"You are your friends." Isn't that what they say? In David Nelson's case it sure would seem that way. A couple of years back, his buddy was in the process of building a Nova, and when David saw it he knew he had to have one of his own.
Nelson wanted to build a Nova, but at the same time wanted something that would represent his personality and style. And since he is a one-of-kind, the Nova needed to be the same way.
David decided that the Nova would wear a two-tone, blue and silver paint job, but first the body needed to be refined. He sent the car to Collision Specialists in Tacoma, Washington. There they reworked every panel on the Chevy II, well besides the quarter panels and fenders, they were replaced. The car was then sent to Ryan Butler Fabrication where Ryan made a custom front roll pan. He also fabbed a one-off custom dash complete with the gauge cluster from a late-model Camaro. Once the body was ready, R&J Customs applied the Sherwin Williams Blue FX and Porsche Silver. Instead of using the stock GM trim, Nelson decided to have R&J Customs apply graphics on the car in place of the trim. Marks Custom Upholstery recovered the Nova interior in black and white vinyl. Putting the package over the top is 17-inch GTX10 wheels from Billet Specialties in each corner.
When it came to powering the Nova Nelson knew it had to be just as unique and catching as the rest of the car. He went with an LS1 engine, but not just any LS1. The late-model Gen III engine is topped with a Weiand Lingenfelter intake manifold. But to really top things off, an ATI Procharger with 10 psi and twin intercoolers adds an extra 200 hp to the LS1. Blood Enterprises helped with fine tuning the engine and taking care of electrical matters. Backing the LS1 is a GM 4L60-E and Ford 9-inch rearend with 3:90 gears and limited-slip.
| TECH SPECS | Owner | David Nelson |
| Vehicle | '67 Nova |
| Engine | ’01 LS1, Weiand Lingenfelter intake
manifold, ATI supercharger with 10
psi, twin intercoolers, tail blow off
valve, Granatelli MAF, custom headers
and exhaust, estimated 550 hp at
6,000 rpm and 480 ft-lb of torque at
5, 000 rpm |
| Transmission | '01 GM 4L60-E |
| Rearend | Ford 9-inch with limited-slip and
3:90 gears |
| | 3:90 gears |
| Suspension | Martz 2-inch drop spindles, Martz
tubular control arms, Martz 2-inch
drop springs, Martz coilovers,
Mustang II rack-and-pinion |
| Wheels |
| Front | Billet Specialties GTX10 17x7 inches |
| Rear | Billet Specialties GTX10 17x10 inches |
| Tires |
| Front | Cooper 215/45/17 |
| Rear | Cooper 275/40/17 |
| Exterior | Sherwin Williams Blue FX and
Porsche Silver painted by Rich at
R&J Customs |
| Interior | SS buckets covered in black and
white vinyl, LS1 Camaro cluster with
Autometer gauges, custom dash by
Ryan Butler, upholstered by Marks
Custom Upholstery |
| Stereo | Alpine head unit |