Cars in Yards: 1970 Chevrolet Nova

Don't say it! Junkyard Life has found this… a 1970 Chevrolet Nova. There are so many things to mention about this car that was built for the common man. It came in so many forms, that most people could afford one. (Editor's note: Nobody said it was cheap. But...)

Shakespeare asked, “What is in a name?”

The Chevrolet Nova has a cool name. Nova. Translated to mean “bursting star”, this car was contrived to compete with other makers that honed in on America’s obsession to go to the moon before other countries claimed that giant orb. So we had to pretend to get there first!

Somebody grab a can of orange spray paint.

Correction: It Does Go!

The common story that we here at Junkyard Life have been guilty of retelling is the great name fail tale. The story about how the translation of “Nova” in Spanish speaking countries meant “it doesn’t go” and how when the car arrived in the market with that moniker the buyers froze and refused to purchase. Why buy a car that tells you right up front that it doesn’t go? Going is really what we need it to do. Well, when researching our feature car - we now find out that story isn’t true. Puts a monkey wrench in my Fun Facts, doesn’t it?

This Nova is pretty honest about what it is. It has two (possibly three) options that jump quickly into view. Can you spot them? See Fun Facts.

Options on the cheap Chevy

This Nova was adorned in GM paint code 25 known as Astro Blue in 1970. See that space theme we mentioned? It also had the standard bench seat, RPO Code 731 for you numbers guys, covered in black vinyl. What you see, is what you get. Before we get you too excited about the tough guy persona of the rugged “post sedan”, hold your bursting stars. We learned that this ONLY came in pillared sedan form. Which is fine by us. We at Junkyard Life adore post sedans. The structural sound "post" body style is preferred by racers in all classes. However, not much racing was done with this 307 cubic inch example. If there was, he probably didn’t win a lot. That small block power plant was made to do what it did… last a long time and not use too much fuel.    

In the 1980s a 307 emblem meant that you were driving grandma's car.

Granny was on a budget but packed her car with amenities like A/C.

The 307-V8 was still relatively new to the car buying world, having only been in the mainstream since 1969.

1970 Chevy Novas still had the clean, tucked-in bumpers. By 1973 the bumpers protruded away from the body to pass crash test standards.

Trim tag has details on the 1970 Chevy Nova.

Complete set of original 14-inch hub caps found inside Chevy Nova.

Don't let the wheels fool you

The only exception to my previous “What you see is what you get” is the Chevrolet Rally wheels. Although an option for the Nova in 1970, this example came with 14-inch wheels with a “Chevrolet Motor Division” hubcap outlined in the center. Very tasteful and economical. I may not have known that detail up front, but the owner told me he has the entire set of hubcaps. I also found them in the car under the removed back seat. Sadly, no build sheet was present.

(Editor’s Note: We have suggested therapy to Junkyard Life staff member Ron Kidd. He really likes hubcaps to an unhealthy degree)  

What would I do?

If this bursting star was in the Junkyard Life shop, my vote would be to yank the 307, add a fat rat motor, but keep the 307 emblems and the hubcaps. (Editor’s Note: See?) This is the perfect chassis for an incognito money taker. Unfortunately, it isn’t ours but an interesting car nonetheless.

Ron Kidd
— Junkyard Life

Junkyard Life’s Nova Fun Facts:

• The Chevy II was introduced in 1962 to compete for the Ford Falcon buyers. Chevrolet was somewhat late to the game.
• The feature car is a 1970 model. The third generation for the Chevrolet Nova began in 1968.
• 1968 was the last year to have both “Chevy II” and “Nova” emblems. It was only known as “Nova” after 1969.
• The Nova was only built in two places: Norwood, Ohio and Willow Run, Michigan. The feature car was born in Willow Run. Yes, we love cowl tags at Junkyard Life.
• 1968 was a great seller for the Chevrolet Nova despite several options no longer available. Hello 1968 post sedans. Goodbye last year’s station wagon, hard top, and convertible. A bold move in the market indeed. 
• Chevrolet was late to the game AGAIN in 1967 with the introduction of the Camaro to attempt to regain sales stolen by the Ford Mustang since 1964. What does this have to do with the Nova? Rumor was that half way through the model year Chevrolet conveniently cut the high horse 327 from the Nova menu to boost sales of the new Camaro. Sneaky marketing!
• The top of the food chain power wise in 1970 Nova was the 375HP 396-V8 (which was actually 402 cubic inches).
• Hotly debated for years is the civil war between the hot new 350 LT1 borrowed from the Corvette and Camaro Z28 verses the 396 big block. Which was faster when installed in the 1970 Nova? Ginger or Mary Ann? Both hot.

