ARMED & DANGEROUS
December 6, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
MOONEYES
The showroom is what every auto parts store dreams of being: diced in checkerboard black and yellow tile with a heap of pegboard. Up front, the sales counter is the hub of business, fueled by eager customers that keep the phone ringing off the hook. Bob, Sam and Robin deal one-on-one with customers, keeping all 50 states Moon-equipped.
EXTREMELY SUBTLE
When you’re located far to the North, as in north of the United States border, it isn’t always easy to gain the attention needed to grow a hot rod shop through creative statements alone. Then again, quality workmanship is difficult to miss and is rarely overlooked by knowledgeable people.
A Tough Act to Follow
Though clutches rank below power-adders on the desirability scale, they are every bit as important. In fact, you’d be better off not spending the time and money on a trick blower or turbo kit if you do not plan on upgrading the stock clutch assembly. Sure, it is possible on some applications to improve the performance of your motor without a clutch and pressure plate upgrade, but you can only take things so far. Eventually, the engine will let you know by racing to the moon when you least expect it. Your clutch will likely slip under full throttle, and most probably at the highest load. Better hope you have a rev limiter or things can really get ugly. But have no fear … Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT) has come up with a variety of effective combinations to cater to the needs of performance enthusiasts and racers.
Spotlighter
The Alien
This ’67 Nova Is Back in Black
When firefighter Joe Chavez of Irving, Texas, was a senior in high school, he grew up in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and drove a ’66 Chevrolet Nova. “I had a lot of fun with that car. I called it the “Alien,” and everybody in town knew whose car it was,” Chavez says. Unfortunately, when Chavez relocated to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1985, he couldn’t afford to take his prized Nova along with him. As the years went by, he found himself regretting the decision more and more.
Author
Bob McClurg
Story and Photography
The Search Begins
“In 1990, the hunt was officially on. My wife, Michelle (who also owns a ’67 Nova of her own), and I made numerous road trips to Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and back home to New Mexico before I found what I was looking for,” Chavez says. Ironically, Chavez found his dream car in—of all places—Santa Rosa, New Mexico! “After purchasing a ’67 Nova SS fix-’er-upper in my hometown, I took the car over to Bozo’s Garage, where my half-brother Ernie Ortega works on street rods, to have some work done on it,” he says.
Bodywork and Paint Restoration
Once at Bozo’s, Ortega and owner Bozo Cordova replaced the ’67’s rear quarter panels and a small section of the Nova’s floor pan. They also hammered out all of the dents and repainted the ’67 black. “I also had them install a 400cid GM small block out of a wrecked Monte Carlo. Once I got the car back to Texas, I cleaned up the factory black vinyl interior, replacing the items which needed replacing. I then installed a set of 15-inch Cragar S/S wheels, just like I had in high school, and got the windows tinted. Finally, I had a presentable Nova, and started entering the car in car shows,” Chavez says.
Rear Suspension and Driveline Specs
As for technical information, the SS features a 3.73:1-geared GM 10-bolt live rear axle riding on a pair of mono-leaf Nova rear springs, Energy Suspension polyurethane suspension bushings, Air Lift airbags and Monroe shocks by Rick’s Independent Car Kare, located in Irving, Texas.
Front Suspension and Wheels
The front suspension on the ’67 was also completely rebuilt back to stock by the folks at Rick’s and features a pair of 2-inch dropped Easy Street front spindles, Energy Suspension polyurethane suspension bushings, Air Lift airbags and Monroe shocks. The aforementioned wheels and tires on the “Alien” measure 17×7 inches in front and 20×8 inches on the rear, and they roll on a set of P215/45xR17-inch front and P255/35×20-inch rear Federal radial rubber.
Engine Rebuild and Performance Upgrades
Chavez has since rebuilt the 400cid small block, and the engine now features a set of 0.030-inch overbore Speed Pro forged aluminum pistons, Crane cam and kit, a pair of GM double-hump cylinder heads with Crane Cams valvetrain hardware and Mickey Thompson valve covers, Holley Street Dominator intake and 650cfm Edelbrock 4-bbl carburetor, and a chromeplated twin-snorkel Nova SS air cleaner. The ignition is the factory GM HEI unit while the exhaust comes from Hedman Hedders and Flowmaster. Backing all of this up is the factory original Muncie four-speed transmission using a Hays clutch and pressure plate activated by a Hurst linkage.
Final Touches and Show Car Status
“In 2003, I decided to completely repaint the Nova. After looking around, I finally settled on painters Kirk and Jason Tyre. Kirk and Jason did a fine job spraying the Nova in DuPont Raven Black,” he says.
Awards and Recognition
Other upgrades include Chevrolet Bow Tie halogen headlights and Year One exterior trim. Chavez’s ’67 has won 100 car show trophies and awards at events like the Super Chevy Show, the Dallas Autorama and the Ft. Worth Rod & Custom Car Show. Needless to say, the “Alien” is back!
