I just got another email from a person following this thread asking me to post what I've been doing to the car.
The exhaust is done, don't like exactly how the tips come out, but can live with it. The guy worked on it for at least 4 hours and charged me $129. I was dumbfounded. I gave him $20 extra and told him to go have a beer on me. But I still don't like the sound. But I can definitely tell it's not restrictive.
I got the front end aligned and they couldn't get the caster set right because the a-arm would hit the header. So it doesn't return the wheel back to straight by itself after a turn. The steering felt heavy, too heavy. Pulled the steering box off and it was very difficult to turn it. So did some research and was "told" that a jeep cherokee box is a direct bolt on. Sure..........what an idiot I am for believing anything I find on the internet. Since the box if from the 90's the mounting bolts are metric and finding those bolts was fun. I was almost ready to go find a cherokee in the junk yard and get the bolts from it, but I finally found a set that were long enough and the proper grade 8 rating.
Then the steering shaft was different on the new box, mine is 36 spline and the new one is 30 spline. So had to order that it. Got it all on and yes the new rag joint was naturally indexed differently and the steering wheel was about 45 deg off. No problem, pop the wheel off and index it. Problem, the wheel adapter uses 1/4" x 28 bolts. You would think I'd have some kind of bolt around here that would work, but that wasn't the case. So a 3o mile trip to the hardware store for $2.70 worth of bolts and got the wheel off and re positioned. Still doesn't return but steering easier. I don't think there is much more I can do to it.
Yesterday at my wife's work they had a going away party for her boss and I drove the nova. The guy took the truck driving course they offered and the day he graduated he put in his notice to go somewhere else for a slightly higher paying truck driving job. Kinda crappy way to do things, but my wife is now the lead person in her area, along with a raise in pay. After 11 months walking in the door she went from newbie to department lead.
Her co workers came out and looked at "her" nova. Some of them had no idea what they were looking at but the big boss is a car guy and when I opened the hood he started asking non stop questions. Turns out he has a 67 camaro he bought years ago and it's just sitting. He won't sell it, I asked.
On my way home I stopped by
place. He welded the wheel studs for me and wanted to see the car. Was nice to see him again.
I'm still after 3 months waiting for my front seat. I texted him yesterday and told him I will be there tomorrow to either get my completed seat, or my seat and my money back. No response from him yet.
Now I'm looking for a 55 to build.
My ultimate dream car.