The 4 door Nova was an experimental patrol car in the sheriff's office in '74. With the hard, police tires and fresh wet pavement, we couldn't get them away from a traffic light. Goodyear radials solved that problem but the backseat was too small to stuff in a fighting drunk.
First car I ever drove and owned. Just like this one. My mom gave it to me when she got a newer car. So familiar. Brings back memories. That engine will run forever. Unfortunately, I crashed and totaled the car. I was 19 yr old. But I took the engine out and put it in a pick up truck and it ran and ran on. Great buy and great vid. Great to see the old gal being revived. Thanks for sharing.
Wonder how many times that car was at the Salon back in the 70s and 80s Old ladies driving around with big old rollers in there hair. Those were the days lol...
So when I was in my late teens I got a call from my uncle and he asked me if I wanted a free 1976 Buick Skylark with 34k miles for free. I said sure! I picked it up and it was legit. It had an Olds 260 and a 200 Hydramatic. It ran absolutely mint. I bought it RIGHT before winter here in Pennsylvania and I put studded tires on it. Even though I had two front wheel drive cars, I just had to drive that Buick to see if it would even move in the snow and I NEVER got that car stuck. We got 10" of snow the one morning and I drove sideways for 12 miles looking out the passenger window modulating the throttle, but it never stopped and it never got stuck. Over the next three days we got 28" of snow, then 9" of snow, then another 6" and that car NEVER got stuck. I also dug out and drove my Cadillac DeVille with a 4.9L V8 FWD and it wouldn't even make it up the hill by my house, but the Buick did...sideways. That car had absolutely NO balls being a 2bbl Olds 260 V8, but it would do absolutely anything that I asked of it. Including starting in the middle of winter with 2 feet of snow on top of it after not being started in 4 months. Sorry for the rant, this Nova reminded me ALOT of my Buick. I just wish mine had a 350. I bought one in pieces from a buddy for $150 with alot of aftermarket Comp Cams parts, but I was a kid and I didn't know how to assemble an engine yet.
Yeah the 68-74 nova sedans are the ugliest. Turns out you can’t make a coke bottle shaped sedan look either economical or cool so it’s somewhere in between.
@@theeoddments960 The 73 and 74 always reminded me of the '53 and '54 standard Chevrolets: dumpy but respectable. Close to the same size with those stupid Fed bumpers adding length and weight.
Wow what a Flash of the past my grandfather owned the exact same car. Same collor even. I remember taking many road trips in that car. He had that car for a long time...
Two pieces of advice. One, never sell it, you'll regret it financially or nostalgically. Two, that car is a steal of a deal. And good american iron. Love it man
I empathize with your struggle. Having the funds to buy cheap cars, the space to store them, and the ability to fix them is a dangerous combination lol. Rad ride though. You could do anything or nothing to it, take it anywhere, and it would get attention. Not everything needs to be hot rodded but if it's a dog when you drive it I'd start looking for some vortec heads, cheap cam, brawler carb, and an MSD. Plenty of fun to be had there.
It would make a great sleeper with that column gear shift and hubcaps and that old paint patina. You could fabricate one hell of a good performing quiet single exhaust too.
Good God Issac! It's not the having that brings on the warm and fuzzy dribbles.Its the getting part that brings on that pink floyd buzzin sound in your head. WAWAWAWAAWA! And it's over. Leaving you with that not so fresh kinda feeling.. I know where theres a 5.0 Zephyr sticking out of a mountian of chicken poop! Welcome! Welcome to the machine!!
I think the 307 was done after 1973. They didn't offer it in 1974. It's most likely just a low compression smog 350. Nice car though with the factory air and auto trans, Too bad it's an ugly 4 door.
@@allenshirley4293 1973 was the last year of a 307 in the Nova. The 305 didn’t appear until 1976. All 1974 Novas had either an inline 6 or a choice of 3 350 V8 engines. The 307 technically was replaced by the 262 in 1975 and then the 262 was replaced by the 305 in 1976.
man thats awsome my good buddy had a 73’ 4 door olive green nova back in high school if only those memories cld speak the trouble we caused and the endless gravel roads this video takes me way back
I have learned so much about cars and motors from y’all. Cars and cameras and Isaac it’ll be fine are BY FAR my favorite channels on UA-cam! Thank you guys so much for doing what you do!
My eldest sister bought a Nova brand new in '74 with a 250 cid straight six, 4 doors, it was the prettiest color blue, I remember listening to the song "Rock the boat", on the way to Wildwood, New Jersey!!!
Well done... If you fix it up a bit it will be a head turner like my 1971 Nova. The biggest engine in the Nova for 1974 was the 350 and that decal was used on the full sized Chevy's with the 400, May 1974 was about the time HEI started to show up and was standard on all Chevy's for 1975. Check the build date and see when your car was produced it's probably before May 74. Keep up the great work look forward to more of this car!!!!