(Editor’s Note: I don’t think “Gilligan’s Island” has ever been used for a Chevy II engine debate. We no longer allow Ron to write with the TV on here at the office.)

• The Chevy II was designed to be very economical. It was offered with a 4 cylinder engine for several years.
• The options we mentioned on the feature car we spotted were:
• The 307 V8 was an engine upgrade (three actually)
• The air condition was not standard, hence…an option.
• (Possibly) the side body molding may not have been standard. 
• The AM radio was one step above… no radio.
• The automatic transmission was relatively a sure bet to be there, but don’t count it for free… there was a manual three-speed tranny that could cost less.

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.

Project Money Burner Jeep

Bigger is better! When bad things happen to good people they have the option of giving up or making things better. Junkyard Life's own Keith Lively wrecked and rolled in his 1991 Jeep YJ one week before his wedding in 2012. The Jeep was destroyed. A loose tool bag knocked Lively upside his head inside the crashing Jeep, but otherwise he was unscathed. Luck or fate? He still had sense enough to marry a woman who shares his passion for all things with four wheels. When Lively walked down the aisle he had already hatched a plan to create a monster Jeep that could tackle any obstacle. Project Money Burner was born! 

What happened?
  "A steering knuckle broke going down the highway at 50 miles per hour and the Jeep turned sideways, hitting the side of a hill head on. The Jeep's momentum sent it rolling over and into a concrete storm drain," Lively said. "I was knocked out cold by a tool bag. I also had some yard equipment, axes, and saws inside the Jeep. They ended up stuck in my dash and the pick axe was embedded in my seat where I would have been if I had not leaned over and held onto the passenger harness." The crash no doubt could have been deadly. "The good Lord was definitely riding with me that day," said Lively.

  "Another C.A.O.S. (Central Alabama Off-road Society) club member saw the wreck and got me out. I woke up sitting on the back of a fire truck. The rest of the details? I have no idea."  

Before the wreck of the 1991 YJ. Notice the beefed up roll cage and seat belts.

 The only things not damaged in the wreck were the massive Off-Road Connection roll bar system, the tailgate and the radio. 

 

Damage assessment

  The force of the crash was hard enough to knock the front axle out, break the transmission in half, and shove the front drive shaft through the floor board. The 4.0 motor was locked up and the transfer case was also trashed. 
  "Most of the drivetrain was busted but when Jeep in is in your blood you got to rebuild," said Lively.

 The Jeep's frame was stretch 21 inches to make the 2-door YJ/TJ into a 4 door.

The plan: Building the Beast
  Lively loves to share his outdoor adventures with all who are brave enough to ride along. The more the merrier, he says, so the plan morphed into a big boy 4-door Jeep. The middle of the Jeep frame and body was stretched by 21 inches for more legroom, and the rear seat was widened by 6 inches to allow more elbow room for two full-size adults. Sharp eyes will notice that rear doors were minimized in size to give it more of a Jeep Scrambler appearance.

  What started out as a wrecked 1991 YJ (YJ=1987-1995 Jeep Wrangler) ended up with a 2001 TJ (TJ=1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler) front clip that was donated from another member of C.A.O.S. who wanted to help Lively turn the YJ into a TJ project.   

 Money Burner is on its third engine in eight years.
Each more powerful than the last.

Nuts and bolts
  A decision was made to upgrade the powertrain to a 6.0 liter built LS engine with a 4L80-E transmission with NP-205 twin stick shifter. Power to the ground via a Dana 60 front axle, a 14-bolt Dana 70 rear axle, with both axles receiving Detroit Lockers. The front axles received larger stub axles upgraded to 35 spline with Warn locking hubs. Toss in a set of military H1 Double Bead Lock rims with new centers (to improve the offset) and 43-inch tires and you can see where this trail of money leads. The name "Money Burner" was a no-brainer.

Party in the back
  A storage area behind the rear seat now folds out to a full-size bar with a 3500 watt inverter, built-in blender, lights, disco ball and everything you need to relax after a long day of wheeling with friends. Money Burner features front and rear Warn winches, rock lights and onboard welder and air pump.
  "The blender will make 4 gallons of crushed lemonade or possibly something stronger before the battery goes dead," said Lively. "If you crank the Jeep you can mix drinks all night or run power equipment in remote locations."

Seat of your pants thrill
  Take a ride with Keith Lively in his Money Burner Jeep and you will come back impressed or shaking in your boots. No middle ground here. The thing is a monster! Lively lives up to his name and is not afraid to drive those 43-inch tires into deep water, tackle boulders, dams or a steep wall of earth. He will nail it headfirst into a mountain and drop the back bumper into the dirt. Lively never met a rev limiter he couldn't abuse. The Money Burner delivers! Wow!

