tjZ06
12-21-2005, 11:13 AM
Here's my n00blet post: https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=115968#post115968 (https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=115968#post115968)
As you can see I have a pretty potent '02 Z06 'vette so the '69 Nova isn't going to be my "fast car" per say. I currently Daily Drive a '89 MazDUH B2200 and while it's highly economical and fairly reliable, it's just not cutting it anymore. I want to build a fun DD that is rewarding to drive, turns some heads and is an all around cruiser. But if I’m going to have a “nice” DD I’m going to expect it to also handle, stop and accelerate well (at least as good as my ’99 Z/28 did in close to stock form). I have a line on a low-mileage, all original, straight-6 '69 Nova that I think will be the basis for my project.
The basic plan is a LS1/4L60E swap (though I may go T56 if the right donor car/drivetrain comes along first), completely rebuild of the suspension, brakes etc, 17/18s, refurb. stock style interior, decent stereo etc. No crazy custom work is planned.
The nice thing about starting w/ the '69 Nova is that it'll accept 1st Gen. Fbody parts. As such, Year One makes the motor mounts etc. for the LS1 swap. The downside is 1st Gen. Fbody susp. isn't exactly ideal.
Again, I'm not looking for anything extreme here. But I do want crisp handling and slop-free steering. And I'm on a somewhat tight budget (I'd like to be sub $10k total). I have a fully stocked shop at my disposal and a paint booth. Very little body work is needed, and I'll farm that out, but laying down the paint itself will be on me.
The car will get stripped down to just a shell, blasted, undercoated and primered as a first step (and rust/body work will be addressed at this time). While it's off the front subframe will be blasted and any mods to it performed before painting (maybe Por15).
Budget-wise I'd really like to stick to the stock front subframe and control arms (rebuilt w/ poly bushings and fresh ball joints, and boxed/trussed up a bit). I was thinking of something along the lines of Hotchkis's full kit for springs, shocks, and sway bars. In the rear the stock axle will get cleaned up and rebuilt (probably 3.73s and of course some sort of posi). For brakes I am willing to spend a bit on a nice front big-brake kit, but would love to find a budget friendly rear disc-brake swap. For the interior I actually want to stay really stock, bench seat 'n all (gotta have the GF under my arm when cruisin' it). The seats will get recovered, headliner and carpet replaced, hard parts painted, and the plastics etc. sprayed w/ vinyl die. I'm sure I'll need to invest in some trim pieces... but mostly it's all there. The LS1 swap should be pretty straight forward since the motor mounts are available. I have a friend I can call on for the wiring (he just finished and fully CA legalized his LS1 swapped FD RX7) and details of that nature. I was thinking 17/18" rim setup but don't know what widths and offsets I can run. Also, for my application (cruiser/DD) would a truck arm kit be worth it in the rear? I'd really like to put Global West front control arms on it and a power rack 'n pinion kit but that would probably blow me out of my budget.
I guess I'm just looking for suggestions, tips, pics, etc. for now. Thanks for any input!
-TJ
As you can see I have a pretty potent '02 Z06 'vette so the '69 Nova isn't going to be my "fast car" per say. I currently Daily Drive a '89 MazDUH B2200 and while it's highly economical and fairly reliable, it's just not cutting it anymore. I want to build a fun DD that is rewarding to drive, turns some heads and is an all around cruiser. But if I’m going to have a “nice” DD I’m going to expect it to also handle, stop and accelerate well (at least as good as my ’99 Z/28 did in close to stock form). I have a line on a low-mileage, all original, straight-6 '69 Nova that I think will be the basis for my project.
The basic plan is a LS1/4L60E swap (though I may go T56 if the right donor car/drivetrain comes along first), completely rebuild of the suspension, brakes etc, 17/18s, refurb. stock style interior, decent stereo etc. No crazy custom work is planned.
The nice thing about starting w/ the '69 Nova is that it'll accept 1st Gen. Fbody parts. As such, Year One makes the motor mounts etc. for the LS1 swap. The downside is 1st Gen. Fbody susp. isn't exactly ideal.
Again, I'm not looking for anything extreme here. But I do want crisp handling and slop-free steering. And I'm on a somewhat tight budget (I'd like to be sub $10k total). I have a fully stocked shop at my disposal and a paint booth. Very little body work is needed, and I'll farm that out, but laying down the paint itself will be on me.
The car will get stripped down to just a shell, blasted, undercoated and primered as a first step (and rust/body work will be addressed at this time). While it's off the front subframe will be blasted and any mods to it performed before painting (maybe Por15).
Budget-wise I'd really like to stick to the stock front subframe and control arms (rebuilt w/ poly bushings and fresh ball joints, and boxed/trussed up a bit). I was thinking of something along the lines of Hotchkis's full kit for springs, shocks, and sway bars. In the rear the stock axle will get cleaned up and rebuilt (probably 3.73s and of course some sort of posi). For brakes I am willing to spend a bit on a nice front big-brake kit, but would love to find a budget friendly rear disc-brake swap. For the interior I actually want to stay really stock, bench seat 'n all (gotta have the GF under my arm when cruisin' it). The seats will get recovered, headliner and carpet replaced, hard parts painted, and the plastics etc. sprayed w/ vinyl die. I'm sure I'll need to invest in some trim pieces... but mostly it's all there. The LS1 swap should be pretty straight forward since the motor mounts are available. I have a friend I can call on for the wiring (he just finished and fully CA legalized his LS1 swapped FD RX7) and details of that nature. I was thinking 17/18" rim setup but don't know what widths and offsets I can run. Also, for my application (cruiser/DD) would a truck arm kit be worth it in the rear? I'd really like to put Global West front control arms on it and a power rack 'n pinion kit but that would probably blow me out of my budget.
I guess I'm just looking for suggestions, tips, pics, etc. for now. Thanks for any input!
-TJ