So a friend of mine has a 70 Nova and he wants to put an LS1 in it. He has a complete 99' LS1 4L60E SS Camaro (with a super charger)... Correction: car year is 2001, not 99'

Links, parts, things we should know, tips, aftermarket parts we have to buy... Anything that we need to know before we do this. We need to know about elect, vss, vats, everything... And we can take anything we need off of the SS.

Sorry if I come off as telling everyone to spoon feed me all the info, but links, notes, tips, anything will help... I get a nice prize out of this, if we can get this done...

Thanks in advance!!!

 

I started my build thread for exactly this purpose.. helping others (including a nice Excel spreadsheet chock full of parts, prices, and part numbers! you're welcome )

https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-swaps/980909-lq4-into-3rd-gen-1972-nova.html

PS.. Search function usually helps, not to mention the fact that the underpinnings of '68-'74 Nova's are damn-near identical to '67-'69 Camaros...

 

Be sure to check the Stickys at the top of the forum. There is also a 67-69 Camaro thread that is packed with info, just do a search for it.

Good luck

Pat

 

THANK YOU!!!

And yes Ive used the search and been going through it for about 3 hours now. Plenty of threads that mention Nova ;p Not a noob to forums...

Dont know anything about 1st gen Camaros or those Novas. So I didnt know to look for it.

So like I said its a complete donor car, can even weld motor mounts. So Im hoping part numbers wont be so neseccary...

Will we have to modify the oil pan to make it fit?

So here I go to read your thread...

 

Thanks Pat, like I said I didnt know about the Nova and Camaro liknesses.

 

Your welcome!

As for oil pan modification, that seems to depend on the motor mount adapter plates used, some move the engine forward an inch or more, others seem to keep it in approx. the same position.

I have seen home-made motor mount adapters that let the stock drag link barely clear the front of the pan sump, so that might be an option if you want to transfer over the stock ls1 mounts and weld up some bases for those.

If you try that and the drag link still hits, people usually take the f-body pan and mill a notch ~3" down and 3" into the front edge of the sump and have it welded back up with 1/4" 6061. A search on this will yield some more threads with pics.

 

The 1st Gen F-Body (67-69 Camaro) and the 68-72(74) X-Body use the same front Suspension and subframe. Rear end will also swap in.

So.. pertty much, anything your read on the Camaro will just about work on the Nova's...

 

Ok so far from what Ive read, fabrication wise;

Build base on stock LS1 mounts or fab oil pan...
Notch into frame to clear A\C compressor...
Custom Driveshaft...
Tranny clearance and crossmember? Can we just transfer?

Can we use the SS factory harness and fuse block/panels (and wire up gauges)? Is it needed?

I guess what Im getting at... What all can come from the doner car? What will have to be fabbed? What will have to be bought?

Fuel system?
Cooling?
Fans?
Exhuast?

 

Tranny clearance... my th350 fit no prob and I believe people are fitting the 4L60, or whatever the camaro auto is, with no problems. The 6-speed on the other hand is bigger and requires major cross-member mods or a custom one, but I believe it should require minimal trans tunnel mods.. mainly just for the shifter location.

I can't comment on the AC compressor, I removed mine, but that is a topic which is for sure covered in multiple other camaro threads.

Stock harness... this a a tough one, you can re-use the camaro one if you want to overhaul it yourself or send it off to a company to do it for you, such as Wait4Me or Speartech (to make it so that all you need to connect is 12V bat, 12V switchable, ground, and fuel pump relay on). I'm good at wiring, but this is the only real bitchy thing I opted out on for my build. For a very reasonable increase in price I just had John at Speartech make a whole new harness for me.

Fuel system, re-use the GM quick-disconnect fittings for the fuel rail and probably re-use the in-tank pump, but you'll likely have to cut a bigger hole in/modify the stock tank if you want to go the internal pump route. I wouldn't use the stock nova fuel hardlines, an increase to 3/8" is a definite must.