Jody Potter — Junkyard Life

 A roll cage and half a wrecked Jeep were all Lively had to get started.

 Progress shot after Money Burner build takes shape.

 Money Burner roll cage is beefed-up to handle heavy impact of a Lively rollover. Oh! There will be rollovers.

Just added new rock lights for improved night recovery trips or just riding down to the creek at night.

 A tighter torque converter installed during the last motor swap helped improve the low-end power. The 6.0 LS motor runs a set of shaved, mild ported heads with a Stage 2 cam.  

 A custom hardtop was fabricated for cold weather months. Full doors spice up the color combo. Half doors are blue.  

Money Burner is setup to make it up to the big climbs in comfort and occasionally rescue a Junkyard Life lost car or truck left deep in the woods. The front winch will extend out 250 feet and the rear winch will extend out 175 feet allowing recovery of almost any car we come across.

Know a junkyard that we need to visit?
Got a wild Jeep, car or truck story?  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.

The Great Corvette Finned Hubcap Mystery

The great hubcap mystery. We bought a truckload of treasures at the mega-sized Moultrie, Georgia Swap Meet this year. Moultrie is a yearly destination that provides elusive parts an enthusiast may not stumble across everyday. Or in Junkyard Life’s case – parts that may not exist at all. The part in question is the famous finned wheel cover that GM flew on their flagship All-American icon… The Chevrolet Corvette.

One of these Corvette finned wheel covers is a mystery because we came home with a 14-inch version from Moultrie, Georgia swap meet.

Sleek
These wheel covers became a hit in 1968 on the Corvette. An alternative rolling stock to the 15x8 Rally Wheels. Reminiscent of the knock-off wheels offered on 1963-1966 Vettes, these hubcaps provided a touch of elegance to show a side of the Corvette that would look in place in the affluent backdrop of a country club parking lot. American muscle and world-class sports car all in the same round rim. 

Expensive

These wheel covers have always commanded a high price tag due to their association with the Corvette. So much in fact, that they are usually priced out of our range. This year, for debatable reasons perhaps, the prices were down! So I (Ron) bought a set for a car I don’t even own. Yet. But oh, yes. Own one I will. (Editor’s Note: Now he is going to say it again really slow for emphasis) And own one…I will. 

 

(Editor’s Note: See? I told you. Do we know this guy or what?)

Notice differences between the two?

So I bought two sets! Almost. Sort of. I will explain. Among the two sets was a wheel cover that is an enigma to us all. One lonely 14-inch version with the Cross Flags associated with the Corvette. 

Jody Potter, left, and Ron Kidd, right, get a closer look at the mystery Corvette hubcap.

Do We Have Our Cross Flags Crossed Up?

• Chevrolet never made a 14-inch Corvette wheel during the production years that this wheel cover was available. It seems they were an option from 1968-1973. All of them were of the 15-inch variety.
• When asking a Corvette-based product vendor about this, before I could get to my question, a very confident gentleman we will refer to as Mr. IknoweverythingaboutCorvettes Grumpy Pants interrupted and said, “They never made that in a 14-inch.” Yes, we know. So we repeated the first half of the question and asked what else would have a Cross Flag. Mr.IGP then emphasized “That wheel cover was Corvette only!” 
• My argument of its existence was pretty solid. I just bought one. However, it was seemingly miles away locked in our truck. So we had no choice but to hear how mistaken we were about the origins or dimensions of this wheel cover. I would have thrown my proof at him and said, “What do you call THIS, Mr. IknoweverythingaboutCorvettes Grumpy Pants?”

A look at back of hubcaps shows the 15-inch version has rivets holding center cap and 14-inch version has nuts holding center cap.

14-inch hubcap has flush-mounted center cap.

15-inch hubcap has slightly raised center cap and fins extend closer to outer rim.

Two junkyard Sherlocks attempt to look cool. We won't try that again, but we did learn that these finned hubcaps are heavy. One 15-inch finned hubcap weighs about seven pounds. The smaller 14-inch hubcaps weighs six pounds.

Help! So what are we missing? Help us find out what this is. Was it designated for another car and someone put the Cross Flags in it? Did another Chevrolet cap have Cross Flags during the time this was made? Did it belong to a Malibu or Impala (with a 14-inch wheel) prior to being associated with the Corvette? Did the ritzy Monte Carlo offer one during the 14-inch wheel model era we are unaware of? Is it not even a Chevrolet hubcap? Comment below or email some info:

Send emails to: Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.

Ron Kidd — Junkyard Life

I know you want to wear a Junkyard Life shirt. Buy one here on Teespring. 

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.