I just bought a 71 4door nova. I like 4 doors great for taking family to car shows. I actually am tired of people hateing on 4 doors. There are a lot of them now coming back out
Nice find! I bet that’s rust on top of the paint from a well-water sprinkler (iron in the water) should come off with some elbow grease. Body is straight and interior ain’t bad. Give her some love and she would be a nice cruiser!
for me. i love that 70s green. i also love the smell of a 70s car or truck. a new car built in the 60s and 70s smelled better new, than the new cars of today.
My grandpa had a '72 4-door Nova... which became the first car I ever tuned up, along with several 65/66 Mustangs. The Novas had points for sure! Point gap and dwell angle was the meat of a tune up.
No catalytic converter in 1974, they started in ‘75. I drove a 2 door Burgundy one of these with buckets and a floor shifter for years, started out with a 250 6 banger then about 5 years later I beefed up the suspension and dropped in a bored out 350. Very fun car but shitty in the snow.
I see how it smokes while cold, and I recall how a friend's car smoked like that in the cold--when dead-cold--after a carburetor swap. Then I remembered two articles I read: One, about re-jetting for reformulated gasoline... and the other about how a rebuilt to factory specs carb needed it's choke readjusted to a slightly warmer setting, because reform gas is more combustible and don't need so much choke when starting cold. Hope this helps you, folks... you especially, Ike. ;)
74’ NOVA 4Door was my 1st car when I was a kid . Paid $100.00 for it . I put air shocks on the rear & when it snowed I’d put 300lbs or so in the trunk and she’s got anywhere. I do miss it !
That Nova is one of the last GM cars to use a points system. GM began using it's HEI ignition in some of its cars in late 1974 and began using HEI ignition in all of its cars and trucks in 1975. (I had to do a bit of research to find this out).
Always love coming back to the channel. Always entertaining and I hate to say it, but I always learn something I didn't know before. Keep up the great work. See you next on cars and cameras..
I had a friend that had the same one in the 80s even the same color believe it or not in Palmdale California it snowed 2 feet and we left it parked alongside the road by some apartment buildings what we didn't Know it was hit by a Snow plow. When we got back from work in my Truck, his car was gone it was taken to impound lot and we got it the next day drove it for two more years with the left driver side all crushed in..
Issac, Kudos on finding what is certainly a very rare stock survivor! These Novas were all over the place back in the mid-to-late '70's, and Grandma's everywhere were turning them over to their grandchildren as a first car for High school. I saw many, many of these "Lil Johnny" specials with shackles on the rear leaf springs, air shocks to jack the rear end up, and a cherry bomb mufflers ! (p.s. in case you can't tell, I'm super jealous! I'd love to have one like it!)
When I was in high school in the seventies my friends mom had a green nova just exactly like that. I had 67 mustang with a 302 in it with a single exhaust pipe I didnt want to pay the big bucks for duals but wished I could have them. Any way he raced me with his moms green nova just like that one and out ran me he could slowly pass me and man it pissed me off. He laughed hard at me cause he knew I was not happy about being passed by his moms car. The 350 was just a little bit faster. When I think back I should have added dual exhaust and put a rv cam in mine and some bigger valves so it could run decent. Mine was too stock and got beat by his four door nova his moms car dang LOL
It’s alright Ike I have a problem with buying small engines or go karts and mini bikes even tho i don’t need them and probably won’t fix up for a while lol
I believe that the electronic ignition was a common delete option. I think it would be determined by the build date. I remember seeing Novas on a dealers lot where the electronic ignition was deleted. I hope it helps..
It was called a Vauxhall Nova in the UK brilliant little car I hope you keep this one give it a bit of a wash and a polish it’s a classic car in its own right
1974, the Chevrolet Nova got larger parking lights and new bow-tie grille emblems, as well as modified bumpers that added two inches to length and helped cushion minor impacts. The Powerglide was replaced by a lightweight version of the three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic 350 ( THM 250 ) already offered with the 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8, which was the only V8 offered for 1974. ( Wikipedia info)
So jealous. My first car build was the same year make but with two doors. I didn't like the two doors because they're long and heavy and always dropped. I dropped a new Corvette block four-bolt main with racing cam and a four-barrel Holly and boy did it sit you back in your seat. My car also had a 350 turbo transmission surprise that I didn't drop the rear end. Headers with no catalytic converter and turned down pipes underneath. Wasn't very loud unless I got on it and opened up the secondaries so it was a sleeper but I loved it. Brakes were always a hassle so I would suggest if you're going to keep it which I definitely would switching to disc brakes and electronic ignition points are a bitch to deal with if you can find them. Great find my friend enjoy! Brings back good old memories I sure hope you keep it I want to see what you do with it.
