Thread: madmax nova

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Only thing that I wonder about is if your electrical system can handle the load of so many headlights. You might have to bump up the alternator to something like a 100 amp one, plus the relay and all would have to be on a separate circuit so it doesn't overload the present one. It is surprising how much juice a headlight draws.

Don

On the headlights...

the firebird harness is the same wire guage, and same alternator output, and i'm 'only' adding two more lights.

SO.. what I am thinking.. is to run the right and left two 'extra' pairs in series, and splice them into the harness on high beam, put the other side to ground. That way, the four extra lights would appear to the system as only two extra, and since the wiring on the firebird is same as the nova, it should be ok. It will also prevent me from burning out the corneas from the eyes of the oncoming drivers. I am thinking that even at half power, a high beam lamp will appear plenty bright. BUT.. come to think of it, I do have a 100A one-wire alternator from the firebird which could be put into service.

Come to think of it, this is a perfect response to those inconsiderate drivers who won't dim their headlights when coming at you............... A guy I knew years ago mounted a couple of airplane landing lights in his 56 Ford grille just for that purpose. However, not sure I want a blinded driver coming head on at me at 60 mph.

Don

I personally would rather have them on the back for the occassional Jerk riding your bumper with the highs on!

for that, a big rearview mirror works well. Just aim it to reflect the light into their eyes.

They back off pretty quick.

OK, got the last strip in. there are a couple more pieces I COULD put in.. but I think this is good for now. The pan is complete, and all the major rust is gone. Of course, the entire pan needs replaced, but this is a beater not a show car, and the wife will probably wreck it anyway.

Anyway.. today I pulled the can of zero rust off the shelf, and it was bunch of goo, with some liquid on top. Got to stirring, and it actually came back to life. Looked through my stash of projects past, and found some reducer and paper filters. Thinned it down, and got five buckets / filters going. Pulled out my old spray gun, and filled it up. Everything was going well, until the air compressor 'walked' around and cut the hose. Fixed the hose and finished painting. Now, I wanted to shoot till it was all gone, but the gun clogged up, and so I called it good for the day. Got about a half quart of reduced Zero rust for another day. Really should have caulked first, but got ahead of myself. I'll caulk it tomorrow. Picked up a couple tubes of white lightning, might paint back over it, dunno.

I was sitting here looking at the picture of underneath, with that long, pretty right-angle seam.. and I realized I am not done.

Anyone else see it?



anyone?



The gas tank isn't going to fit.


bloody hell.

Ok, gas axe, cutoff wheel, and patch it back together. Tank should clear easily now.


Unfortunately, the top of the gas tank is worse than I had thought. Going to have to use one of the firebird gas tanks, but the filler neck is too short.

I hate welding on gas tanks. Gives me the heebie jeebies.

OK got the gas tank neck stretched.

Pulled the sending unit.
Drilled a 1/8 hole in the top corner, and drained out the last drop.
Set the tank in the hot sun for several hours.
Hooked up the shop vac to blow into the tank.
Welded it up.. and learned something. The neck is soldered in, not welded.
I melted out the solder, so I welded it in. Figured out why the factory doesn't do it that way.. the metal is real thin from the forming process. Stretched WAY thin. It was really tough to find the right heat to not burn through. ( acetylene ) But I got the job done.

Now the tank is mounted, tail lights are in and wired.

Time to get on with other things.

hood ornaments have fallen out of vogue for some reason.

Can anyone tell me what this one is?

Looks similar to this one for sale on ebay off a 56 Oldsmobile.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1956-OLD...QQcmdZViewItem
I bet it from a similar period Olds
here is a 52

This might be more help, just can't quite get yours from one photo angle

It's the 55, thanks!

Nice to be able to help!

I'm into the rear brakes now. The pass side was ok except for the Ebrake cable was siezed up. The drivers side the ebrake cable and the servo were siezed up. Also, the front pad was cocked at an angle for some reason. Worn down at an angle, so had been that way for a while. Drum was also fubbered up.

ALL the firebird brake parts fit except the ebrake cables. Got them on order, 17$ ea. I guess that is pretty cheap, but I'm over budget already, so OUCH. Also picked up a new pinion seal, $8. Would have just swapped the whole rear end, but the bird measures an inch wider at the backing plates, and I don't want to scrub tires on fenders.

OH yeah, the shocks won't swap out, because the bottom plates are different. I'll see if they will swap, because the bird had brand new shocks. How anal / crazy should I get trying to pinch a penny on this mess? I am considering cutting the bottoms off the nova shocks and welding them onto the bird shocks. ( the nova has eyelets, the birds have studs on bottom ) Probably a bad idea, right? Could result in a shock exploding in my face while I am welding, I suspect. BUT.. the bottom plates might swap out. Will be an intresting dilema for the next poor bast trying to replace the shocks on it... I can see it now.. dude arguing with the 17 year old kid at the computer, local parts store..." I don't care WHAT the computer tells you, these are the wrong part"... hilarious. Oh,, and.. can you see him telling the kid.. NO I DON'T HAVE ROUND HEADLIGHTS.. I'm telling you, it has SIX RECTANGULAR HEADLIGHTS.