Project "blue balls" 72 nova ls3 tremec 6060 swap

[nysignbuilders]

90224Bought my 1972 nova around September of 2011 for $4800 from upstate NY with a 383 stroker w/ dual quads, 373 10 bolt rear with good solid floors & new quarters. I originally was going to make it a fully tubbed street rod. So I started by installing a 12 bolt strange rear with ladder bars & coil overs. Then I started building a 427 sbc stroker, Thousands later I realized I was not gonna be happy with my build. After stumbling across this website and seeing what the pro-touring style was about, I decided to change my build and go with an 2010 Camaro SS LS3 with a Tremec 6060 out of a fire damaged donor car. Motor & trans had about 5 thousand miles on them but needed to be gone through after the fire, but $2800 and 4 hours each way of driving each way was worth it.

[nysignbuilders]

Bought my 1972 nova around September of 2011 for $4800 from upstate NY with a 383 stroker w/ dual quads, 373 10 bolt rear with good solid floors & new quarters. I originally was going to make it a fully tubbed street rod. So I started by installing a 12 bolt strange rear with ladder bars & coil overs. Then I started building a 427 sbc stroker, Thousands later I realized I was not gonna be happy with my build. After stumbling across this website and seeing what the pro-touring style was about, I decided to change my build and go with an 2010 Camaro SS LS3 with a Tremec 6060 out of a fire damaged donor car. Motor & trans had about 5 thousand miles on them but needed to be gone through after the fire, but $2800 and 4 hours each way of driving each way was worth it
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[TonyHuntimer]

Ny,

Welcome to the world of Pro-Touring. :)

I merged your other thread with this one, so people can follow a single tread of your build.

Which hood are you keeping? I've always liked the L88 scoop.

Looks like fun!

Tony Huntimer
TestCarDatabase

[72BBSwinger]

I always liked an L88 hood on 68+ Nova.

[nysignbuilders]

Going with the steel cowl hood, Decided to keep everything steel on the car

[nysignbuilders]

Stripped and painted subframe, installed tubular control arms, QA1 coil overs, SSBC drop spindles, wildwood brakes, HD sway bar
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Welded a Detroit speed smooth firewall plate and cut some patches for the rest -Then Installed bulk head fittings
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Started body work for a smooth firewall
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Painted 2 stage Pearl Blue Metalic (custom mix)
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[nysignbuilders]

Subframe back under the nova
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Ready to hang the nose, All new steel fenders, Cowl hood, Rad support & bumper
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[nysignbuilders]

After getting the nose back together I decided to start mini-tubbing and cleaning up the back area of my nova.
I purchased a strange 12 bolt rear with ladder bars and coil overs. I also ordered a set of competition engineering
sub-frame connectors, fuel cell and a battery relocation kit. And the fun begins!!!
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Started cutting stock wheel wells out
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Cut up some steel plate to re-inforce the notched frame & welded it back together
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Installed sub frame connectors, a solid mounting point for my ladder bars
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Welded my coil over crossbar w/mounts and set my rear in place. After a lot of measurments
I finally welded my ladder bars in place.( I did re-align the front end before I tackled the ladder bar install )
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Installed My fuel cell half sunk in the trunk - welded some mounting brackets out of round stock and steel angle
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Back on the road again, After a few adjustments I got the car driving straight. Now that the fuel cell was in
I decided to bring it for tailpipes so I wasn't choking on fumes.
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[nysignbuilders]

Picked up a set of 3 piece I-FORGED SENEKAS 18" Staggered wheels
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[nysignbuilders]

Picked up a full set of 2006 GTO black seats front and rear.
Had to FAB up some mounts for the seat frames to mount level on the floor.
I was amazed at how comfortable the seats were and the power is a plus, Just wish
They came heated

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[nysignbuilders]

After meeting with my machinest I decided to build a 427 SBC stroker, I purchased a nice set of dart heads ported,
studs girdles, crane roller rockers, Roller cam, holley carb, intake, MSD pro billet dist, MSD 6 plus box,
polished pullies, 2 holley fuel pumps, hughes performance trans w/ stall converter, hurst pistol grip shifter and
the list goes on!!!!
I was on my way to order my dart SHP block and something told me this was not what I wanted.
This build was headed too much in the quarter mile direction and I wanted a nice street car.
So I decided to cancel the build and list all my stuff on craigslist and do an LS swap:worship:

At a first look it seems expensive, but the LS swap actually would be around the same price as
my stroker build, and with an estimated 15 MPG, this puts a smile on my face
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I started looking on craigslist for an LS1 w/ T56 and found a complete subframe from a 69 Camaro
with new disc brakes, tubular control arm, UNI-STEER power rack & all swap parts
including a 1998 LS1 w/ 4L60E automatic for $4800
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I figured it couldn't get any easier than this, all the hard work was done. Roll it under!!!
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[scherp69]

Good job so far. Do you have more pics of the bracket you made to mount the seats. I also have GTO seats in my 68 but found with the power brackets they sat too high. I ended up using manual sliders instead. Still in the build stage though.