I once owned a '74 Pontiac Grand Safari wagon and it's 455 had points. I'd expect the HEI systems would've been limited to high performance models at first and the grocery getters running points while GM worked the bugs out.
I think '74 was a transition year, might have points or HEI... of course you can tell the difference at a glance... HEI is 'big cap'... I bought a '75 Monte Carlo new in late '74 and had HEI, called 60,000 volts, used .060" spark plug gap... don't think it ever failed...
Isaac, I am guessing you are in your forties. When you get in your fifties & sixties you will become more selective. I share your addiction to stuff. I am in my sixties the opportunities keep happening. I bought a boat motor for my canoe for half price this week. By the way, you have a great collection of stuff!
I dont know if you become more selective, the older younger generations get the less and less common these cars get. I just picked up a 1960 olds super 88 4 door and i think its super fun.
@@Ajaxaxxess That's from before corp. greed, EPA, and a bunch of other stupidity. GOOD CHOICE Grew up in a GM family(generally Chevy's) Much of GM PROGRESSIVE-ly turned to bean counter shit after the Chevrolet "For economical dependable transportation' tags disappeared My first car? Chevy Vega A perfectly fine example of GM degeneracy With a FEW changes it would have been a fine platform to anyone from Ricky racer to Grandma's grocery getter Bunch of GD bloated GM scrooge's.....
You're supposed to hold that magic light wand in your mouth. Finding a 400 in an old 4dr Nova. Is like taking a pebble out of your shoe, but it's actually a gold nugget. Dude, you scored big time! That is a $1600 car as it sets, all day long. A little work and triple your money in a week.
My dad has a 71 nova 4 door with a tree-fiddy. Its has a points style distributor as well. I dont think gm went to HEI until 75. My old gmc shortbed had factory HEI.
I have several 400 small block Chevy engines. I have collected them for 30 years. You were sorta some what right on identifying them. The crank is externally balanced with a plate yes. But it is on the back of the crank so you have to drop the transmission to see it. And all 400 either have 3 freeze plugs on each side, but many have two on each side and a raised casting in the center between the front and rear freeze plugs. 327,350 and all small block Chevys only have two on each side. With a smooth flat surface between them. I hope this helps you to better spot true 400 blocks.
You Ask why, we Men/Woman... Like to challenge ourselves to make things work and live again... Just what we as human's do.. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. You keep being you, we will keep watching, It'll Be fine....
1975 was the first time HEI was mandatory for fuel & emissions set forth the feds. Plus a catalytic was on all new cars & trucks from that year forward! The 5.7 in that Nova was a good engine. I should know having owned a '74 Nova Spirit Of America edition!
I bought a 91 civic about 10 years ago that had been sitting. When I got it going the thing smoked like all hell but after driving a few miles the smoke thinned with every mile and it stopped after the first good drive. It never smoked again after that day.
They didn't put a 400 in a nova in 1974. The 350 was the only V8 option that year. The emissions decal says 350-400 because the emissions information and settings are the same for both engines. If it was a Caprice, then you would have a 400. And GM HEI ignition systems began in 1975.
I like it! That's the same base 350 as you'd find in the Camaro of the same year. A whopping 145 horses, as I recall. Incidentally, I worked with a guy who had a 1974 Nova for sale years ago. He was the original owner of a pretty nice car, in any case. Good find!
All of these have rust in the front fenders low between the wheel opening and front door. Except this one, from the best I can see. I bet this was a survivor in pretty decent condition ten years ago. Shame, but you rescued it before it deteriorated too badly. A lot of potential, depending on your plans and budget. I’ve wanted one like this to play with.
Hyah the UK here. That car looks like a one I had a 1977 Marina built by BMC, that's British Motor Corporation. It had a 1.3 litre engine my father had a 1.8 litre. Those were the only engine sizes for it. Babies compared to your Nova. Vauxhall was part of GM had a Nova which was a 'hot' hatch in the Eighties, smaller car bigger engines from 1.5 to 2000cc.
Have owned 2 '74's myself. Both hatchbacks 1 a Spirit Of America edition. Owned a few 73's one base model with the 250 & powerglide trans. Build date 12/72-the last time the 2 spd slushbox was available the first half of the 1973 model year!
I can understand why you think you have a problem, but when you find cars that start with that little work I’d say it’s a wise investment. Can’t wait to see where you take it from here, thanks for taking us along for the ride.
I got myself a 1974 4 door, it was nick named the granny car, cause its 2 barrel carburetor was shot, so I saved up the money, and threw a 4 barrel edlebrock carb and intake on it. its real fun to drive, but I have to fix the wiring next.
