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Project "Green Bean" update 1-16-11
so with all of the novas i have been working on lately i have found a soft spot for them, when we found out we were having Hallie (our daughter) i decided that i wanted a street car again, something that Ashley, Hallie and I could all get in and take a cruise to a car show, or a trip like power tour. Since this isnt all that practical in my racecar I figured since i have a good connection with a very reputable nova guru this may be a good choice for the project. He had a sedan 2 door post that i got from him and started gathering parts for. after having the car about a year and not making much headway due to the amount of work entailed I became more focused at work and figured maybe i would have time for it this winter. Well that all changed a few weeks ago when i was sitting at home and my phone rang. It was a number that i did not recognize and as most of you know i rarely answer my cell after about 6pm. Well im glad i answered this call, man on the phone ask for me, said he was calling me about the note i left on his car a few months back, that was when he told me what car it was, and that he was considering selling it now. I had been eyein this car for 3-4 years and had even tried buying it once before. I didnt waste any time and went to his house first thing in the morning to check it out. this is what i found
(no givin me crap about the picture quality... they are all off my phone!!! LOL) an all original 77k mile 3 owner NO RUST car, he bought the car in 94 with 22k miles on it and in 95 had the interior redone. http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01001-0942.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01001-0942.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01001-0944.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01002-1524.jpg the man was torn up over selling this car... you could tell this was his baby. But as i said before i have tried buying this car befoer and after seeing how perfect the car is i had to have it..... http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01002-1208.jpg when i picked this car up he gave me ALL of the original paperwork (down to the protection plate), the stock steel wheels and dog dish hub caps, and not to mention other items like spare parts and interior material. So the plans for this car are now the plans i had for the 2 door car i had got from a buddy. -decent "street car" power -A/C, pwr steering -manual trans -boost of some sort -a car that will handle with a new vette -braking of a new vette - and most of all a fun car that can be driven anywhere and parked in a lot or diven down the highway worried to death about getting a rock chip or door ding. Seeing that we have done ALOT with the LSx based stuff, i decided to try something different and Chris our efi tuner and i have been wanting to play with an Ecotec sooooo... http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01022-1553.jpg Yup, 2007 ecotec... mated to a 2009 pontiac Solstice trans http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01025-1816.jpg compaired to a ls and t56 http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01025-1819.jpg I couldnt handle the 4x4 front so i lowered it with a temporary snip of the front springs http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01015-1727.jpg and then swapped out the chrome moonies for the steelies and hubs http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01020-1721.jpg Then for my B-day Ash got me a carpet kit http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01022-1907.jpg had some wheels laying around (yes they are BMW wheels) that we had been using for mock up on another project so i decided to see if they would fit, and after seeing them on there i think they are staying. fronts are an 8 with a 245-40-18, rears are a 9 with a 275-40-19, fronts will most likely get a 255-35-18 when done. car still needs to be lowered more ;) http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01029-1721.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01031-1205.jpg The front suspension is 90% done. I built this for the first project and decided to use it on this car instead. when i designed it i had everything at ride height and used very similar suspension geometry as a new Z06. All the arms ar C4 corvette and the rack is an 04 mustang cobra. I still have a few more bars to weld in and mounts to build also since it was originally designed for an ls motor. http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...00120-0806.jpg |
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...00116-1450.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...00116-1450.jpg Got the rear calipers, they are from a 06 CTS-V. Fronts should be here in the next week or so. http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...01129-1427.jpg Well a few weeks went by and i kept telling myself i wasnt going to take this thing apart until my race car was back togheter.... but......................... i am impatient :lol: Hood off http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10102-1242.jpg Motor on its way out (You know you like the fender covers!!!!LOL cant get greasy finger prints on that patina!!!) http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10102-1402.jpg Fenders off... http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10102-1556.jpg front end all unbolted and off the car http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10102-1622.jpg 417 front sub bolted on http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10102-1634.jpg Corvette A arms, spindles, and coilovers mounted http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10102-1724.jpg proposed front ride height http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10102-1728.jpg Just getting a feel for how much of the trans tunned will need trimmed http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10102-1738.jpg All in all im really happy with the way everything is going so far. I will get some temporary upper strut/downbars fabbed this week and make it stable enough to get some motor and trans mounts built and then i will get the rack and bumpsteer kit bolted on. I will update this in the days to come as we get more of the fun stuff done!!! OH YA seats are ordered also and will be here mon-tues Cheers! Blake |
Nice find !
I did the exact same thing. Found this low milage 4dr a mile away. Picked it up for my wife who was pregnant at the time and completely redid the entire car in time for the kid to be born. So now she had a cool little hot rod to take the kid to shows with. That way she could leave when she wanted and I got to stay with my car. |
So glad you went with the Ecotec like i proposed and not the I-5. Looks good man give me a call if you want an extra hand
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Nice project! That will be a very cool family cruiser when she's all done.
