LQ4 into a 3rd Gen/1972 Nova
hey joe, no worries about stepping on my toes! you know i stole your idea for the gauges anyway, after you mentioned them months ago.
Bandit - just step on the accelerator to get out of the tunnel as fast as possible.
Bandit - just step on the accelerator to get out of the tunnel as fast as possible.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
A little update, made some test gauge "pods" to see if the angle/stagger gave the 3D effect I was looking for, I think I'll go through with it for all the rest, I want the tach/speedo to stick out more than the rest...
Started gutting the dash panel to make room for the instrument cluster...
Started gutting the dash panel to make room for the instrument cluster...
Last edited by frojoe; Jul 30, 2010 at 12:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Imagine that they mate to flat plate right above where the round black pieces are sandwiched in there...
Last edited by frojoe; Jul 30, 2010 at 12:03 PM.
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Teching In
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
That's going to be a sweet looking dash! I just finished my build a couple of weeks ago ('71 with a LQ4 and TKO 600) and used a very similar approach to the dash except I just went the Autometer route. I want to go back this winter and rework them to add the angle, the tops of my gauges are a little hard to see.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
MINI update: for the last month and a bit I've been working on a couple little things, but mainly making a stupid welding cart which is taking forever with all the miters and stuff. I did make a tiny bit of progress elsewhere on the build, shown below. Full-fledged fabrication and REAL progress should resume within the next week or two...
Made this back in the summer, pretty hard when you only have a bench vice, some 4" tubing, and a big mallet...
Of course it fits perfectly...
Got a couple more gauges that will go in the way-less-custom hanging 3pack panel. The sure do look cool (IMO)...
Just for ***** I made a couple toggle switch separator do-hickies, they took a lot longer to machine than they'd look, but I think they add a tiny bit of modern class that'll go with the modern gauges & machined aluminum bezels...
Made this back in the summer, pretty hard when you only have a bench vice, some 4" tubing, and a big mallet...
Of course it fits perfectly...
Got a couple more gauges that will go in the way-less-custom hanging 3pack panel. The sure do look cool (IMO)...
Just for ***** I made a couple toggle switch separator do-hickies, they took a lot longer to machine than they'd look, but I think they add a tiny bit of modern class that'll go with the modern gauges & machined aluminum bezels...
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Haha tell me about it. Then again, I really should finish one swap before I start the next.
Also, car complettion isn't looking too hot since this is in my near future...
Also, car complettion isn't looking too hot since this is in my near future
... Last edited by frojoe; Oct 23, 2010 at 03:49 PM.
I decided to try as best I could to clean up the firewall. I'm not about to plug weld and bondo the thing, function over form. But I did give it a quick respray "while I'm at it"... and this'll likely be the only body-related paint I do to the car for a long time. It didn't make a huge difference, but enough to make the effort worth while.
Before...
After...
Randomly decided to start working on the interior. Apart from a couple ACC splices and stereo wires, this's all the previous owner(s) handiwork, geez more stuff to clean up...
A while ago I picked up a tilt column from an '80 Camaro for dirt cheap, and figured if GM were smart they'd keep a good thing going and have as many parts interchangeable as possible.
Looks like I was right, the '80 Camaro column (top) is damn near identical to my stock '72 Nova column (bottom)...
Except for the output shaft attachments...
And firewall cover plates...
Thanks to Marktainium, picked up this 1 1/8" power brake aluminum master cylinder for cheap, looks nice on there...
Old manual brake rod is 5.25" long from firewall to pivot point...
New setup is 5.75" from firewall to pivot...
...I think I'm gonna make a custom brake/clutch pivot bracket moving them closer to the firewall for my long legs (I'm 6'2"), so I'll have to figure out whether to shorten the rod or not, more on that later.
Before...
After...
Randomly decided to start working on the interior. Apart from a couple ACC splices and stereo wires, this's all the previous owner(s) handiwork, geez more stuff to clean up...
A while ago I picked up a tilt column from an '80 Camaro for dirt cheap, and figured if GM were smart they'd keep a good thing going and have as many parts interchangeable as possible.
Looks like I was right, the '80 Camaro column (top) is damn near identical to my stock '72 Nova column (bottom)...
Except for the output shaft attachments...
And firewall cover plates...
Thanks to Marktainium, picked up this 1 1/8" power brake aluminum master cylinder for cheap, looks nice on there...
Old manual brake rod is 5.25" long from firewall to pivot point...
New setup is 5.75" from firewall to pivot...
...I think I'm gonna make a custom brake/clutch pivot bracket moving them closer to the firewall for my long legs (I'm 6'2"), so I'll have to figure out whether to shorten the rod or not, more on that later.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 2
From: South of Augusta,GA
You do great work! Im not sure but doest the stock PCM run all those gauges? I just hoping for the right MPH, and correct RPM reading. Any cheap gauges you saw that will work with my LQ4 2002?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
brian.harmon1974... The brake master cylinder is an all-aluminum 1 1/8"GM power disc piece made by a company called MBM...
http://www.mbmbrakeboosters.com/inde...emart&Itemid=6
MillsMotorvation... All of the gauges are electric and have on-board chips so they run independently, just need switched power and ground for the lights & processor board, and of course a connection to the appropriate electric sender.
http://www.mbmbrakeboosters.com/inde...emart&Itemid=6
MillsMotorvation... All of the gauges are electric and have on-board chips so they run independently, just need switched power and ground for the lights & processor board, and of course a connection to the appropriate electric sender.
thanx man, ive read the whole thread now and its been extremely helpful getting my swap going, im going to college as well and know the pain of being away from your project, thankfully im studying automotive tech as a degree so i can do alot of work on it here at school. also the spacer and flexplate that u didnt use...how much were they? ive been looking around and all the prices seem high. again great swap!!