They did have points distributer in 1974. I had a blue 4 dr Chevy Nova with a 350 engine and transmission it was my first car after high school in 1988. I paid $750.00 for it in Lenoir NC. It had 28k miles on it . 👍
Great score Isaac ! Put some new white walls on it and do a buff n shine patina look. Worth every penny u spent and all the grief you gave yourself...I think that little cross you found on the rear view, smiled down on ya ! Thumbs Up !
Ok. That was too easy. Where is the drama? The busted knuckles and bleeped swear words? In all reality I think you made a great deal. Great market support for replacement parts that are relatively inexpensive. Looking forward to your next video.............ROAD TRIP! Terry from South Carolina
Hey I like your Nova 74 they did not come with four hundreds 350 or 307 4 6-cylinder like you said cool car I had three of them I know keep up the good work
isaac, in all my years of being in chevys i never seen a nova come with a 400 small block. just the bigger cars and trucks. back in the day i had a 74 nova in high school. when i graduated i installed a big block 454...4speed. fun car. never keep it straight....lol
I’ve not either I had a 73 hatchback 1/8th mile street strip car it was swapped to a big block 454 from a straight 6 it was a fun car lots of people used to hate 73/74 novas now it seems they’re starting to get popular
1975 was the year that gm went to hei ignition on all models, prior to that year only a few special corvettes and high-performance models had electronic ignition.
The 4 door Nova was an experimental patrol car in the sheriff's office in '74. With the hard, police tires and fresh wet pavement, we couldn't get them away from a traffic light. Goodyear radials solved that problem but the backseat was too small to stuff in a fighting drunk.
First car I ever drove and owned. Just like this one. My mom gave it to me when she got a newer car. So familiar. Brings back memories. That engine will run forever. Unfortunately, I crashed and totaled the car. I was 19 yr old. But I took the engine out and put it in a pick up truck and it ran and ran on. Great buy and great vid. Great to see the old gal being revived. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad that old blue haired lady in that 4dr nova finally turned her blinker off.
That's a blue hair warning light
@@MegaKencam 😁
Lol
Was part of her coat slammed in the driver's door and sticking out of the door gap? LMFAO.
Wonder how many times that car was at the Salon back in the 70s and 80s Old ladies driving around with big old rollers in there hair. Those were the days lol...
So when I was in my late teens I got a call from my uncle and he asked me if I wanted a free 1976 Buick Skylark with 34k miles for free. I said sure! I picked it up and it was legit. It had an Olds 260 and a 200 Hydramatic. It ran absolutely mint. I bought it RIGHT before winter here in Pennsylvania and I put studded tires on it. Even though I had two front wheel drive cars, I just had to drive that Buick to see if it would even move in the snow and I NEVER got that car stuck. We got 10" of snow the one morning and I drove sideways for 12 miles looking out the passenger window modulating the throttle, but it never stopped and it never got stuck. Over the next three days we got 28" of snow, then 9" of snow, then another 6" and that car NEVER got stuck. I also dug out and drove my Cadillac DeVille with a 4.9L V8 FWD and it wouldn't even make it up the hill by my house, but the Buick did...sideways. That car had absolutely NO balls being a 2bbl Olds 260 V8, but it would do absolutely anything that I asked of it. Including starting in the middle of winter with 2 feet of snow on top of it after not being started in 4 months. Sorry for the rant, this Nova reminded me ALOT of my Buick. I just wish mine had a 350. I bought one in pieces from a buddy for $150 with alot of aftermarket Comp Cams parts, but I was a kid and I didn't know how to assemble an engine yet.
You do it for the challenge and the fame and fortune ! Ok, you do it for the challenge. Tinkering is therapeutic, especially with a cold 12 pack. 👍
It's ok Isaac. I love that body style nova also. 2 door preferred but I'd run a sleeper if it was 4 door.
Totally agreed! I love the 4 door classics!
Sleeper all day long!
Plus the patina on that car makes it that much better
Yeah the 68-74 nova sedans are the ugliest. Turns out you can’t make a coke bottle shaped sedan look either economical or cool so it’s somewhere in between.
@@theeoddments960 The 73 and 74 always reminded me of the '53 and '54 standard Chevrolets: dumpy but respectable. Close to the same size with those stupid Fed bumpers adding length and weight.
@@DaveGreg100 yeah that’s probably what I hate the most those mile long bumper fillers and big underbite bumper it just off putting
Wow what a Flash of the past my grandfather owned the exact same car. Same collor even. I remember taking many road trips in that car. He had that car for a long time...