Cooling, dunno if you have the stock nova radiator but I did and just stuck a big electric fan on it and that keeps the temp in check, but this will likely not be for much longer. Measure to see if the camaro fan is skinny enough to fit between the nova subframe rails, if it looks OK for sure re-use that in the nova.

Exhaust.. does the nova currently have stock or aftermarket exhaust? I re-used the american thunder 2.5" dual pipes setup I had on my nova from the SBC before, and all I had to do was lengthen the cross-over pipe a bit to match up with the width of the header collectors.

Any other questions, please feel free to ask, I'll answer whatever I can!

 

~~Replied in order~~

Were going with the 4L60E. Im assuming your saying it will fit in the tunnel if a T56 can and it being a larger tranny. Will the crossmember work?

Now that I recall (if correctly), I dont think hes going to use the A\C...

Will the built harness control the fuel, fans, sensors, and connect to the computer (and anything else we need it for)? Basically what all will we need if we went the route you did? Cost?

I think he plans to swithc over the gas tank as well. If so, all I need to do is change the fuel line sizes from the tank to engine?

If the radiator can fit Im sure it will go into the Nova.

Nova is 100% stock, so Id imagine the exhaust is too. I was worried about the stock flow, and if would work against the LS1 tune. And I was also refering to the LS1 manifold, will it clear everything in the bay?

__________________________________________________ _______________

More questions...

If it came to it, couldnt we just use all the wiring and the fuel lines from the Camaro? Like I said we have the donor car and its complete, and we can take pretty much anything off of it. If we pretty much switched everything from the Camaro, I dont see how it could make a difference or have to use anything else...

Again thank you so much for all your help! And sorry for posting here and causing you to come back, but I ment it for the better by not cluttering up your thread...

 

1) I'm almost certain that a 4L60E will fit no prob, but I haven't dealt with this trans first-hand so not 100% sure. The cross-member should only need minor mods to get it to support the trans.

2) The new harness has sensors for everything that needs to be hooked up on the engine, except the smog crap and the rear two O2 sensors. Extra outputs for fans and A/C and cruise control (for drive by wire) are all easily doable if you so wished. Fuel pump relay on wire is standard (I think). Mine cost $800 I think, but that also included extended harness and O2 sensor wires, and the wiring for an electronic pedal setup.

3) What engine is in the car? I believe big-block (396) nova's came with a 3/8" fuel sender so I'd assume that they had 3/8" hard line all the way, but even if this is true I'm not sure I'd trust 38 year old metal piping, especially if pressurized to ~60psi. On my build page there is an explaination for how the corvette FPR setup works, and also check here for more info.

4) The more modern the rad the better, I'm assuming the camaro one is aluminum/plastic. If the engine works fine with the rad it was spec'd with, why change?! Also, maybe look into a lower-temp thermostat.

5) Even if the stock setup has dual pipes (for a v8) there is really no point in doing the LS swap if you plan to choke it with those old 2" pipes!! A nice flowing true dual setup is more or less a must, I'd recommend 2.5" pipes if you're not rodding the heck out of the engine, they'll flow enough for your basic needs.
The LS1 manifold will clear everything by miles, assuming you make engine mounts that put the engine low enough! But you'd end up with serious engine-angle problems to have it the engine sitting so high the manifold wouldn't clear, so you don't have to worry about that.

 

I just cant believe how damn helpful you are! Thank you so much!

How about the latter question... Can we take all the wiring from the SS and make it work without modification (without gauges obviously)? And I mean every wire, even if we have to use the wiring all the way back to the FP. Can it be done?

 

Haha... anything can be done! Sure it's entirely possible, but there might be a lot of extra wires you'll have to snip. Stock camaro harnesses are not at all my expertise so I'll leave the difinite answers on those to someone else..

But I try to give back as much info as I got from the website, it's a fantastic tool as long as you commit enough time to searching/reading and aren't afraid to ask questions and... post pics of your progress!!!!!

