Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

LQ4 into a 3rd Gen/1972 Nova

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-25-2017, 04:15 PM
  #1721  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
-TheBandit-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Instagram @chevyhotrodder
Posts: 2,816
Received 82 Likes on 70 Posts

Default

I assume you photoshopped the tail pipes? I don't like that at all, but if you are thinking rear exit, I like this idea, except I would try rectangular tips to mimic the shape of the taillights.

Name:  nova2007.jpg
Views: 2057
Size:  237.0 KB

Name:  nova2005.jpg
Views: 801
Size:  80.8 KB
Old 01-25-2017, 05:26 PM
  #1722  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

I've always liked the frenched look of tailpipes in a bumper like that super clean Nova you posted, in fact I've always been interested in trying that on mine since it had angle-cut chrome tailpipes way in the beginning. The thing that really bugs me is because of where the frame rails are, the tailpipes end up being very outboard, which the proportions of tailpipe-width to bumper-width just looks wrong to me. Not sure why.. it just bugs me..



I could also do the extended turndown tips, to exit as close to the rear as I can without having it really hanging below the bumper..



The raw/dirty/racey/purposeful/obnoxious look I'm kinda liking now is along these lines..









Old 01-25-2017, 06:01 PM
  #1723  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
-TheBandit-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Instagram @chevyhotrodder
Posts: 2,816
Received 82 Likes on 70 Posts

Default

Well you could do a fuel cell and put them just about anywhere you want back there. Might negate the need for a surge tank also. Or you could route under the tank with some heat shields. I wish there was a good route to take them through the bumper itself - those big tall bumpers on the Nova would look fine with a pair of exhaust openings - sorta like a roll pan.
Old 01-25-2017, 06:50 PM
  #1724  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

I'm definitely opposed to an in-trunk fuel cell.. I mean I know this car is going to become less and less practical but I just don't want to make and weld in a support frame, and have to open the trunk to fill up, and lose all that trunk space. I've thrown bags in the back for a weekend trip or put my mountain bike in there.

The tailpipe routing would be going over or under the axle (under more likely) and then spreading wider while staying high (if over-axle) or angling upwards (if under-axle), snaking between the coilovers and the front dog-eared corners of the gas tank, then rearwards on the sides of the gas tank (unsure if I'll route inboard, outboard, or underneath the framerails.. or trim the framerails upwards). Any tailpipe design/location aft of the back of the gas tank and other than straight back will be purely aesthetic choice and not driven by any physical constraints.

Maybe something closer to this? There's probably 12" of room between the rear of the gas tank and the bumper (think of how long the filler neck is).. enough room to make a bit of a Z shape in the tailpipes to narrow their spacing under the bumper in from the wide width of the frame rails..




Last edited by frojoe; 01-25-2017 at 07:16 PM.
Old 01-26-2017, 01:24 PM
  #1725  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
-TheBandit-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Instagram @chevyhotrodder
Posts: 2,816
Received 82 Likes on 70 Posts

Default

That looks more properly tucked to me - less like an afterthought. I like it. A lot.

I agree on keeping the tank under the trunk. You gotta keep some practicality in the car or it wont get driven.
Old 01-27-2017, 11:38 AM
  #1726  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (12)
 
hookemdevils22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 1,411
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts

Default

why don't you just look at dropping a CTSv pump into your tank? It will be much less headache, and to date nobody has been able to find an effective solution for the pump-on-a-stick design. vaporworx makes controllers, and can set you up with a dual setup if you need more than 800 fwhp that a single can handle. All you need is 6-7" tank depth.

