Looks great

Well...seeing as how I've been running this project without any REAL plan, I figured it would be good to get the direction hammered out. I ended up getting in touch with Ben Hermance a while back and decided to work with him on a rendering that I could stick to throughout the build. I desperately needed this to give me some sense of direction, otherwise I would keep changing things and continue wasting time and money.

I didn't give him much direction other than overall influence/theme, and that I wanted to finally get more rubber under a Nova (give me flares without ruining the car). I am more than pleased with the final out come. Eventually I'll need to find a shop that can take this on. I would like to stick to the PNW, but we'll see. Anyways....

Here it is. I welcome all feedback good or bad!

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psznwywdk0.jpg

You might check out options from SDPC. At one time they were offering LS3 based 396s and 427s for just under $8k for a long block. With the CNC LS3 GM Castings I think the 427 was rated at something like 615HP. They don't advertise them on their website. But they advertise them at the shows they attend and multiple vehicle forums every once in a while.
Dave

Killer project and concept! You dove right in! JRod and Custom in Auburn (Lat-g screen name J-Rod&Custom) can handle anything you need from making the sheetmetal flares from scratch, bodywork and painting it, to plumbing and welding and whatever else you need but the interior. Check out the other Nova he built https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=47552

Well...motor plans mellowed out for now. The boss convinced me to drive something more manageable to start out and "upgrade" later if I really feel the need. Motor showed up yesterday. Pretty simple LS3. About 550 fwhp.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psst9it0tz.jpg

Love it!

Gas tank showed up after a bit of a snafu with a tank mixup. Ricks and MCB went above and beyond to fix the issue and the turn around was extremely quick. Both are top notch.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...pszsf8znqk.jpg

very nice!!! Yes, manageble is fun too.

A Wegner Black diamond cut LS drive system would look bad assss on that engine!!

For better or worse, I have new tires on the way....

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...pssfopnvr4.png

Scrub radius should get interesting...Time to warm up the cutoff wheel and get ready to make some room! :superhack:

Anyone need 2 19x11 Formula43 wheels? :P

Why did you change to a 18" wheel?

Introducing the flares got me to look at wider tire fitment (front and rear). The change in tire width drastically limited my options in 19". It gets even worse when you are looking at >=200TW.

It was simply because there are more tire options in 18". That or I secretly like doing everything 4x times before settling...sigh...

HA thank funny but cool That is what I though. I think visually it would look better with the 19 rear but you gotta do what you gotta do.:thumbsup:

I agree with you on the aesthetic. 19" do look better. As far as filling the wheel opening though, I'll be gaining tire height.

Going to a 335/18 vs 305/19 I'll only lose <1/3" in diameter.

Radiator came in this week. Got it assembled and installed.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9c4kiozv.jpghttp://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...pszhwih5gr.jpg

Any suggestions on where to mount the oil cooler? Is it cool to mount it smack in the middle of the AC condensor or will I be restricting too much air flow?
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psgwyic4ao.jpghttp://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps15dxtutv.jpg

Why is the oil cooler so big? Is that really necessary?

Andrew

:EmoteClueless:
Im not familiar with sizing cooling systems.

I ordered the radiator/coolers together and gave them (Autorad) intended usage (road and track) and max power output (700hp) I would need to support down the line and this is what they built.

It looks huge to me too. Maybe I trusted them too much?

Are you going to run a dry sump like the ls7 maybe that's why the cooler is so big.

I did tell them I will eventually use dry sump.

Eh...I'll find a place to put it.

Nice!

I am working on a 69 Nova project. It has minitubs 14"of room in the tubs.
Thinking of 19x12 with 325/30/19 in the rear. Did you consider this also?

Moabdude,

I did. I ran into the same issue.

When looking around, I wanted to have a decent 200TW selection as well as 315 or 335 18"(front) tires. I couldn't find a good selection that would fit those requirements AND have a 19" tire to go along with it out back.

