Nova Storm

FEATURE

InTheGarageMedia.com

A Rare 1967 Nova Wagon Built Between Friends

BY FUELISH MEDIA

IMAGES BY THE AUTHOR

W

orking on a custom car of your own is always a gratifying experience, but the process can be much more enjoyable when you include a couple of your best friends. This 1967 Chevy Nova wagon was a collaborative effort by a group of three pals: Mike Wahl, Manny Llamas, and Jose Ybarra—guys who grew up in Southern California’s custom car culture. Now, if you are familiar with these guys, then you know that whatever they pour their time and effort into, it’s bound to be killer!

For those not in the know, Mike is the VP of sales and marketing at FiTech Fuel Injection and a lifelong car enthusiast. Manny is an automotive social media and marketing specialist who has been working on cars since his teenage years. Jose operates Ybarra Customz, where he builds cars as a hobby with his family. Each of these guys has an extremely high classic vehicle IQ, but once they joined forces, they transformed a shell of a 1967 Chevy Nova wagon into the four-wheeled art piece seen here. In a matter of just 7 months, this talented trio was able to pull off one hell of a build with one of the rarest Nova models on the streets.

We had the opportunity to meet with Manny to discuss the project’s innerworkings. Our first inquiry about the project was about where the guys first sourced the car.

“We bought the shell from Nostalgia Hot Rods out of Nevada,” Manny says. “It was already bodyworked and painted. The shop put a ton of work into what they had but it didn’t come with glass, weatherstripping, or anything. It was literally just a shell sitting on top of the stock chassis that had a few aftermarket suspension parts and dummy wheels.”

Custom interior featuring gray and black TMI seats.

Shifter console and FiTech touch screen display.

TMI Products custom Cruiser rear seat upholstery.

Nitrous bottle and Kicker subwoofers in cargo.

This project started out as a clean slate, for the most part, and the guys already had an idea of what they wanted to do to the car. “Our vision was to create a Pro Touring–style wagon,” Manny states. “The real hurdle we were faced with was that nobody really makes parts for these cars. The 1967 wagon is the rarest of all Novas—as far as I know, only 1,200 were produced. Sure, you can find generic parts that fit, like the front grille and door handles and such, but apart from that, there is nothing readily available on the market.”

The guys were almost forced to purchase a $5,000 donor car just for the window cranks and components for the rear tailgate, but Manny remembered that he knew who to call to find the parts they needed for the build. “I wouldn’t recommend building one of these Nova wagons unless you have resources already lined up or you happen to have Nova Andy’s number.” Naturally, our next question for Manny was, “Who the heck is Nova Andy?!”

“Nova Andy is one of the engineers for TCI and well known in the Nova world,” he responds. “He’s an older gentleman who has been in the game forever. He used to sell parts at the Pomona Swap Meet, and he has all kinds of parts for Novas stored at his house. He came out to FiTech to look at our car and put together a parts list that we could pull from his hoard. He talked a lot of trash to us for not knowing about some of the parts we thought could work, but that’s just the way he is.”

Rear three-quarter view showing large chrome wheels.

Clean LS engine swap with FiTech components.

Even though Michael, Manny, and Jose are capable builders and customizers, they leaned heavily on FiTech’s main mechanic, Mike Sullivan, for his expertise with classic cars. “TMI also came in clutch to help build a one-off back seat, a carpet kit, as well as a custom headliner. There’s a video of the process that covered creating the interior,” Manny adds. “Kicker also helped fine-tune the car’s audio setup, and of course, FiTech was a major contributor to the success of this build.”

This wagon served as a platform for the guys to create a shared vision, as well as highlight how building a performance-minded classic car can integrate cutting-edge components of all types. Having FiTech at the center of this Nova project was huge in driving that fact home, as its Nitro-Port intake manifold allows for a convenient 170-shot nitrous delivery to the car’s LS engine. Of course, FiTech’s fuel injection components were put into place, alongside an Eddie Motorsports accessory drive setup, a K&N air cleaner, Hedman headers, and a custom exhaust system with Borla ProXS mufflers.