Cars in Yards: 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix

 

Hold on tight! Hueytown, Alabama's Phillip Rutledge found this 1962 Grand Prix parked in a yard in his hometown. He snatched up the rare Poncho knowing a great opportunity when he saw one. There are not many rust-free 1962 Grand Prix awaiting rescue in yards these days. The fact that Rutledge found a 58-year-old Pontiac in decent condition and the car was visible to anyone who drove by should renew hope for those hunting their own first-year Grand Prix. Just don’t try to shortcut the system and make an offer on this one. It is doubtful that Rutledge will part with his find any time soon. After all he still owns the 1966 Pontiac GTO that he bought with his grass-cutting money in 1980, when he was 14 years old!

Red interior of 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix loaded with options.

Previous Grand Prix key holders

At one time this Grand Prix's owners relocated to Alabama from Illinois for a job transfer. We are not sure how many times the Grand Prix changed hands in Alabama but the two previous owners here failed in their plans to restore the Grand Prix to its former glory. One owner kept the car out of the elements, letting it sit untouched in a garage for 10 years until he hoisted a for sale sign in the window. Then, the most recent former owner parked the burgundy beauty outside for five years before deciding it was time to sell the project Pontiac to Rutledge. 

The 1962 Grand Prix was loaded up by newest owner Phillip Rutledge.

Best available versus best condition

The sliding scale of time and a vehicle's value can see huge changes based on the care and condition at the time of sale. When cruising the back roads for your rusty relics you can often find the best deal on cars in the worst condition. But buyers should be wary. The expense to restore a (visible from the road) carport calamity may not be worth the end result. Be careful when choosing your labor of love. When you spot a chrome bumper peeking from an open garage, that may be opportunity and fate pleading for you to act.

 

1962 Pontiac tail lights are an uncommon sight on the road.

History lesson

When Pontiac introduced the Grand Prix in 1962 it was an instant hit with 30,195 sold. Those production numbers may seem small in comparison to modern standards but this forerunner of the GTO had the recipe for success. With the Grand Prix buyers got a mid-sized body, bucket seats, V8, Safe-T-Track differential and manual transmission. The classy, low slung rumbler turned heads and got people talking about Pontiac. The tiger was about to be unleashed!

A 389-V8 engine with a 4-barrel carburetor resides under the hood.

Engine options

Pontiac gave buyers a multitude of engine choices in the Grand Prix. They could choose from one-of-three 389-cubic inch V8s. The thrift-minded 2-barrel produced 230-hp. The standard 4-barrel pumped out 303-hp and the hot tri-power setup offered 318-hp. A beefed-up block with four-bolt main caps was available in Pontiac's 425-A Trophy Series engines. Not much is known about these other than the 4-barrel was rated at 333-hp and the tri-power touted 348-hp. Many say the 425-A figures are underrated.

Those in the upper level performance loop, 16 to be exact, knew that a 405-hp Super Duty 421-V8 engine with two 4-barrel carbs was the hottest ticket in town. A "street version" of the 421-V8 (320-hp) was equipped for 67 buyers who grabbed the wheel of a new 1962 Grand Prix.

8-lug Pontiac wheels with built-in drum brakes were an oddity but still functional.

Next step

Rutledge, 54, is no stranger to making heads turn on and off the track. With nearly four decades of racing and a right foot planted on the gas pedal of a blue 1966 GTO, he knows how to make a Pontiac run. Current plan for the Grand Prix is to leave paint and interior original and make it a driver and cruise-in regular. Besides some deep cleaning inside and underneath that should be no problem for Rutledge.

Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life

1962 Pontiac Grand Prix has tons of options including air conditioning.

Dome light has map light integrated into the fancy design on the 1962 Grand Prix.

Hard to believe this Grand Prix has been sitting 15 years awaiting restoration.

Understated Grand Prix emblem hides in the recessed 1962 grill.

Check the giant snorkel visible on the air cleaner of the 1962 Grand Prix.

Quad headlamps, with a simplified, streamlined widebody design on the Grand Prix.

8-lug Grand Prix loaded on steel flatbed trailer.

Headliner hangs low but its 58+ years old.

Door jambs look good on this original, survivor Grand Prix.

Power windows, power lock switches on door panel of 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Back seat is clean and neat. Well, except for the scary pile of leaves lurking.

Steering wheel is art on the 1962 Grand Prix.

Factory tachometer mounted on console of 1962 Grand Prix.

Extreme duty wheels? These factory 8-lug wheel look mean.

"GRAN PRX" license plate from Illinois is proof this 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix is not originally from Alabama.

Not so rusty gold. Keep looking, maybe you will find your own dream car like this 1962 Grand Prix out there!

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.