In the end, if the sizes I chose end up being a complete handling nightmare (quite possible), I'll re-evaluate. I'll keep the 19s around just incase things change and I end up wanting/needing to use them.

Wow! I like what you're doing.
 

This is going to be a great car. Good luck going forward.

Slow progress....

I spent some time sorting out parallel and concentric alignment on the bell-housing. I ended up with a few shims to get things within spec. The concentric measurements were good to go so there was no need to get offset dowels.

Ordered up a clutch and go it installed. It's a Monster LT1-S. It's basically a C7 clutch with a custom billet steel flywheel and some other little bits. I've heard good things about it so I thought I'd give it a go.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psnfeojysj.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psltqlvozx.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps4iedkbli.jpg


Also got around to bolting on the new rim halves to widen the front wheels.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...pswpwswmmx.jpg


Do these tires make me look fat?

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5luu6dwp.jpg


My slave cylinder shows up today. With any luck, I'll have the engine/trans installed in the car by the end of the weekend

Are you going to run a front inner wheel well with the 315? Didn't think Novas had a big enough inner.

It's a 335 in the front.

I'll be running an inner fender, but it will be a one off. The plan is to have removable panels bolted to the soon-to-be cage down bars.

Honestly, at the ride height the car will be at, I wouldn't have been able to use stock inner fenders anyways.

Yes, those do make your front look fat, and that's a good thing! Glad to see progress being made. Keep up the good work!

Motor/transmission are in. Looks like I'm going to have to do some firewall work to allow proper clearance for the fuel rail feed line...oh well, probably wouldn't hurt to add some additional clearance behind the motor anyways.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psleqgadnn.jpg

Looks so aggressive. Love it.

thats some gum balls man.

Well...I made the decision to dial-it-back a bit. I won't be doing fender flares after-all.

This is my first build and I feel like I've been over reaching and convincing myself to cram every possible idea into the car. I had to take a step back and remember what the car is being built for. I was in danger of getting myself into a position where the car would be in a perpetual state of modification (not drivable).

Anyways. I had some frustration with back spacing being slightly off on my wheels once ride height was set. It just wasn't going to work. So I put a wheel fit tool to use and got new wheels on. So far, the fit is bang-on.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...pshzpnqq58.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psatd1mspq.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps7rxonq0z.jpg

Got some ultimate headers and brake booster mocked up. The fit leaves TONS of room.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psktha5fsz.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psis4iatjh.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psv1ipze3h.jpg

IQ3s, flush mount bezel, and sheet metal dash showed up. Excited to test the fit the dash this weekend. Fingers crossed it's a better fit than the plastic inserts kicking around.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...psxa3sd0qv.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5d0tfb4l.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...pscfa3m259.jpg

I also received a few bits from AMD...the main piece being a new passenger side quarter panel. I'm a bit nervous to cut into the car, but it's time to sack up and learn something new.

I've done metal work in the past...just not much sheet metal work...and never panel replacements.

:superhack:

Where did you get the metal dash insert?

http://www.performancevehicleworks.com/

The site is terrible and there are no pictures posted of the dashes they offer...

They are a bit spendy...but still cheaper than say...a DSE dash.

Very interested in seeing how the dash insert works out. I am thinking about running a Nova style dash in my 69 Camaro. I believe all I have to do is run a Nova style dash pad. I am looking to get rid of the Camaro hump in the center of the top of the dash to make it easier to run an IQ3S or Holley Street Dash.

David

I hope you can get the dash to fit. I ordered one for my car, fit very poorly, sent it back and went with Anvil Carbon Fiber.

Well...that sucks. I guess I'll find out here shortly.

What was the issue with the fit?

Dave .. exactly what I'm doing .. sent you a PM
Cheers
Steve

Jeds, i have a 69 i am doing. What was the wheel fit tool? Thanks

LanceL,

I used the wheel fit tool- http://www.thewheelfit.com/home.html

It worked....but I wasn't impressed. There is a lot of play in the tool and I felt like I had to measure 10 times before I had some confidence in the numbers.