson7483]

My brother in law was from Crossville, TN. His last name was Webb. Maybe related. Anyway, be interesting to see how this cleans up !

[@rickbaker7507]

That Midland cb is pre 1977 it's 23 channel they didn't make 40 channel CB's until 1977... The speaker you found was an external speaker for the cb... I have one exactly like it...

[@HotRodHoarder]

Oh wow, thank you for the info! I'm clueless when it comes to CB, but I think it would be cool to get it working again.

[@martysquires5864]

Good thing u rescue the nova while it's still salvageable

[@HotRodHoarder]

It's pretty rusty underneath, but I think it's worth saving.

[@rickloera9468]

After watching some episodes of Clunkers amd Classics I see some potential here. It may seem daunting, but the reward at the end will be well worth it.

[@HotRodHoarder]

There is definitely some potential here....the rust on the bottom side is pretty significant, but it can be fixed with enough time and money.

[@rickloera9468]

@@HotRodHoarder if ypu haven't watched Clunckers and Classics then you need to treat your self to that. He is building his 1968 Nomad on a super slim budget with fantastic results.

[@chuckwatson8965]

Maybe the little speaker you found on the floor was with the CB Radio set up ?

[@michellehoefer5922]

Thank you for the video.

[@beaublackford3697]

You found Camel Bucks haha haven’t seen one of them since high school. Maybe you can still get a crappy ash trey.

[@rickbaker7507]

Took a screenshot of that cb .. Midland 13 - 882b was produced in 1975...

[@buckster2575]

My first car was a 78 nova.my parents had a 76 and my aunt and uncle had a 76 or 77 to.

[@maryshasteen9897]

I heard of your channel from sleeper dude love the videos

[@HotRodHoarder]

Thank you for checking out my channel Mary! Sleeperdude is a great friend of mine!

[@davidbarnsley8486]

The bike was a win I think

[@Wooley689]

Redoing this should garner some good content.

[@ce7618]

Car looks factory to me. 😊 But this car looks cool , alot of work to do but would look cool when finished 👍🏼🇬🇧

[@christopherpeterson1400]

Rolling that dice... can be dicey..lol

[@timothyballinger6280]

The rust in the trunk lid is most likely caused by mice. Not a bad car though!

[@timothymassina6138]

You’re saying this is far gone and as a guy that lives in Minnesota I’m thinking it looks pretty damn decent lol.

[@jamesguptill6611]

The bike has some decent value.

[@HotRodHoarder]

I'm excited to work on it and see if I can get it running again. Definitely has lots of potential!

[@Slowgroovin]

Two barrel carb would also indicate the engine probably hasn't been driven as hard as a 4bbl car would've most likely been.

[@gteefxr3094]

🙄

[@JUNIORK1974]

As a former owner of a 2bbl/305 1978 Firebird I would respectfully disagree. It was my first car and it was flogged daily. :)

[@79tazman]

It looks like the car was covered in tree leaves and such for a very long time and they cleaned it off to sell it or something.

[@taylormayberry4826]

Take the ranger to drop a 302 or 351 in it and have a fun shop truck while putting the nova together

[@danielventura8073]

Step one, PV Blast those hood hinges, step 2, massive wasp killer all over that thing.

[@johnnywallacewallace9421]

Them are actually great little cars.

[@georgeclontd4984]

Well. Two small blocks, parts, a parts car and a bike. All anall. It was a good day.

[@jamesdamron2065]

That speaker in the passenger floor is 4 your cb

[@79tazman]

A friend of mine Parents had a 1977 Nova he was going to do something with it but once we really looked at it we found the car was a heap and it would take more money then what the car was worth to fix it up so h ended up selling it to a guy for the engine. The late 70`s for some reason the steel was not so good in them days it seems

[@taylormayberry4826]

Wouldn’t mind having the impala they traded in on it

[@siccreations1287]

Is that a 409 in your main page photo? Also my first car was a 78 Nova with a 305, shit car then but I loved it.

[@alanwood5857]

Had a '78 Phoenix 305 2dr $200.00 beater, (years ago) drove it 2 years and still got my money out of it. I remember there were dozens of these in the pick-a-part yards.

[@rjmzz430]

That things a gonner!

[@Hidden-creek-outdoors]

If you decide to sell the car I'd be interested in it I could use it for parts for my 77

[@guilhermeboerner5567]

Em primeiro lugar lavar o carro ,mais saúde para vocês

[@zulumagoo1]

Factory air intake in tact says its a 305

[@Merylstreep1949]

New floor pans Fiberglass racing seats Coker repro Goodyear polyglas tires Cragars Glass packs A really good power wash Tuneup four barrel and headers

[@79tazman]

That`s a car Sleeperdude Josh would buy but then again maybe not lol!

[@jonathontaylor8861]

The motor cycle has the wrong exhausts fitted.

[@HotRodHoarder]

Yeah, definitely not the proper CL exhaust. I'll do a full video on the bike in the coming weeks. Pretty cool project, but definitely needs some attention.

[@jeremyedgell9989]

Yea, good luck. Those model Nova's we're just not for me. Never liked them when they went to that body style. Saying that I bought my wife a 77 two door. It was a V8 car. In really good shape. I done tune-up new heater core. Then one day she wanted me to follow her from work. And noticed the piece of $hit. Was going down the road side way's! The thing was rusted out underneath!! I got it from my mom. She got it from a guy that stored in a barn for years. And I guess the moisture took care of all the suspension!! Next day l called a local scrap yard and sold the death trap!

[@HotRodHoarder]

Oh yeah, these things were known for crab walking down the road. Not exactly the best cars...but the ONE advantage of this body style Nova is they are CHEAP.

[@topfuelkustomz3729]

Why don’t you film working on the car and doing stuff to it in like series or something

[@healey100austin]

Free lizard too 😁😁

[@bennetfox]

This is one of GM's disposable cars and there aren't many left because well they're disposable. If you wanted to put it back together it would be neat. You really should be wearing gloves while digging around in this car and look under the back seat and see if the build sheet is still there. It should be under the bottom seat cushion.

[@tommycook9620]

Hey I've heard that 2 bolts is what u want slapped capes is what I think it's called lol makes it 4 bolt and stronger u ever heard that old school trick

[@gteefxr3094]

Like that engine or car would ever be worth giving a fuck.

[@davidbarnsley8486]

I hate too say it I think you did your dough on that one Maybe the parts might be ok

[@mr.joshua204]

What a shame

[@scottwhitmer2034]

Those were Camel Bucks. You collected them and bought stuff like T Shirts. After you got cancer!

[@leebongirno9670]

Picky picky picky

[@LittleAnastasia...]

Assuming by all the cigarettes in the car I'm gonna say the previous owner died of lung cancer.

[@FreshOldSchool]

I've seen worse... haha!

[@FreshOldSchool]

Google maps puts the 136 Market St address for that dealership right where that carwash is by Food City.

[@stevenearp7406]

I like this channel but my god this is weak content. Take wheels off repaint and shine chrome rings. That is all on car worth saving. Lol