[nysignbuilders]

The only things needed to finish the swap was - getting the computer flashed - making a harness and removing
all the extra emission wires. I decided to tackle the harness myself, I am pretty good with wiring.
After a few hours I had it completed - plugged everything in and started it on the subframe. Engine
fired right up!! Sounded mean.
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I started looking around for some performance parts for the 98 LS1 to get some extra horses out of
my swap. I found out that I have the perimeter bolt valve cover heads, lowest HP rating... not happy!
I was adding up the parts needed to make this in the horse power range I wanted and things
were not looking good $$$$$
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I took a week off and went away with my boat to fire island to relax, came home on a sunday evening.
Jumped on EBAY that night and the first thing that popped up was a fire damaged 2010 Camaro SS
Complete drivetrain LS3 with a tremec 6060 trans. I decided to message the guy to see what he was
looking to get for it and left my number.
Woke up the next morning around 7:30am and make my coffee, my phone rings around 8:01am
and caller ID says PA. I answered and the guy said the Camaro was in a garage fire. not sure if it
will run or has heat damage. but he did say the guy who owned it never drove it, only to shows
and it has around 5,000 miles on it. his bottom line was $2800 if I made it there today!
I told him I am leaving now for the bank and heading to PA to grab it90323
today

[Zoomin]

I am biased, I'll go ahead and admit it right now, but your Nova definitely has taken a turn for the better. Nice score on those wheels - very nice fit.
Have a great trip.

[Rod]

I like it!....did anyone tell you there is already a project car named "Blue Balls" kinda a famous little Camaro

[nysignbuilders]

9035890359
Just welded up some steel tabs onto the tracks to keep it close to the floor, My car had a bench seat
so if I'm not mistaken I think the mounts are different than buckets on the floor pans
Funny thing is when I first started building my car I read your whole thread and it gave me a lot of cool ideas
for my build.


Good job so far. Do you have more pics of the bracket you made to mount the seats. I also have GTO seats in my 68 but found with the power brackets they sat too high. I ended up using manual sliders instead. Still in the build stage though.

[nysignbuilders]

4 Hours of driving and I finally got to the body shop in PA with the LS3 for sale
I popped off the valve covers to inspect any heat damage or water. I was so happy
that it looked like it just came out of a crate, oil was so clean I figured for $2800
it was worth it even if it needed to be freshened up. The owner of the body shop said
he towed it from a house that burned down, it was the guys baby! Lucky if it had 5k miles
They bought the car back for parts. most of the fire damage was the interior of the car.
So Loaded it up and headed back!! Score
This was exactly what I wanted for my build
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4 Hour drive home and I was ready to start cleaning it up to inspect it better
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Trying to get soot off aluminum is not easy
After hours of scrubbing it was coming back
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Tranny was just as bad as the motor, covered in soot
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[nysignbuilders]

After thoroughly checking the engine I was ready to start adding a few bolt-on to it for more HP
So I decided to order a GM performance cam, 3 bolt-comp cams Double roller chain
Heavy duty tensioner, lunati valve springs & keepers, Viton seals, comp cams pushrods, comp cams trunion kit
Holley LS swap oil pan w/ pickup, LS7 coil packs, 2012 Camaro intake, 90 mm throttle body DBW, Taylor race wires,
Douges ceramic headers, LS7 clutch, wildwood McLeod hydraulic clutch set-up, Hurst close ratio shifter, PSI conversion
harness & 2008 corvette computer, 2010 Camaro ss intake w/ mass air, High tourque starter, stock alternator,
stock water pump, stock power steering pump, all new stock sensors, new gaskets

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Heads first - new springs, seals, keepers & retainers
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3bolt - Cam & timing chain install
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Comp cams rocker trunion kit
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Simple install with a vise!!
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[nysignbuilders]

Installed Comp cams push rods for extra security
Then rocker arms to complete the valve train and a nice set of
polished valve covers to seal it up

Next step was installing the new flywheel and LS7 clutch,
then mounted the tr6060 trans to the motor. I picked up a set
of LS swap engine mounts so I could start my fitment on the
sub frame

[jakeaw87]

this will be sweet. subscribing

[rchaskin]

Cool build. Like the pics.

[1970 Boss]

Really interested in how to tie the tail shaft into the driveshaft. I've got an LQ9/tremec6060 combo going into a '69 GTO.
Love those seats !!!