My 1964 Chevy Nova was a California field find that had been left to rust since 1989. I picked it up in 2006 and turned it into a long-term spare-time project. It was originally a 283 automatic, but the engine block was cracked. I ended up swapping in a super-low-mile 4.8 LS truck engine, matched with a 4L60 transmission.

I tackled most of the work myself in my two-car garage, including building a standalone LS wiring and chassis harness. I kept the interior true to its roots—bench seat and all—while adding a Dakota Digital gauge cluster to modernize the dash.

While the paint job was handled by a professional, I’m still restoring the exterior trim piece by piece. This year, I finally got it back on the road. I’ve put over 600 miles on it already, and every mile has been a thrill. There’s nothing quite like cruising down the highway in a car you built yourself.