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In another thread thanking everyone for their help, I was asked if I had a build thread for my Nova. Well, I don't because once I get going, I can't stop to take pictures and explain everything! Lol. So here's what I can provide instead. Long story short, I bought the car back in the early/mid 90's from a woman in Tennessee. I stripped the car down and redid everything aside from paint as the car was going to be raced and driven more than shown. Basically a frame off without paint. The car had a Ponitac headed 427 sbc that ran 10-teens on horsepower through the mufflers. The car was later sold in 1997 and I was able to buy my first house with the money. Fast forward to June of 2014. I was on the hunt for another Nova to mess with when a buddy of mine said "I know where your old car's at." The current owner and I struck a deal and a week later I drove the car home. Aside from the engine being changed and the car not having the cage anymore, it was like the car was in a time capsule. Really cool ride the 25 miles back. The car got a new right quarter and tail light panel, was painted, the interior redone by me again (this time with a factory bench seat) and a transplant of a turbo LS in place of the gen I sbc that was in it. The following are details about the car,
'70 Nova
Gen IV sbe 5.3
243 heads untouched
stock truck intake and throttle body
Deka 80# injectors (you can see in the pic I swapped fuel rails from side to side to keep the regulator up front and off the firewall)
JFR 218 cam
LS9 head gaskets
flipped truck manifolds
2.25" hotside to 2.5' merge into turbo
S475/83 t4 turbo
Treadstone intercooler (Acutally a thread on the intercooler install on LS1tech)
4" exhaust all the way back to behind the right rear tire
Hooker Maxflow muffler
TH400 with PTC converter
12 Bolt rear end with 3.31 gear
CalTracs
Viking DA shocks in the rear
Single adj. QA1 shocks in front
275/60 Drag Radials
Holley HP EFI system
E85
Twin external AEM 380 pumps
10 an feed/8 an return (it's what was on the car when I originally built it)
The paint is a factory 1968 GM color. All in all the car is a blast. I drive it on the highway, get pizzas, go to the grocery store, whatever I want to do with it. I've had it up to 17 psi of boost and it scoots! Super smooth power being turbo'd. Turbo LS FTW!
Last edited by 3 window; 11-28-2017 at 08:28 AM.
Reason: Updated info
Wow, that thing looks awesome. Any track times or dyno numbers?
Thanks, sorry no times or numbers. I can tell you this, at 17 psi it was using 650 lb/hr of E85 so it was making pretty decent power. I'll probably hit the 1/8 with it in the spring as I'd rather not push the 1/4 mile speeds with no cage.
Thanks Mike, It's Ash Gold (1968 gm color). The hood is a 4" VFN and it's not bad. I had a Glasstek which I actually liked better but it got lost somewhere along the way.
Hot side fabbed up You can see the fuel rail crossover turned around to keep the regulator off the firewall.
Thanks guys, Not really any other pics other than a bunch of it on the garage. Some fab work pics I did take along the way. I can post em up if anyone's interested.
Nice nova .Did u use 4 round exaust to rear of tire or oval. I keep draging mine over everthing.I just ran it out the fender but not sure if i like it. Mine sets pretty low. Mite eed to raise it.
Yah it's 4" all the way back. The pipe is almost exactly 3" off the ground. I can't get my fist between the pipe and the ground. Haven't had any scraping issues, but then again the car isn't slammed or really lowered at all. Maybe an inch or so from stock ride height. I'm super surprised how quiet it is, until you get on it that is!
12-12-2016, 01:19 PM
Turbo Nova 