After all of my drivability issues, hiccups on the autocross course, pouring over every "fuel tank solutions?" thread here and P-T, and talking to Carl at vaporworx, that's the way I'm headed (albeit with a Camaro SS pump, which supports 600 fwhp NA). A big part of that, of course, is that cost is a wash between that and a new Aeromotive pump/filter/regulator.
Old 01-27-2017, 11:55 AM
  #1727  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

I'm familiar with the CTS-V setup (I think).. and isn't it significantly tall... much taller than our tanks? Do you have a link to the work you did? I really don't want to touch the gas tank fabrication-wise.
Old 01-27-2017, 12:10 PM
  #1728  
TECH Resident
iTrader: (56)
 
TomM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Baytown, Texas
Posts: 853
Received 27 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

Yes, talk to Carl. You can use a ZL1 pump, much cheaper through Amazon, the CTS pump is pricey. Get Carl's PWM, it works perfectly. I am using the ZL1 pump and Carl's PWM on my blower car with no issues what so ever....good stuff...




T,
Old 01-27-2017, 01:08 PM
  #1729  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (12)
 
hookemdevils22's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 1,411
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts

Default

The only reason I suggested the CTSv over the ZL1 is that it supports a significant amount more horsepower (800 vs 650 boosted), per their website. I didn't ask Carl personally, since I'm a ways off from those levels.

The SS and CTSv require 5.5-6.5" of depth, while the ZL1 is slightly taller. My tank is 5.9" with the clearance panel I made for the Aeromotive setup, so yours should be OK unless you dropped it appreciably more than I did. I essentially need to cut a ~7" hole in place of the current 5"x5" square, and remove some of the baffling.

Vaporworx sells the mounting and lock rings for $165(!), but I'm on the prowl this weekend for a late-model Chevy from the junkyard after reading this thread. I can also use the cheaper mechanical regulator, while you'd need a PWM controller ($~500).
Old 01-27-2017, 02:03 PM
  #1730  
TECH Resident
iTrader: (56)
 
TomM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Baytown, Texas
Posts: 853
Received 27 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

Understood, Carl was the one that suggested the ZL1 pump to me and even told me to get it through Amazon....I was going to use the CTS pump until I looked at the cost.....wow...who knew..

T,
Old 01-27-2017, 02:05 PM
  #1731  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

Thanks for all that info!

In the grand scheme of things, making a swirl pot would actually be the easiest. My tank already has decent baffling.. at least enough that the transfer pump(s) wouldn't be sucking air all that often, the current plate/bracketry fits the Walbro body style of pump, I already have a 3rd pump that I could drop right in place, and I need to run lines up into the trunk and then back down for a rollover vent & high point for sloshing.

In theory I could just make a new tank access plate that instead of the bulkhead fittings and fuel pump brackets it currently has, it is machined to accept the CTS-V retaining ring pattern.. but I just don't feel like ******* around with all that and the additional cost of the drop-in unit and required PWM module.
Old 01-30-2017, 02:57 PM
  #1732  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

To improve my engine cooling amongst some other areas of the car, I've been doing a ton of online reading, including ordering some knowledge slabs!





Plan is to vent the hood in an appropriate area, totally seal off the radiator support, make inner fenders that fit the 275's, make a chin spoiler/air dam, and possibly make a belly pan for under the engine, between the chin spoiler and subframe crossmember, potentially extending all the way back to the firewall. Plan is to keep the pressure in the engine bay as low as possibly, and have the high velocity air flowing over the hood suck out much hot air, as well as keep the pressure in front of the intercooler/radiator as high as possible.

Here's some really good/interesting reading I came across:

1st gen Camaro hood aero testing

2nd gen Trans Am aero testing and mods

General production car aero talk

Ron Sutton's encyclopedia of aero

Last edited by frojoe; 01-30-2017 at 05:03 PM.
Old 02-16-2017, 06:46 PM
  #1733  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (5)
 
Baynut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CANADA
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default body mount Q

UOTE=frojoe;19520070]To improve my engine cooling amongst some other areas of the car, I've been doing a ton of online reading, including ordering some knowledge slabs!





Plan is to vent the hood in an appropriate area, totally seal off the radiator support, make inner fenders that fit the 275's, make a chin spoiler/air dam, and possibly make a belly pan for under the engine, between the chin spoiler and subframe crossmember, potentially extending all the way back to the firewall. Plan is to keep the pressure in the engine bay as low as possibly, and have the high velocity air flowing over the hood suck out much hot air, as well as keep the pressure in front of the intercooler/radiator as high as possible.

