Really Restless

I am 1 day Away from possibly purchasing a 77 big block v8 Chevy Nova. The owner is a good friend of mine and I'm getting a good deal, but I am concerned with modification cost,from the little(oppolstery,new steering wheel) to the big(paint job that i would do my self,New chromed out rimms
Etc..) So...Any Advice??

Some advice:
Consider what do you want?
Is this going to be a daily driver?
Or do you want to build an all-out show or race car?

Decide what your goal is and plan a budget.
How much can you afford to spend per month on regular maitenance, fuel costs etc.
Now, how much $$ is left over for the upgrades you mention?
This way you know ahead of time what your spending limits are. If you stick to the budget, you won't spend your way into the poor house.

Most car enthusiasts start out this way. We build a car up bit by bit over time.

Finally, this is an excellent learning opportunity. I learned how to do all kinds of mechanical and bodywork skills on cars because I wanted to fix then but could not afford to pay someone to do so.

Thank you very much...the deal has gotten sweeter than yesterday...I think I'm in 4 a great experience....also,if you or anyone else knows of some good online stores 4 parts or picture catologs please let me know..thanx again!!!

www.jegs.com www.autozone.com www.genuineoem.com
www.driverfx.com

To add a couple:

PAW
SummitRacing.com
Year One restoration parts
ACCmats.com for carpet
Just Dashes
Original Parts group
rjlautofasteners.com for obsolete fasteners

so I bought the car..and now I'm starting the long but enjoyable task of re-painting. I Started to sand off the old paint w/180 grit sandpaper,but now my buddy tells me that if I don't put primer on the bare metal,it will rust instantly,even on areas no bigger than your thumb.believe him or not?also..how do you all feel about paint stripper? will it hurt the metal,can I use it outside?

congrats! Yes, bare metal will rust darn quick. I transported a freshly machined engine block about 30 miles on a damp day, and when I got home, the block was almost entirely orange. That was cast iron which rusts a lot faster, but in your case I wouldn't leave it exposed for more than a few days.

Without getting too technical, rust comes in two types; FeO2 and Fe2O3. FeO2 is the orange stuff that forms very quickly. Fe2O3 is the dark flaky cancer stuff that forms over time. Even if you paint over FeO2, three of these molecules can create two Fe2O3 molecules by sharing their oxygen to surrounding iron atoms. This is how small rust spots can breed rusty cancer.

Its wise to just leave it protected until you're ready. If you're prepping the car and go a little too far hitting metal, just hit it with a rattle can of primer. Primer isn't a perfect seal, but it will prevent rust for a little while.

In general, its wisest to wait for body work until you can take the car off the road until its done. Driving a car with bare metal, primer, or putty exposes it to elements its not meant to handle. Then when you paint over it, you're starting with a less than perfect base.

Its like buying an unfinished coffee table. If you go ahead and use it you'll get blemishes from water and food. Then when you varnish it later, it will only look as good as the weathered wood underneath.

Liquid stripper is a great tool, but be prepared for what you find. Assess body damage first. If you have a straight body with bad paint, I say just scuff up the paint that is on it and repaint. When you strip, everything comes off including bondo. You might be making much more work for yourself that way.

thanx dude. so...any place 2 find interior parts...steering wheel,new dash(other than what u already shown)specifically 4 77 4-door nova sedan?