Two pieces of advice. One, never sell it, you'll regret it financially or nostalgically. Two, that car is a steal of a deal. And good american iron. Love it man
I empathize with your struggle. Having the funds to buy cheap cars, the space to store them, and the ability to fix them is a dangerous combination lol.
Rad ride though. You could do anything or nothing to it, take it anywhere, and it would get attention.
Not everything needs to be hot rodded but if it's a dog when you drive it I'd start looking for some vortec heads, cheap cam, brawler carb, and an MSD. Plenty of fun to be had there.
Try that but without the funds part! haha
A “more door” Nova like that would make a perfect drag week race car.
It would make a great sleeper with that column gear shift and hubcaps and that old paint patina. You could fabricate one hell of a good performing quiet single exhaust too.
Shout out farm truck an Asian
@@jamesriggs885 I was just thinking about their nova 😂
Hi, new subscriber here. I can't get enough of these old skool car revivals.
Good God Issac! It's not the having that brings on the warm and fuzzy dribbles.Its the getting part that brings on that pink floyd buzzin sound in your head. WAWAWAWAAWA! And it's over. Leaving you with that not so fresh kinda feeling.. I know where theres a 5.0 Zephyr sticking out of a mountian of chicken poop! Welcome! Welcome to the machine!!
My first car was a 1976 Buick Skylark. I love those 70’s cars.
307s were very common on the Nova back in them days.
I think the 307 was done after 1973. They didn't offer it in 1974. It's most likely just a low compression smog 350. Nice car though with the factory air and auto trans, Too bad it's an ugly 4 door.
@@scdevon it was replaced by the 305 in 1974
By 1973 inwhich the 307 was replaced by the 5.7 2bbl as the base V8.
@@daniellaubach7544 1973 was the last year of the 307. Its not uncommon for a car to have last years motor so I think its a 307.
@@allenshirley4293 1973 was the last year of a 307 in the Nova. The 305 didn’t appear until 1976. All 1974 Novas had either an inline 6 or a choice of 3 350 V8 engines. The 307 technically was replaced by the 262 in 1975 and then the 262 was replaced by the 305 in 1976.
man thats awsome my good buddy had a 73’ 4 door olive green nova back in high school if only those memories cld speak the trouble we caused and the endless gravel roads this video takes me way back
I have learned so much about cars and motors from y’all. Cars and cameras and Isaac it’ll be fine are BY FAR my favorite channels on UA-cam! Thank you guys so much for doing what you do!
Thanks for watching
My eldest sister bought a Nova brand new in '74 with a 250 cid straight six, 4 doors, it was the prettiest color blue, I remember listening to the song "Rock the boat", on the way to Wildwood, New Jersey!!!
Oh my God! My dad had a 74 Nova when I was little and it is my dream to get one just like it :D
Being a 1972 model myself I can sympathize with taking a bit to get moving after sitting that long lol Gatta love the old Chevy small blocks
They were well built from the factory.
Congrat man
I take your words
I'll be fine, we will be fine
Great old nova !! I wish I had it ! Keep it completely original!
Well done... If you fix it up a bit it will be a head turner like my 1971 Nova. The biggest engine in the Nova for 1974 was the 350 and that decal was used on the full sized Chevy's with the 400, May 1974 was about the time HEI started to show up and was standard on all Chevy's for 1975. Check the build date and see when your car was produced it's probably before May 74. Keep up the great work look forward to more of this car!!!!
I’ll have to send you some pictures of my ‘74 Nova I drove when John and I were in college! Glad to see someone else’s loves them
I love these can I make it run videos. True craftsmanship.
Them old Nova's Dominated the race tracks around America for many years ..Were cool cars
Any yr Deuce/Nova is cool weather at the dragstrip or car show/cruisein.
I just bought a 71 4door nova. I like 4 doors great for taking family to car shows. I actually am tired of people hateing on 4 doors. There are a lot of them now coming back out
Nice find! I bet that’s rust on top of the paint from a well-water sprinkler (iron in the water) should come off with some elbow grease. Body is straight and interior ain’t bad. Give her some love and she would be a nice cruiser!
for me. i love that 70s green. i also love the smell of a 70s car or truck. a new car built in the 60s and 70s smelled better new, than the new cars of today.
My grandpa had a '72 4-door Nova... which became the first car I ever tuned up, along with several 65/66 Mustangs. The Novas had points for sure! Point gap and dwell angle was the meat of a tune up.
A lady friend of my grandparents used to have a green 4 door Nova just like that. After that car she had 2 Ford Fairmonts that she loved.
Of course it starts. It's a small block chevy! I had a 76 Chevy nova in high school .
Yep that old classic small block. Well built reliable!