Here's some really good/interesting reading I came across:

1st gen Camaro hood aero testing

2nd gen Trans Am aero testing and mods

General production car aero talk

Ron Sutton's encyclopedia of aero[/QUOTE]

​​​​​​​I remember a few years back seeing that you played with the idea of no body bushings. What was the outcome of that?
Old 02-16-2017, 06:58 PM
  #1734  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

No body bushings.. no problems! I removed the subframe spacers years ago before I even finalized my turbo kit or did my floorpan/tunnel mods for proper driveshaft clearances and working angles. Zero issues, and it gives the front of the car ~0.75" static drop by pulling the subframe up. I still needed one spacer per side (which I believe was 0.5") on the front subframe mounts, as the subframe front bushings are taller than the rears. And I had to shorten the solid radiator core support spacers since the subframe horns were now higher up relative to the core support.
Old 02-16-2017, 07:23 PM
  #1735  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (5)
 
Baynut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CANADA
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Thanks so much. I think that's the way I'll be doing it.
​​​​​​​Love your build and thank you for sharing.
Old 02-16-2017, 07:28 PM
  #1736  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

No prob! There's really no reason to use bushings/spacers.. replacing with stock rubber or poly bushings is just silly, and paying $100+ USD for machined & anodized aluminum ones is a bit much, when you could just remove them entirely and have the car lower. The one thing you'll have to modify tho is the steering shaft to steering box.. go to a universal joint (I think I remember the increase in angle being too much for stock rag joint) and probably modify/ovalize the hole in the firewall for the steering column. Also not sure on your transmission/crossmember/driveshaft angle but that could get tight for clearance if you're close to stock in the sheetmetal department.

Btw, where are you from.. neat to see more Canadians on here.
Old 02-16-2017, 09:13 PM
  #1737  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (5)
 
Baynut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CANADA
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Thanks for the heads up. I'm in Ottawa it's a far drive but if I go cross country I'll be sure to let you know haha. I've followed your build since the start and it's amazing to see the transformation in not only your car but you as well. If you come my way let me know.
Old 02-16-2017, 11:00 PM
  #1738  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

Awesome! I'll keep that in mind if I ever venture out that way. Thanks for the kind words.. I agree that both the car and I have grown quite a bit since I started on it during my 2nd year in engineering school wayyyy back in 2009.. a lot of years and learning and skills have been developed since!

Speaking of which.. I've found a nice 3D solid model of a Nova and downloaded it, for some air dam/vent/other tweaks to model up.. because the garage is still too full of other things to wheel the car into and start taking it apart.
Old 02-17-2017, 04:14 AM
  #1739  
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
ryanleiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by frojoe
Speaking of which.. I've found a nice 3D solid model of a Nova and downloaded it, for some air dam/vent/other tweaks to model up..
Say more about this 3D model of a nova...
Old 02-17-2017, 12:30 PM
  #1740  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
frojoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver BC, Canada
Posts: 1,791
Received 28 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ryanleiker
Say more about this 3D model of a nova...
I spent a bunch of time scouring the 'net looking for nice quality 3D models of Nova's, just because. I started with finding pretty rough models, like these..



Then another that was a bit better, but left a lot to be desired..



Then I found this one, which look surprisingly good, but the more I looked over the different angles, a couple things started looking strange, like the height and angle of the bumpers, and around the rear quarter window and decklid..



Then I found this model on Hum3D. By far had the best website, the most high-quality pics, and excellent customer service and information..




Downloaded an IGES 3D model of it and loaded it into my work program (PTC CREO, aka renamed ProEngineer)..










Last edited by frojoe; 02-17-2017 at 03:21 PM.


Quick Reply: LQ4 into a 3rd Gen/1972 Nova



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:04 PM.