So my dad bought this 75 Nova off of a buddy for $2000 it was almost race ready with sub frame connectors and traction bars and a roll cage also sheetmetal dash with all the gauges and a fuel cell with remote filter. So i talked him into letting me build him a 5.3 for it, i planned all of the build around a 5.3 a buddy had laying around. Build as follows:
5.3- $200
high pressure melling pump-$80 brand new he had it laying around for this engine
Billet timing chain set-$139
243 p&p'd 2.02/1.575 heads- i had a set laying around needed two valves
2 valves-$64
TransDapt engine mounts- $125
PaceSetter headers-$288
Comp Cams XR281HR- i had it laying around
New rings (SpeedPro)- $158
New Bearings-$111
Cometic .040 head gaskets-$180
ARP rod bolts-$97
TCI flexplate-$270
MSD starter-$230
Comp Cams trunion kit-$140
Holley 750HP carb-$510
3600 Monster stall- it came with the car
TH400 trans- i had one laying around
Driveshaft was perfect length just needed new th400 slip yoke and u-joints and balance check-$160
Mr.Gasket fuel pump and regulator-$140
MSD 6010 box-$300
Vic Jr intake-$300

installed #6 pill and removed it bumped up limiter to 7000rpm and first rattle out of the box went 8.34 @ 85mph 1/8th mile not too bad for no timing or fuel adjustments

 

Looks like my kind of swap, quick!

 

Thrashin' it together! I like it. That bad boy has a bunch more in it. That will run well into the 7's no problem. What intake centerline did you install that cam at? Most of those off the shelf LS cams have an intake centerline of 110-112. It will run a lot better with your Victor Jr. intake if you advance it to 107 to 108.

 

Engine was built in 3 days after work then went to dallas for a week then came back worked and rested monday and tuesday and then wednesday thursday and friday after work installed the engine and trans didnt make test and tune so woke up saturday finished wiring and went bracket racing went 3rd round got excited and redlit. Cams installed at factory spec of 110 I might have to try the 108 and yea I think it definitely got some 7's in it.

 

LOL!!! 8.34 with 1st and 3rd gear only the th400 trans is completely skipping 2nd gear this thing is gonna haul @$$!!!! when i get it fixed. I just gotta figure out why its doing it. I contacted Jakes Performance and they gave me some info so maybe i can have it fixed before the season is over.

 

Ha! Can't wait to see the new ET. That must have been a hell of a drop on the shift.

 

Well aint that my luck had to pull that trans out get my trans from my camaro and mod my valvebody and install it. The good news it had all three gears and it shifted when I wanted it to. The air sucked (5000'+ DA)|and jets needed changing but it went a best of 7.87 @ 87.62mph and 12.38 @ 106 it ran out of gear at the 1000' mark.