Nice!! My third car at age 18, was a '73 Nova, with a 6cyl, one of the very best cars I had! I wish I had another one like it today.😊
No catalytic converter in 1974, they started in ‘75. I drove a 2 door Burgundy one of these with buckets and a floor shifter for years, started out with a 250 6 banger then about 5 years later I beefed up the suspension and dropped in a bored out 350. Very fun car but shitty in the snow.
I see how it smokes while cold, and I recall how a friend's car smoked like that in the cold--when dead-cold--after a carburetor swap. Then I remembered two articles I read: One, about re-jetting for reformulated gasoline... and the other about how a rebuilt to factory specs carb needed it's choke readjusted to a slightly warmer setting, because reform gas is more combustible and don't need so much choke when starting cold.
Hope this helps you, folks... you especially, Ike. ;)
Nice buy man, be sure to record that trip home. Lol.🤭
74’ NOVA 4Door was my 1st car when I was a kid . Paid $100.00 for it . I put air shocks on the rear & when it snowed I’d put 300lbs or so in the trunk and she’s got anywhere. I do miss it !
That is a solid car! Also whoa, that nest in the engine bay was the largest I've ever seen! Yet this thing is mint!
That Nova is one of the last GM cars to use a points system. GM began using it's HEI ignition in some of its cars in late 1974 and began using HEI ignition in all of its cars and trucks in 1975. (I had to do a bit of research to find this out).
Always love coming back to the channel. Always entertaining and I hate to say it, but I always learn something I didn't know before. Keep up the great work. See you next on cars and cameras..
I had a friend that had the same one in the 80s even the same color believe it or not in Palmdale California it snowed 2 feet and we left it parked alongside the road by some apartment buildings what we didn't Know it was hit by a Snow plow. When we got back from work in my Truck, his car was gone it was taken to impound lot and we got it the next day drove it for two more years with the left driver side all crushed in..
Issac, Kudos on finding what is certainly a very rare stock survivor! These Novas were all over the place back in the mid-to-late '70's, and Grandma's everywhere were turning them over to their grandchildren as a first car for High school. I saw many, many of these "Lil Johnny" specials with shackles on the rear leaf springs, air shocks to jack the rear end up, and a cherry bomb mufflers ! (p.s. in case you can't tell, I'm super jealous! I'd love to have one like it!)
When I was in high school in the seventies my friends mom had a green nova just exactly like that. I had 67 mustang with a 302 in it with a single exhaust pipe I didnt want to pay the big bucks for duals but wished I could have them. Any way he raced me with his moms green nova just like that one and out ran me he could slowly pass me and man it pissed me off. He laughed hard at me cause he knew I was not happy about being passed by his moms car. The 350 was just a little bit faster. When I think back I should have added dual exhaust and put a rv cam in mine and some bigger valves so it could run decent. Mine was too stock and got beat by his four door nova his moms car dang LOL
It’s alright Ike I have a problem with buying small engines or go karts and mini bikes even tho i don’t need them and probably won’t fix up for a while lol
Road trip! Great idea. That would be a fun video.
I believe that the electronic ignition was a common delete option. I think it would be determined by the build date. I remember seeing Novas on a dealers lot where the electronic ignition was deleted. I hope it helps..
Can't believe it just run without any other issues #CrewCabNova
It was called a Vauxhall Nova in the UK brilliant little car I hope you keep this one give it a bit of a wash and a polish it’s a classic car in its own right
1974, the Chevrolet Nova got larger parking lights and new bow-tie grille emblems, as well as modified bumpers that added two inches to length and helped cushion minor impacts. The Powerglide was replaced by a lightweight version of the three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic 350 ( THM 250 ) already offered with the 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8, which was the only V8 offered for 1974. ( Wikipedia info)
So jealous. My first car build was the same year make but with two doors. I didn't like the two doors because they're long and heavy and always dropped. I dropped a new Corvette block four-bolt main with racing cam and a four-barrel Holly and boy did it sit you back in your seat. My car also had a 350 turbo transmission surprise that I didn't drop the rear end. Headers with no catalytic converter and turned down pipes underneath. Wasn't very loud unless I got on it and opened up the secondaries so it was a sleeper but I loved it. Brakes were always a hassle so I would suggest if you're going to keep it which I definitely would switching to disc brakes and electronic ignition points are a bitch to deal with if you can find them. Great find my friend enjoy! Brings back good old memories I sure hope you keep it I want to see what you do with it.
If i recall correctly, Chevy put the HEI dist.starting 1975, so a 74 would be points and condensor ign.
I once owned a '74 Pontiac Grand Safari wagon and it's 455 had points. I'd expect the HEI systems would've been limited to high performance models at first and the grocery getters running points while GM worked the bugs out.
