Nova going in under the knife
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 993
Likes: 119
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
Looking good! Progress is progress. The quality of some parts is definitely questionable these days. You could build a set of Southside style bars on the cheap. The Ventura ran easy 1.50 60 fts with them. Or go all out and do a Caltrac type deal.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
Working on my D/S exhaust, pretty tight, I cut the center out of a truck manifold, (steering box) looking at replacing the vol. by welding a section on the back of the manifold-saw this manifold from Patriot exhaust, its a tight fit LS street rod manifold, almost looks doable-the tech said they would sell just one side.
Prob cost an arm and a leg though, lol
Prob cost an arm and a leg though, lol
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
Made some good progress today, plus Christmas came a little early-Got a deal on a Holley HP (550-602) LS1 plug and play. I still have the tune in my laptop from the Buick, so it should fire right up when the time comes. I cut and weld up a truck manifold to clear the steering box, lost some vol. but cut out the backside and made a pregnant area to add vol. back-I have a Patriot exhaust tight street rod/LS drivers side manifold coming tomorrow, I hope, it may clear the box, or it becomes a $180 bo bo, and I go with the truck manifold, lol. Cleaned the bottom of the car and undercoated the area where the rear/springs are so once their painted I can install all of it and move it off the lift into the other bay. Beer time
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
Well, my $180 ex. manifold didn't fit, so back to plan A and use the truck one I cut up, prob make something later.
Did get some good progress, moved it from the lift to the other bay, pulled the sub frame out. I'll wire brush it, see how much needs sand blasted, finish cleaning the underneath. Hopefully in a week have the sub frame back in. Kind of mocked up the Procharger intercooler, should fit OK.
The front bumper weighs a ton with all the bracing and shocks-prob rem. all that and do a bumper tuck.
Did get some good progress, moved it from the lift to the other bay, pulled the sub frame out. I'll wire brush it, see how much needs sand blasted, finish cleaning the underneath. Hopefully in a week have the sub frame back in. Kind of mocked up the Procharger intercooler, should fit OK.
The front bumper weighs a ton with all the bracing and shocks-prob rem. all that and do a bumper tuck.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
Painted the sub frame, while waiting on the sub frame bushings and Global West sub frame conn. I'll clean up the underside where the sub frame goes.
Time to kind of clean up all the parts I took off and kind of organize stuff a little better, that never seems to work out though, lol.
Trying to decide on whether to paint the firewall the color of the car or black, always kind of liked it car color, a little more finished look.
Time to kind of clean up all the parts I took off and kind of organize stuff a little better, that never seems to work out though, lol.
Trying to decide on whether to paint the firewall the color of the car or black, always kind of liked it car color, a little more finished look.
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Verdad Gallardo I fought with myself over the body color amor black, finally decided on black since I was t painting the car anytime soon. It looks great and makes the aluminum color stand out out pretty good
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
I have a set of alignment pins I made when I had my old Procharged Nova, you never know when you might need them again, lol-Fedex dropped off my
Global West sub frame conns. yesterday, so this week I will install the sub frame, align it and get all that done. Trying to beat winter doing stuff like sand blasting, painting. Trying to run the fuel oil out of my old tank so I can swap in the new one, at the same time make it last ($$$).
Global West sub frame conns. yesterday, so this week I will install the sub frame, align it and get all that done. Trying to beat winter doing stuff like sand blasting, painting. Trying to run the fuel oil out of my old tank so I can swap in the new one, at the same time make it last ($$$).
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
Making a little more progress, dropped some 5.3 parts off to the machine shop, having them boil the block, cam bearings, hone, clean and polish the crank, ck the balance.
Installed and aligned the sub frame, installed the Global West sub frame conns., modified the gas tank sump to fit the tank, its ready to weld on.
Trial fitting the IC'er, hopefully keep the hood opener. Prob start on the firewall next, clean and paint, cut some holes for the ECU wiring, change the heater core to one for a BB, it will move the heater hoses away from the down pipe.
Installed and aligned the sub frame, installed the Global West sub frame conns., modified the gas tank sump to fit the tank, its ready to weld on.
Trial fitting the IC'er, hopefully keep the hood opener. Prob start on the firewall next, clean and paint, cut some holes for the ECU wiring, change the heater core to one for a BB, it will move the heater hoses away from the down pipe.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
Making a little more progress, painted the firewall, put the BB heater core in my heater, stuck the engine/trans back in to test fit a manifold-I picked up a set of LS3 crate motor takeoff manifolds, the D/S fit is so close I think I can make it fit. Not sure if I would cut the pipe flange off and weld on a V clamp, or just find a matching flange and weld a pipe to that for my crossover to the P/S log manifold.
Got some snow yesterday, so I decided to take a pic, its not good for anything else, lol
Got some snow yesterday, so I decided to take a pic, its not good for anything else, lol
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 993
Likes: 119
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
Coming along well! That LS3 manifold looks like a natural. Always makes me happy when guys south of me get way more snow than me, lol. Last year you guys would get hammered and we would get a dusting. Yay for me!
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,188
Likes: 292
From: woodbine, md
Trimmed my steering box a little, got the LS3 manifold (late model F body) to clear-hopefully the thin metal exhaust gasket will work. Cut my heater box cover for the BB heater core, that moves the heater hoses away from the 4" down pipe. Hopefully paint the cover and my gas tank this week.