Close-up of FiTech Ultimate LS digital screen.

Straight rear view of the Calvary Blue wagon.

To channel all that energy, a TCI front clip and rear four-link suspension were assembled to give the wagon an aggressive rumble-ready foundation. QA1 springs and shocks are featured on both ends, along with a completely reworked braking system using Wilwood components. American Racing 20-inch wheels and Falken Azenis rubber round out a renovated chassis that is now capable of carrying the wagon into the future.

Even though the guys had a blast building this Nova wagon, their real objective was to debut it in FiTech’s booth at SEMA 2024. Of course, the car made it, the crowd swooned, and the guys enjoyed it as much as they could after the big reveal. “Everything about the car came out perfect,” Manny says. “It has been a great experience coming together with close friends to build the wagon as a team, and hopefully we can work on another car soon. We must give a big shoutout to the companies and people who helped put this car together—FiTech, TMI, Kicker, Wilwood, American Racing, Falken, Mike Sullivan, and last, but not least, Nova Andy. We couldn’t have done this without everyone’s assistance.”

Underside view of the rear four-link suspension.

American Racing VF557 wheel and Wilwood brakes.

TECH

OWNERS: Michael Wahl, Manny Llamas & Jose Ybarra
VEHICLE: 1967 Chevy Nova Wagon

Engine

TYPE: 2007 LS LQ9 6.0L by L&R Engines (Santa Fe Springs, CA)
CYLINDER HEADS: GM
INDUCTION: FiTech DBW LS Nitro-Port system, Nitrous Supply custom kit with 170 shot of nitrous, K&N air filter
EXHAUST: Hedman headers, a 3-inch custom exhaust with Cerakote, and a Borla ProXS muffler
IGNITION: FiTech LS3 LED coils and ceramic plug wires
COOLING: Champion aluminum radiator with dual SPAL electric fans
DRESS UP: FiTech electronic fuel injection, Powermaster alternator, Eddie Motorsports accessory drive and hood hinges, and Hose Candy hose solutions
WIRING: American Autowire
OUTPUT: 780 hp, 900 lb-ft of torque with nitrous

Drivetrain

TRANSMISSION: GM 4L80 transmission and 3,500 stall converter by Hughes Performance
DRIVESHAFT: Custom by Inland Empire Driveline
REAREND: Chevy 12-bolt

Chassis

CHASSIS: TCI
FRONT SUSPENSION: TCI independent front clip, QA1 springs, and double-adjustable shocks

REAR SUSPENSION: TCI four-link, QA1 springs and double-adjustable shocks
BRAKES: Wilwood 14-inch rotors, six-piston calipers (front), 12-inch rotors, four-piston calipers (rear), Wilwood proportioning valve, and master cylinder

Wheels & Tires

WHEELS: 20×8.5 and 20×10 American Racing VF557 wheels
TIRES: 245/30R20 and 275/30R20 Falken Azenis FK510 tires

Interior

UPHOLSTERY: Gray leather and vinyl
SEATS: TMI Products custom Cruiser seats with matching dashpad, door panels, and console
STEERING: Flaming River column, Eddie Motorsports steering wheel
INSTRUMENTATION: Dakota Digital
CLIMATE CONTROL: Vintage Air A/C
PEDALS: Lokar Performance Products
STEREO: Kicker head unit, amps, and speakers installed by D’s Garage (Corona, CA)

Exterior

BODYWORK & PAINT: Metalwork and PPG Calvary Blue and white pearl top by Nostalgia Hot Rods (Henderson, NV)
LIGHTING: United Pacific headlights and taillights
BUMPERS: Auto Metal Direct
GLASS: Auto Metal Direct
HOOD: Auto Metal Direct
ACCESSORIES: Custom side trim by Evans CNC

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