@@butchs.4239 yepp , my 75 Malibu Classic had HEI system ( i wouldnt call it high-performance tho....too heavy )
I'm pretty sure 73 was the last yr for points but maybe I'm wrong
I think '74 was a transition year, might have points or HEI... of course you can tell the difference at a glance... HEI is 'big cap'... I bought a '75 Monte Carlo new in late '74 and had HEI, called 60,000 volts, used .060" spark plug gap... don't think it ever failed...
Isaac, I am guessing you are in your forties. When you get in your fifties & sixties you will become more selective. I share your addiction to stuff. I am in my sixties the opportunities keep happening. I bought a boat motor for my canoe for half price this week. By the way, you have a great collection of stuff!
Stuff isn't bad because it can always be sold. Especially if you can keep it inside and clean. Better than puting money in the bank for some stuff.
I dont know if you become more selective, the older younger generations get the less and less common these cars get. I just picked up a 1960 olds super 88 4 door and i think its super fun.
@@Ajaxaxxess That's from before corp. greed, EPA, and a bunch of other stupidity. GOOD CHOICE
Grew up in a GM family(generally Chevy's)
Much of GM PROGRESSIVE-ly turned to bean counter shit after the Chevrolet "For economical dependable transportation' tags disappeared
My first car? Chevy Vega
A perfectly fine example of GM degeneracy
With a FEW changes it would have been a fine platform to anyone from Ricky racer to Grandma's grocery getter
Bunch of GD bloated GM scrooge's.....
That car sure brings back memories for me. My first car was a green 74 nova 4 door.
My Papa had a '73 with a 307/2bbl. Great little car.
Hell yeah Isaac proves my point that I tell everybody just cuz it's old and dirty and Rusty don't mean it's dead
You're supposed to hold that magic light wand in your mouth. Finding a 400 in an old 4dr Nova. Is like taking a pebble out of your shoe, but it's actually a gold nugget. Dude, you scored big time! That is a $1600 car as it sets, all day long. A little work and triple your money in a week.
My dad has a 71 nova 4 door with a tree-fiddy. Its has a points style distributor as well. I dont think gm went to HEI until 75. My old gmc shortbed had factory HEI.
I honestly don't know why it took me this long to subscribe to your channel Isaac. I've been watching Cars and Cameras for years.
Probably about the same time we noticed John is turning into a jackass on the main channel lol
Loving it man! You got so lucky on that one just allot of fun. If you think of it pretty cheap entertainment. I love doing stuff like this.
I have several 400 small block Chevy engines. I have collected them for 30 years. You were sorta some what right on identifying them. The crank is externally balanced with a plate yes. But it is on the back of the crank so you have to drop the transmission to see it. And all 400 either have 3 freeze plugs on each side, but many have two on each side and a raised casting in the center between the front and rear freeze plugs. 327,350 and all small block Chevys only have two on each side. With a smooth flat surface between them. I hope this helps you to better spot true 400 blocks.
we had a nova in the 80s
used to call it the green bomber
I love it. Even with 4 doors. Even if it were a 6 cylinder. Man I miss my Nova.
makes me miss my 78 nova crew cab with the 250.
@@chrisanderson9374 I had a 76 4 door with an inline 6. It wasn't what most guys go for but I loved it. It was destroyed in a wreck.
@@SuperHamsterGaming i had 8 inch wide aero dirt track wheels on mine. They had 2 inches of backspacing. Really looked mean.
Back in the 80's I had a 74 with a 6 and three on the tree.
Great buy! Cant wait to see you fix her up and road trip it home..
You Ask why, we Men/Woman... Like to challenge ourselves to make things work and live again... Just what we as human's do.. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. You keep being you, we will keep watching, It'll Be fine....
1975 was the first time HEI was mandatory for fuel & emissions set forth the feds. Plus a catalytic was on all new cars & trucks from that year forward! The 5.7 in that Nova was a good engine. I should know having owned a '74 Nova Spirit Of America edition!
That body and interior looks soo clean man I’d be happy with my purchase
I bought a 91 civic about 10 years ago that had been sitting. When I got it going the thing smoked like all hell but after driving a few miles the smoke thinned with every mile and it stopped after the first good drive. It never smoked again after that day.
I like the tow truck driver skills at 4:41
. The truck looks like its crawling out from under the Nova.
They didn't put a 400 in a nova in 1974. The 350 was the only V8 option that year. The emissions decal says 350-400 because the emissions information and settings are the same for both engines. If it was a Caprice, then you would have a 400. And GM HEI ignition systems began in 1975.
The Florida pool pump motor repair guy approved ! that was good info
I like it! That's the same base 350 as you'd find in the Camaro of the same year. A whopping 145 horses, as I recall. Incidentally, I worked with a guy who had a 1974 Nova for sale years ago. He was the original owner of a pretty nice car, in any case. Good find!