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I like it. Looking forward to more updates. :thumbsup:
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Nice project, I'm looking forward to seeing more.
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this is a sweet build.
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Awesome! I've informed my wife that our next car will be a Nova Wagon restomod. :unibrow:
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Awesome build!!! Glad he did not lost ur number. Looking forward to more progress photos. Cheers!!!!
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great looking car... whats the stock hp of the ecotec motor?
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That is one sweet green bean man! I cant wait to see it finished.
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If you guys are wondering where the name came from, my girlfiriend decided to name the car that when i got it and for some reason it just stuck :yes: WHO KNOWS :lol:
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Favorite new project. I have always liked those wheels, remind me of a Fikse wheel. Are you going to be painting the engine up similar to the old one that you pulled? Supercharger? Very cool.
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Nice project.Cool frt. sub frame.:thumbsup:
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got a few things done, motors mounted, trans tunnels trimmed, found the start of some rust in the floor so i decided to cut the front toe section out and replace it with new metal. got the snout bars made also.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5332266_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6989019_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4169637_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7456922_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1661255_n.jpg one of these days ill steal the wifes digital camera and take some decent pics LOL |
wow i love it; so unique
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Been working on one like it for a few years now only it's a wagon. The eco blocks are capable of 1000 hp they're very stout in the bottom end. Mine will be about 650 hp. We had to make a belt driven dizzy to make room for the blower, make our own serpentine system, and adapt the 200-4r to the block as the solstice trans won't handle the power. Thinking about calling it " Ego Adjuster "
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/...e/ecoduece.jpg |
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ thats pretty cool!!!! ^^^^^^^
got any more pics? here is the front rotors (13.6") with one of the rear calipers slid on it http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5505219_n.jpg |
This is one cool build! Four door and Eco powered, awesome!
I gots a soft spot for dem Ecos... my old bus I converted to Ecotec power http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL267.../110309013.jpg |
I do but, mostly just of different areas parts fab, nothing of the car as a whole.
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Jeff- |
Out of the box... awesome!
My buddy has a LNF in his 09 Cobalt SS TC - he bought the GMPP Stage 1 kit - I think thats pushing around 295 hp, 300+ ft lbs... :faint: |
Cool Ride!! You should post it up over at Steves Nova Site.....
John |
thanks!! will do John, i always seem to forget about that site ;)
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Loving this project!
Any ideas to prevent it from sounding like a Honda? Pardon my ignorance if the Ecotec's have a distinctive sound to themselves. |
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Jeff- |
Nice car. I like the power train choice as well. Different is good and the Ecotec is a rgeat motor. Nice choice on rims too. I have a staggard set of MParallels on my 79TA. I like them so much I'm seriously considering getting a pair of the 9.5" rims to put on the front so that I have the wide rims all the way around.
Here's my TA with the rims on it http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/r...d/PICT0306.jpg |
Got a few hours to work on it today....
built some wheel stands to get the car in the air so i can have evertything at ride height and work on it. http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...2_736287_n.jpg Got the trans crossmember built also http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6886838_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4636053_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...9_797588_n.jpg |
Look's real good.Very nicely engineered.Would like to see more of the frt. clip.:thumbsup:
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Heres a few better pics! Had a buddy swing by the shop last sunday and snap a few. LOL he actually knows how to use a camera :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMG_3972.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMG_3970.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMG_3968.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMG_3959.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...IMG_3955-1.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMG_3940.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMG_3936.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMG_3935.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...3/IMG_3934.jpg Thanks for looking!!! hope to have more updates asap, intake manifold flange is being cut as we speak and then i will start that along with the accessory drive brackets. |
This is so cool.
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Cool project! Love that it's different, nice work on that front clip too!
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Looking good blake. Can't wait to see it finished.
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great project, very cool:thumbsup: front clip is very nice. Any plans for rear suspension?
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Love this project!
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Few more updates...
Got the trans tunnel and floor pans fabricated, welded in and painted with POR15 paint. http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10205-1653.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10219-1622.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10302-1759.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10302-1925.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10302-2204.jpg Started on the sheetmetal intake manifold. Had a flange cut to fit the head then took it to Nick over at Saab and had him machine the O-ring groove in the engine side to accept the factory intake manifold o-ring. Also got the runners bent up http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10225-0959.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10302-2204.jpg Also a while back i ran across a steal of a deal on a set of Corbeau seats new in the box so i snagged them. I took my spare rear seat from my other nova and had it recovered with the same material as the fronts and stitched the same. Larrys Auto Trim here in springfield did the upholstery and i couldnt be happier!!! http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10228-0917.jpg http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...10228-0915.jpg More updates to come stay tuned!!!! |
i definitely like this build
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