Flip Side: Josh McDonald's 1967 Chevy Nova

When Josh McDonald’s world turned upside down—literally turned upside down—he simply brushed himself off, learned a lesson or two, and put it all right again.

“I had a 1966 Nova. It had plenty of horsepower, but one day I ran out of talent and rolled it over,” says Josh with a smile. The car was destroyed, and Josh had only one choice in mind for a replacement. “I just had to build another Nova. Nothing has the curb appeal of a well done classic.”

With some help from family and friends, and an unstoppable DIY work ethic, Josh built this spectacular pro touring 1967 Nova from the ground up. “I start every build with the wheels. They set the tone for the the rest of the car,” explains Josh. “I put the wheels on the floor and lower the body until I get just the right stance.” But to get the right stance, Josh had to find the right body. As luck would have it he knew a guy, and his name is “Nova” Bob.

“Bob knows more about old Novas than anyone on the planet,” says Josh. “He had a ’67 for sale, and he said it was the cleanest hardtop you’ll ever find.” Josh was skeptical, until he laid eyes on one excellent X-body. “I couldn’t hand him the money fast enough. There was no rust, and the car had already been blasted, etched, and primed.”

With several builds under his belt, Josh still had a few things to learn. “I had never TIG welded before. My nephew, Kevin Gluski gave me a TIG welding 101, and helped with the fabrication work,” says Josh. The duo installed a set of Detroit Speed mini tubs to clear ultra-wide Bridgestone Potenza tires, and a road-hugging RideTech 4-link rear suspension to keep the Nova’s shiny side up when the road gets twisty.

Josh and Kevin also built a new transmission tunnel to accommodate the TREMEC T-56 gearbox that was salvaged, along with the LS1 engine from the wrecked ’66 Nova. “That drivetrain originally came out of a 2002 WS6 Trans Am…that was also rolled. If I roll this car, that drivetrain must be cursed,” says Josh with a laugh.

The LS1 breathes cool, clean air through Josh’s custom-built intake system, while the exhaust exits through a set of headers that showcase Josh’s newly acquired TIG welding skills. “I wanted more ground clearance than you can get with off-the-shelf headers, so Kevin and I built a set of headers using Kooks flanges and a box of pre-bent U-bends,” explains Josh.

A 2" cowl-induction hood covers the tidy and well-appointed matte-black engine bay, and blends perfectly with Chevy’s well-massaged exterior. “There’s no chrome on this car,” says Josh. “I wanted it to have an industrial look.” To that end, the Chevy lost its emblems, door handles, rain gutters, and rear window trim, along with several inches of the bumpers and front fenders.

After removing much of the factory ornamentation, Josh added several custom touches to make the Nova a serious car show standout. He fabricated front and rear spoilers by hand, while the Nova’s grille and trunk-lid trim are both products of 21^st century technology. “I used a 3-D printer to make those parts out of plastic. I was going to have them CNC-machined from aluminum, but that was too expensive, and plastic is cheaper to replace if I have an accident,” explains Josh.

Wearing a stunning Red Rock Metallic paint job, the Nova shines like a priceless jewel. Josh laid down the flawless mile-deep finish, and it’s miles away from the result he got the first time he picked up a spray gun. “I was 16 years old and decided to paint my first car, a 1984 Pontiac Phoenix. That paint job turned out horrible, and it was a very expensive endeavor for a teenager,” says Josh.

Inside, the Nova’s cabin is the perfect environment for a day at the track, tearing up an autocross course, or just cruising down the avenue. The competition-ready interior sports repurposed Porsche Recaro front seats, Schroth Racing harnesses, and a MoMo steering wheel. Creature comforts come courtesy of a Vintage Air climate control system, and Kenwood digital media center. There’s even a pair of cup holders in the custom center console.

“I just love the lines of the second generation Nova,” says Josh. “This car was somewhat of a training tool for me. I had help from many friends along the way. I even had some help from my young daughter, and my wife was always there when I needed a hand.”

Sometimes the flip side of a record becomes the hit, and so it is with Josh’s Nova. His second take on the second-gen X-body is a real crowd pleaser, and who can argue with that? Well, there’s always that one guy…and his name is “Nova” Bob. Apparently Bob’s a purist, and if it’s not “factory,” it’s not his cup of tea. But that’s fine with us, and it’s fine with Josh. “I built the car the way I wanted,” says Josh with a smile. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Story By: James Millar

Art Direction By: Aaron Gray

Photography By: Todd Biss Productions

FAST SPECS

Chassis
Frame: Stock with Chris Alston’s Chassisworks front subframe
Rear End: 4:10:1 ring and pinion, GM Positraction differential, Moser axles, shortened axle housings
Suspension: Chris Alston’s Chassisworks front suspension, RideTech 4-link rear suspension, QA1 coil-over shocks 
Brakes: Baer disc brake system
Wheels and Tires: VMR wheels (18" x 9" front, 19" x 11" rear); Bridgestone Potenza tires (255/35-18 front, 295/30-19 rear)
Other Items: Detroit Speed mini tubs

Engine and Transmission
Engine: GM LS1 (from 2002 WS6 Trans Am) Induction: GM intake manifold and fuel injection system, custom cold air intake system, Summit hoses and fittings
Ignition and Electrical: GM ignition system, custom wiring harness by Jason Mitchell, Powermaster starter, Optima RedTop battery
Exhaust: Custom headers, Kooks header flanges, custom 2.5" stainless steel exhaust, MagnaFlow mufflers
Transmission: TREMEC T-56 manual transmission, Spec clutch
Other Items: Tanks Inc. fuel tank and pump, RideTech billet locking fuel door, II Much fuel vent

Exterior
Bodywork By: Owner
Body Modifications: Drip rails removed, flush-mount rear window and door handles, custom front and rear spoilers, 3-D printed grille and rear deck trim
Paint By: Owner Paint: GM Red Rock Metallic, PPG base coat, Southern Polyurethanes primer and clear coat
Other Items: AMD 2" cowl induction hood, Ring Brothers hood hinges and hardware

Interior
Upholstery: Black vinyl with red stitching, black carpet
Upholstery and Custom Center Console By: Paul’s Auto Interior
Other Items: Recaro Porsche seats, harness bar by owner, AutoMeter Phantom gauges, Classic Dash dash insert, custom rear package tray by owner, Lokar pedals, MoMo steering wheel, Vintage Air climate control system, Kenwood digital media center

Special Thanks To: My wife and daughter for being patient while I spent so much time and energy completing the build