All of these have rust in the front fenders low between the wheel opening and front door. Except this one, from the best I can see. I bet this was a survivor in pretty decent condition ten years ago. Shame, but you rescued it before it deteriorated too badly. A lot of potential, depending on your plans and budget. I’ve wanted one like this to play with.
Or count the freeze plugs is a guarantee ! Good man Ike and knowing how to i.d. your Chevy's !
Nice buy! Most of them came with straight six. This one with 350' , air conditioner and power brakes, wow
The 250 was standard in the base model plus available for the Custom trim option.
Hyah the UK here. That car looks like a one I had a 1977 Marina built by BMC, that's British Motor Corporation. It had a 1.3 litre engine my father had a 1.8 litre. Those were the only engine sizes for it. Babies compared to your Nova. Vauxhall was part of GM had a Nova which was a 'hot' hatch in the Eighties, smaller car bigger engines from 1.5 to 2000cc.
More door nova, a car that fixes its self. I owned a couple 74s my self. Nice score!!
Have owned 2 '74's myself. Both hatchbacks 1 a Spirit Of America edition. Owned a few 73's one base model with the 250 & powerglide trans. Build date 12/72-the last time the 2 spd slushbox was available the first half of the 1973 model year!
I can understand why you think you have a problem, but when you find cars that start with that little work I’d say it’s a wise investment. Can’t wait to see where you take it from here, thanks for taking us along for the ride.
I had a 1974 nova great car and that 350 in there will move even with the 2 barrel carburetor great find and good luck to you with it.
My first car was a brand new 69 Nova 4d 230 with three on the tree. We painted the grill black so it looked like an SS. Great car!
Helped a friend of mine drop a 454 into a nova ..That was a tight fit but we got it
No rust. Nice interior. Good buy.
I got myself a 1974 4 door, it was nick named the granny car, cause its 2 barrel carburetor was shot, so I saved up the money, and threw a 4 barrel edlebrock carb and intake on it. its real fun to drive, but I have to fix the wiring next.
I've got the same problem, the same desase and sure is fun lol. Love any nova even if it is a 4 door
74 definitely points . You guys are youngsters !!!
My dad had a gold 74 nova 4 door with a white top! It was a 350 I remember that car as a kid!
I had a 71 4 door as well with a 307 for a little while she was a dark orange almost like a copper. Really cool ride
That brown crap on the radio knobs is because the type of "soft feel" plastic gm used is now breaking down.. the horn cover will also be sticky
Nice find, can't wait to see more!
They did have points distributer in 1974. I had a blue 4 dr Chevy Nova with a 350 engine and transmission it was my first car after high school in 1988. I paid $750.00 for it in Lenoir NC. It had 28k miles on it . 👍
Great score Isaac ! Put some new white walls on it and do a buff n shine patina look. Worth every penny u spent and all the grief you gave yourself...I think that little cross you found on the rear view, smiled down on ya ! Thumbs Up !
That is a great patina. Car absolute classic you are a lucky man
Dad had a 71 Nova 4 door, he used to park it behind Grandpa's 31' 72 Airstream Sovereign
Love the will it run vids man, keep it up.
Isaac you struck a great bargain guy. Not bad deal, v-8 Chevy Nova!! She's a ripper.
bring extra supplies for the road trip👍🏼👍🏼
Absolutely love it bud! Definitely get them tires on her and maybe do a quick cleaning of the interior/put a new air freshener in and send it!
Ok. That was too easy. Where is the drama? The busted knuckles and bleeped swear words?
In all reality I think you made a great deal. Great market support for replacement parts that are relatively inexpensive. Looking forward to your next video.............ROAD TRIP!
Terry from South Carolina
Hey I like your Nova 74 they did not come with four hundreds 350 or 307 4 6-cylinder like you said cool car I had three of them I know keep up the good work
isaac, in all my years of being in chevys i never seen a nova come with a 400 small block. just the bigger cars and trucks. back in the day i had a 74 nova in high school.
when i graduated i installed a big block 454...4speed. fun car. never keep it straight....lol
My sister had a mid to late Nova SS or Rallye 2dr with 400(400 badges on fenders) and chrome hood vents/louvres and black stripes along top of body.
I’ve not either I had a 73 hatchback 1/8th mile street strip car it was swapped to a big block 454 from a straight 6 it was a fun car lots of people used to hate 73/74 novas now it seems they’re starting to get popular
my older sister had the same car in a darker green with a black vinyl top. Points was normal for 74.
1975 was the year that gm went to hei ignition on all models, prior to that year only a few special corvettes and high-performance models had electronic ignition.