67 Nova Wagon LSx/T56 project
04-14-2009, 01:33 PM
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67 Nova Wagon LSx/T56 project Bought this 67 Wagon late last fall as a parts car, but it was damn-near perfect so I am rebuilding it first instead. It has a new front clip, 4-bar rear with a 4.30 geared narrowed 9" rear, T56, and will have custom 1-7/8" headers. I have 315-35-17 DRs for the back and have yet to pick the wheels, but will also use the old-school 15" steelies with 10s in the back. I have 2 LSx motors: an iron 6.0 block and an aluminum LS2 block. I will be using the iron one first with a stock bottom end and L92s while I build the 11:1 402 stroker with the LS2 block. Then I will pull the iron motor and put the 402 in the wagon so I can tear down the LQ9 and build it as a 408 low compression turbo motor for the 66 Sedan. It will be backed with either a T56 or a 4L80.
07-19-2009, 10:52 PM
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Fabbed my own adjustable upper struts for the front clip, made a trans mount, added tubular supports between the rocker panel and the front frame, clearanced the trans tunnel for the T56, fully welded the new floor pans into the car, cleaned and painted the floors (Lizardskin is on the way), and am in the process of mini-tubbing it. The tubs should be back in by the weekend - I have a friend coming on Weds to offer moral support! Then I patch the lower 1/4s behind the wheels and one small spot on the cargo floor, re-spray the interior in Nantucket Blue, then its reassy time to drive it a little before winter, when I try to paint it. I have also gathered some more parts: intake, fuel rails, harness, pcm, front accesory drive assy, exhaust, 1-7/8" tubing to make some headers, fuel system, radiator and fan, 9" center section, etc. Its coming along well, but not nearly fast enough for me. I hope to have the motor in for good by mid-August and the fenders, hood, and doors back on by early September. MBA class starts soon, though, so time will be a premium.
07-20-2009, 12:00 AM
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If you happen to come across a 62-65 tailgate lemme know 
I have been having bad luck locating one that wasn't insanely priced or swiss cheesed like the one i have on it now. I have all the internals and glass, just need the actual door.
Oh yeah
on your progress. I have a stripped wagon and a pile of parts too 
I have been having bad luck locating one that wasn't insanely priced or swiss cheesed like the one i have on it now. I have all the internals and glass, just need the actual door. Oh yeah
on your progress. I have a stripped wagon and a pile of parts too 
07-21-2009, 06:32 PM
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I'll keep my eyes peeled, but there aren't many 1st/2nd gen novas around here and even fewer wagons (mine is the only one I have seen).
Thanks for the kind words, too.
A friend is heading to my house tomorrow and we plan to work on the minitub.
Thanks for the kind words, too.
A friend is heading to my house tomorrow and we plan to work on the minitub.
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07-24-2009, 07:36 AM
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HAHAHA!! I assume this is Chris.
I dropped the LS2 back in last night and, unfortunately, there is no way those are going to work. The pass side has one tube that hits the firewall and one that hits the lower subframe mount. The driver's side actually fits great except for the fact that the header collector angles out and hits the subframe. If the collector were straight, it would be perfect. It would be too much work to make them fit. It sucks! I have to make a run to Mt Washington sometime next week, so I can either ship them to you today or bring them next week.
I dropped the LS2 back in last night and, unfortunately, there is no way those are going to work. The pass side has one tube that hits the firewall and one that hits the lower subframe mount. The driver's side actually fits great except for the fact that the header collector angles out and hits the subframe. If the collector were straight, it would be perfect. It would be too much work to make them fit. It sucks! I have to make a run to Mt Washington sometime next week, so I can either ship them to you today or bring them next week.
07-24-2009, 07:45 AM
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Not really any new pics. All the work has been centered on modifying the floors to clear the T56, welding the floors back in and priming them, and working on the rust. Its a pretty clean car, but there is some rust behind the wheelwells. I am halfway through the minitub project now, and will be installing the 4-bar rear over the next couple weeks. Then I have a couple more rust problems to fix, then its paint time. I might just drive it with some patina for a while, though. I am dying to be in something fast.
New stuff I recently bought: LS2 intake, rails, injectors, Lizardskin for the floors, blah blah blah.
I will get the trans and block back in this weekend and take a few pics showing the new floors and everything. This car will be totally rust-free when I am done and will have very little bondo in it. I am replacing all rust with metal and only using what little bondo is needed to clean the welds. All high/low spots are being hammered out until they are right, and heavy filler/primer used to clean them up. I "think" I am doing this the right way. I wanted it done faster, but "fast" and "right" don't mix well in this case.
New stuff I recently bought: LS2 intake, rails, injectors, Lizardskin for the floors, blah blah blah.
I will get the trans and block back in this weekend and take a few pics showing the new floors and everything. This car will be totally rust-free when I am done and will have very little bondo in it. I am replacing all rust with metal and only using what little bondo is needed to clean the welds. All high/low spots are being hammered out until they are right, and heavy filler/primer used to clean them up. I "think" I am doing this the right way. I wanted it done faster, but "fast" and "right" don't mix well in this case.
08-10-2009, 10:37 AM
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Wow, cool project! Looks like you've got quite a few going on. I'm working on a 67 Sedan w/ an LS2 as well, also with the checkered clip.
Any advice you want to share?
Any advice you want to share?
08-11-2009, 07:17 AM
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I can make you a set of motor mount plates pretty cheap, and am going to make my own headers (1-7/8"). I am still in the midst of doing all the work for the swap, but I have all the parts. I am using an Ididit column, power rack on the CR clip, Fbody accessories, 2000 pcm (so I can use my HP Tuners), 2001 T56 harness that I am reworking myself, stock Fbody radiator and fans (really debated on this one), new interior harness, and I fabbed my own frame mounts for the motor. What stuff are you using?
08-11-2009, 04:11 PM
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Well, my list of parts will likely be something like this:
Fab/Ebay motor mounts
Headers made from member on stevesnovasite
CR clip with manual rack
Stock column for now, changing to flaming river along the line
Alternator only accessory using TBSS mount
99-02 fbody PCM using HP Tuners
Ebay harness (fbody style)
4L70E trans for now - possibly 4L80 in near future
Narrowed 9" rear, 4.10 gears
Not sure on cooling or fuel system yet
Also still spec'ing out the cam setup along with the converter and gears
Any reccomendations you would make? Parts to use, not to use, etc? What oil pan did you use?
Fab/Ebay motor mounts
Headers made from member on stevesnovasite
CR clip with manual rack
Stock column for now, changing to flaming river along the line
Alternator only accessory using TBSS mount
99-02 fbody PCM using HP Tuners
Ebay harness (fbody style)
4L70E trans for now - possibly 4L80 in near future
Narrowed 9" rear, 4.10 gears
Not sure on cooling or fuel system yet
Also still spec'ing out the cam setup along with the converter and gears
Any reccomendations you would make? Parts to use, not to use, etc? What oil pan did you use?
Last edited by bad94sup; 08-11-2009 at 05:22 PM.
