First off if this is in the wrong place and inappropriate remove it or I can delete it, but I am really curious about this.

Also, if you know who I am don't let this ruin my credibility or your impression of my automotive-sanity.

here goes,

Say I take amodified nova frame and install a civic body on it. The civic gets the floor & firewall chopped out then is set on the tubed Nova frame.

Now, it's got all the drivetrain of a Nova, but outside looks like a civic and is using the civic's outside lines as sheetmetal sitting on the Nova's frame. It uses the Civic's center-body-section and front clip, etc.

And let's say I have the title to the Nova in hand and get the Civic/Prelude/Mercury Cougar with a blown engine.

Of course, this is to make a chevy powered race car on a moly tube chassis. Also, it would be the world's only RWD Civic/whatever body I put on it.

Here's the question:

The Nova is exempt from emissions so in the Nova I could put a 434" roller cammed fire-breathing 600 hp smallblock and it would be legal.

Does the DMV look at it as a Civic or a Nova? How do I get it inspected?

This is all under the assumption the frame & unibody car are both modified to fit together. The unibody car would have CV-shafts, no rear-end, steering would have to be modified, etc.

So, it is a Civic or Nova?

Keep in mind,

A Pontiac Fiero with a F355 body kit is still a Fiero;
A Bronco frame with a mustang on it is what?

Civic/Nova? Where can I go to find out? Ask your frinds at the chop shop for me. ;-)

Ben T.

 

Probably not Advanced Tech, but maybe Advanced DMV.

I think it depends on the state. In some localities you need to meet specs for whatever is newer: the body/chassis or the engine. In other cases, it's the VIN number that determines the emission requirements. I'd say that's the majority of the states.

Ask your DMV.

Yeah, a Civic/Nova cross is close to making us question your sanity.

 

Dont know the answer to the question. But hate to burst a bubble, there are lots of RWD civics, cougars, grandams, regals, cutlass supremes....basically anything FWD factory has a RWD drag car of it. And other problem is you might have a hard time fitting a tiny civic body on a slightly larger nova frame. but maybe youve researched it, just my thoughts, would be cool anyhow i guess, id rather stick american if I were to do it though, like a grand prix or grand am maybe

 

Biggest problem would be finding a "Nova frame"...... they were unibodies, with front and rear subframes.....

Wow..... this one is a Moderators nightmare.

 

yeah and f-bodies never had frames either.... maybe I didn't think that through long enough before typing.

I'm sorry there injuneer, but I haven't been around that long. I'm only 20 years old.

Please expound on why this is "a Moderators nightmare". It's a serious question to me.

EDIT: When you read "Nova frame" think "RWD ________ frame".

Injuneer, if you understand the question, what sort of chassis types would I have to pick from?

When I said "nova frame" it was a generic term for chevy powered rear wheel drive rolling chassis. Humor me.

Ben T.

 

most older gm's that were rwd were fullsize cars. chevelle/impala etc.

Vette's are full frame cars. also late 70's/early 80's monte/malibu's are full frame. a civic body wouldnt fit any of them easily.

 

Don't take my comments seriously... if I didn't want the post here I would have moved it somewhere else..... but "where"? That's the "nightmare"..... I guess its just an "inside" moderator joke. Sorry.

Age has its good points (I remember when the Novas were first introduced in the 60's), and its bad points (wierd effect on one's sense of humor). As a point of reference, all my kids are older than you

No problem..... carry on

 

All of that is so true. My youngest is Bret.

How about using a first gen Nova (early 60's) (aka Chevy II) bolt on front stub (which attaches to firewall) from the aftermarket like ChassisWorks, and a rear frame clip from them or Art Morrison? Deuces were unibody with front stub frame, if memory serves. Camaro/F'Bird was based on 2nd gen deuce, right?
This might make "Advanced" criteria yet.


Memory is the second thing to go...can't recall the first.

 

I like that saying

also, Bret as in SStrokerace? Your son? Didnt realize that if thats so

Anyway, why not just build yourself a tube chassis for the civic and RWD, probly end up being cheaper/easier, plus way lighter. I plan on building myself a Tube chassis for my 4th gen once I learn how, as my first project to get going on what i want to do in life!

 

Yep. That's part of the reason for the similar forum names. Also, I am a fan of Tom Medley's cartoon character Stroker McGurk. Tom is actually a bit older than I am, but he's still active. I saw him at Americruise East.

"If it won't go, chrome it!"
"There's no substitute for cubic inches."

 

Huh, learn somethin new everyday. Is it a family operation, BRE that is? Or is that his?

 

You have mail!

His. I am a consultant and test driver for C5 stuff.

 

That's what I was thinking Fred

 

Seriously, the best bet would be to title it as whatever the car most-closely appears. I've heard of that done around here, even on a scratch-built tube frame car (buy a clean-titled junker that's similar, grab the VIN tag, and register it). It's only a problem if you get pulled over by an officer that wants to ask a lot of questions I have no idea how "legal" this is.

If that causes problems with emissions, then title it as a homebuilt or kit car, if your state allows that sort of thing (some states just require that you pass a basic safety-equipment inspection; others get much more involved).

 

Okay, thanks for all of the replies thus far.

Eric, I was thinking what you posted. Get a car in rough shape, may it be from rust/fire/roll over/wrecked/etc. and use the VIN number off of that car for the project vehicle.

This holds a lot of importance as to what I am wanting!!!

If I could 'use' the VIN number from an older car that is emissions exempt then I could modify it in anyway I so desire as to not brake any emissions laws. This is the basis behind why I want to use the title (/"frame") from that car.

Then, simply use the vin number off of that car and make a full tube-chassis rolling frame car, capable of running down the street with not body on it.

http://www.tempestracing.com/ Such as the Prelude that is easily found in this link, but of course RWD and designed to accomodate a chevy drivetrain and exhaust, etc. After a new chassis was built 'for the demolished car' just design it so that a different body fit on top of it.

You could look at it from any view point you want. What I would be doing would be "building a new frame for an old car", but in reality it would be making a race car that is exempt from emmissions and looks like a recent make of car. Then, once the old wreck was rebuilt it would get a shell of a body put on it.

I came up with this ideal to get around the emmissions laws, but if I could register the car as a "kit" or "home made" car (I know you can certainly do so with boats!) then this may work too. I don't know if those cars would be emissions tested. Volkswagen based Dune-buggies can be made road-legal and insured in many states and they simply have to have the basics... windshield, speedometer, wipers, DOT approved lights, etc. These cars are also pre-emmissions, but what basis would state laws use for emissions testing? Hopefully none.

Either way could get me around the laws potentially.

That's what I have been coming up with lately... but if this project would go like other projects it will wind up costing way more than I'd expect.

In this case maybe I'd be best starting with a better platform than one based on uniqueness. Perhaps a first gen Camaro would be better if I'm going to spend the money anyways.

Also, pure speculatoin here, I'm thinking that some states would allow for individuals/buisnesses to have cars that were simply emmissions exempt that were used for expiramention or research.

Thanks for the info guys.
Ben T.