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Need help with locating parts for Nova

2K views 6 replies 3 participants last post by  ericnova72 
#1 ·
I hope I am not breaking any forum rules, I am just have trouble finding parts. I was hoping someone knew of any companies that I could find headlight bezels, and eyebrows for my 74 nova. I have searched, and searched again and cannot find them. I am trying to find new (oem) or reproduction... at this point, it doesnt matter to me. All I can find are driver quality on ebay, or reproductions of 72 and under. I was hoping someone might point me in the right direction. Thank you.
 
#2 ·
No current reproductions of those parts are being made. After 1972 you are in a parts "black hole" for reproductions, there is very little for the 73-74 Nova if it isn't the same as 68-72. 75-79 is the same way.

You are stuck searching for restorable used pieces or getting lucky and finding New Old Stock somewhere.

Try calling J W Nova Parts, along with the rest of the Nova parts suppliers, they might be able to point you in the right direction. Many also stock used parts.

Also Hemmings Motor News, the bible for hard to find parts.

You will probably have to settle for solid restorable used pieces and pay to have them stripped of the anodizing, sanded and polished, and re-anodized.
 
#5 ·
xSID3SHOWx said:
I had no clue you could do that... take it to like a machine shop or something? Sorry for the dumb question, and thank you for the shopping info.
No, not a machine shop, there are specialists who do restoration of anodized aluminum, stainless and die cast trim. Similar to a chrome plating shop, and some chrome shops will do aluminum. This is what people have to do when they have a car that there is little aftermarket support for.

Most of the original trim on the front of your Nova is aluminum, it is "Brite Dipped" (an anodizing process) at the factory to preserve shine. Once it goes dull with age, the parts have to be stripped of this anodizing, then repaired(dings and scratches removed), sanded and buffed, then re-anodized to preserve the shine. Same deal with all the door and rear quarter window trim, it is aluminum. The windshield and rear window trim is polished stainless(at least it is on the 68-72, not sure about your 74) and usually in better shape.

I feel your pain, I spent several years restoring a 1974 GTO(the only year they were built on the Nova/Ventura platform). Good trim and chrome was non-existent. I sold it before it was finished, but I did research the trim resto topic.

Get yourself a copy of Hemmings Motor News, this is the rare parts and services bible for vintage auto restoration, like the Yellow Pages for parts and services for auto restoration. Trim restoration is advertised in it.
 
#6 ·
ericnova72 said:
No, not a machine shop, there are specialists who do restoration of anodized aluminum, stainless and die cast trim. Similar to a chrome plating shop, and some chrome shops will do aluminum. This is what people have to do when they have a car that there is little aftermarket support for.

Most of the original trim on the front of your Nova is aluminum, it is "Brite Dipped" (an anodizing process) at the factory to preserve shine. Once it goes dull with age, the parts have to be stripped of this anodizing, then repaired(dings and scratches removed), sanded and buffed, then re-anodized to preserve the shine. Same deal with all the door and rear quarter window trim, it is aluminum. The windshield and rear window trim is polished stainless(at least it is on the 68-72, not sure about your 74) and usually in better shape.

I feel your pain, I spent several years restoring a 1974 GTO(the only year they were built on the Nova/Ventura platform). Good trim and chrome was non-existent. I sold it before it was finished, but I did research the trim resto topic.

Get yourself a copy of Hemmings Motor News, this is the rare parts and services bible for vintage auto restoration, like the Yellow Pages for parts and services for auto restoration. Trim restoration is advertised in it.

Thank you for that information. Never had someone drop that much info for me. I really apperciate it. Thank you very much. Very big help!
 
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