 

Look at companies like BRP or S&P for mount options. TANKS Inc. can hook you up with an in-tank fuel pump if you wanna go that route.

There's a guy on here that did a '71 or '72 with a LS2/T56. He's running the stock GTO tank in the trunk for now (just to get it running and test it). He's even kept the VATS system and was trying to figure out how to get a corvette gauge package into his dash. Here's a link to some pics of his setup.

From a wiring perspective, there are some stickies at the top of this sub-forum you should look at. I'm planning on running a stock ECM and wiring harness. I believe you only need to delete a few wires and delete a few things (rear O2's, VATS if you want, emissions, etc.).

Like frojoe said, take mounds of pictures and keep us updated!!!

 

Thanks Frojoe! Hopefully someone will pick this up...
We may not go with the factory harness; so whats the cheapest and how hard to install? And whats the easiest and its costs? Sorry guys, I just dont know jack about wiring, Ive read the FAQ sticky (wiring posts), and I got lost real fast...

Whats the best fuel delivery option? He already plans to buy a new tank, so maybe that will help the decission. But after the tank it has to be a bit cost sensitive, and hopefully simple enough to emplement. Hes kind of liking Schizto's set-up with the intank FP and the factory sending unit. That is post #14 here https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=472609

Where can we buy some already modded (bolt on) oil pans for this setup? ust incase we need o go that route...

Note: A/C will NOT be used.

I havent been able to tell him yet, but we have a place to take the SS for disassembly, so in the next couple of days we should be starting on that. And the Nova will have the body work done in about a week (perfect timing). Any tips on breaking it all down? Honestly, we need to know everything we need to take out.

Correction: The SS Camaro is a 2001, not a 99'

 

Check out the BRP Hotrod conversions stuff. They have been very helpful. I have a 69 that I was going to swap, but I decided to keep my grand national instead. The BRP guys have been really nice and very helpful, and I will most likely use their Gbody stuff if I want to pursue putting a turbo LSX into my GN.

 

I just checked out thier site but seems that they only support Gen2 Novas. Maybe Im just not seeing it, IDK...

Still lookin for ppl to chime in on my last post...

 

Just FYI, a 70 Nova is a Gen 2. Gen 1 is 62-67, Gen 2 is 68-74. And remember, underneath the Gen 2 Novas are the same as a 67-69 Camaro, so anything they have for that should work on your Nova. This includes mounts, oil pans, crossmembers and headers.

For wiring there are a number of vendors here on the site that will either mod your 2001 SS harness or make one from scratch for you. My choice is www.speartech.com. He made mine for me and the motor fired and ran right on the first try. If wiring scares you, having a pro do it is the way to go even if it costs a little more up front.

For your fuel tank, an in-tank pump is a great way to go. They are quieter and being emersed in the fuel cools them Others have mentioned www.TanksInc.com for their fuel pump kit. I see they make a tank for that Nova now. You might call them and see if it can be fitted with their in-tank pump. They are good to do business with and their tank prices are very reasonable.

For disassembly the best way to remove the motor is from underneath and take the whole K-member and front suspension out with it. That's GMs recommended procedure. Maybe someone who has done it will chime in or check one of the other forums.

Another source for conversion parts is Street and Performance (www.hotrodlane.cc) they have modded conversion oil pans on an exchange basis. I am using one of theirs. Their prices are a little high, but now the BRP is coming on strong and there is competition, maybe they have come down some.

Hope that helps

Pat

 

http://www.brphotrods.com/1967-1969%20F%20body.html

That stuff will work on a 3rd gen Nova

Sometimes you can luck out with already-modified pans on the part classifieds on this site, and there is a company that you can send your f-body pan to and they will modify it accordingly to fit the '67-'69 Camaro/'68-'74 Nova, I think it might be S&P but I'm not positive, any confirmations on that?

 

Yes S&P (Street & Perforamnce) will mod your pan, or send you one already done and you send yours back as a core to save time.

Pat