Agent_Orange_Shuvel

iTrader: (8)

You can't change the rally wheels they're what make the car! lol I guess if it was in the quest for 8's it would be ok, but wouldn't it be that much more of a victory if it was done on the rally's!

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

You're probably right Agent_Orange - loosing the rally wheels will make it look like any other "race" car at the track. My car isn't ever the fastest one at the track so I might as well keep at least one thing a little distinct about it. I'll work on some weight reduction in more subtle ways.

garrysturbo

U gotta keep the rims , it's 2 cool & ITS A REAL SLEEPER . U'll get ur 8'S , a little here & there , u'll get it next year in SPRING. Happy Holudays.

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

Hey Clyde. What's up?
I got ideas and inspiration from Clyde's efforts when I decided to also make the LS change to my Nova. We actually "met" over on the Corvette forum.
Have to say this LS turbo stuff is the most fun I've had to date with my car.

So I guess as I start going faster, I'm going to start busting stuff! :-)
I did just change to 3.42 gears, new 3 series spool and 33 spline axles. All from Strange.
These axles have the street/circle track C-clip eliminators. Although my prev axles had the typical ball bearing, they never leaked....
TH400? Gee, that 36 element sprag is a spendy affair......fingers crossed on mine.
New converter from PTC on the way too.
8's? I doubt it. But would be cool.
Mine weighs 3400 with me in it.

Ron

garrysturbo

U'll get there in time but u did a great move doing the LS Turbo & ur ride is sweet.

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

Thanks Gary. I have to say that mine is much more of a street driven race car than most of the Novas here.
Certainly a lot more docile than the old rat motor though.

tbot

Just wanted to say you did an amazing job and have given me a lot of motivation for my swap that lays right in front of me, granted you also raised a lot of concerns and questions I hadn't anticipated...so I'm rethinking a bit. Either way, fantastic work and many thanks!

PhiloBo

I know this is an ancient thread, but this post is the reason i've gone from a LS1tech lurker for a few years (helping me in a billion and one ways) to a member.

Thank you and I wish you the best.

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

Ouch... that makes me feel like an old geezer. I guess it has been a few years now though.

Thank you so much for the encouragement and comments. It means a lot that my sharing was able to help others. As you noted, we all have learned a ton of information through the shared knowledge on this (and other) forums.

It's about time for another update. The past year has been really poor performance for my Nova. At LS Fest 2015 I torched a head gasket and the head deck when my methanol line ruptured AND the nozzle became plugged with some crap. I was able to fix that easily enough after I got home.


Then a month later at the Radial Fest race at my local Huntsville, AL track I pitched the left rear wheel when all the lugs broke. Over the winter I bought a Quick Performance 9" rear differential and DSE mini tubs. Time passed quickly and I didn't get them installed. So in April I threw the 12-bolt back together with new Moroso wheel studs for just one more race. On the very first qualifying pass I again broke the lugs on the same right rear wheel, and this time I abruptly turned into the wall.




Over the summer I got the front fender and rear quarter panels replaced, and just recently finished installing the DSE wheel tubs.


And from just a couple days ago with the 2" shorter per side 9" rear bolted in for fit test. Makes those 275/60/15 BFG tires look pretty small now:


Unfortunately I am done with the stamped steel rally wheels on this car. These wheels have a small contact point with the lugs and over time the lug holes became egg-shaped. During hard launches and probably some wheel hop, the lug nuts relaxed the torque, allowing the wheels to shear the lugs. So it's time to step up to a legitimate race wheel and take advantage of the 5/8" lugs on the new 9" rear. I'll try to add some updates through the fall and winter as I address some rough areas, finish install the 9", reduce some of the 3,700 lbs, and hopefully get it repainted.

will69camaro

iTrader: (19)

Serious question if you wanted to maintain the look. Can you bet some of the "billet rallye" wheels and have them solve the issue? I understand they're heavy, but thinking maybe the centers are more suited for better contact to avoid the issue as mentioned above.

Just a thought!

Sorry for the hard luck but glad to see you staying with it!

Petraszewsky

iTrader: (28)

I vote for above mentioned wheels. Billet Specialties has some old school looking rally wheels I believe. Keep it old school Clyde!

FreddyG

Sorry to see and hear about your crash! I'm glad that you didn't get hurt!

As far as your stock wheels, give Stockton wheels a call.

They did the stock wheels on Kurt Urban's old "Sleeper" Nova and he was making almost 1200 rwhp and putting down almost 900 ft.lbs of torque. That car took a beating too and ran nines in it's sleep (pun intended) .

Here's some info on it, if you're interested.

It's under the section on wheels.....................

MillsMotorvation

Awesome!!

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

The Kurt Urban Nova is a great source for sleeper ideas. I actually just now called Stockton Wheels and they don't necessarily recommend the use of their repo-rally wheels or the steel wheels that Kurt used. They feel like over time I will again experience the same wear on the lug bolt holes (using the 45° taper lug nuts).
Next I called The Wheel Smith and he right off the bat suggested one of their modified rally wheels to work with a 5/8" stud and 90° lug bolts. I have some thinking to do, but this just might be the route I take.
http://www.thewheelsmith.net/CustomW...cessories.html

FreddyG

They look Awesome on your car and would probably be safer too.

Good find on the wheels too!

ponjohn

I may have missed it, what ECM? HPtuners?

Awesome build.

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

I'm using a 2000 Corvette ECM with a 2002 Camaro operating system for the drive-by-wire. And yes, I tune it with HP Tuners. The HP Tuners FB page posted a little picture just this week:

Agent_Orange_Shuvel

iTrader: (8)

That's pretty cool to see them spotlight all your hard work!

How is the rebuild coming and have you settled on a new set of wheels?

quick85vet

iTrader: (1)

Glad to see you getting the car back together!

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

I took the "easy way out" with Billet Specialties Street Lite wheels. Got a good deal on a used set. It was just getting too difficult to match steel wheels that would fit over my Wilwood 12.1" rear disk brakes.