70 Nova -- Project Serena

[csouth]

Not new to the forum, but have something new to bring to the table. This project will have more meaning than my Cutlass as its a tribute car. I lost my younger brother earlier this year unexpectedly and this is my way of getting through the pain. My brother and I were very close and he was my biggest supporter in my Cutlass project.

He and I talked about doing a car for him in the near future either 73 Cutlass or possibly a Nova being the second choice. I passed on the Cutlass because I have one and I couldn't find the one with the larger quarter window that he liked. I was able to find a Nova nearby that I didn't have to convert from a drag car back to a street car. I'm my emotions let me overpay a little, but I'm satisfied. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions since I don't have any X body experience, but I'm down to learn

The end goal is to be something he would have enjoyed drive the wheels off of....

The name came from my brothers love of you guessed it, Serena Williams and her rear...lol I'll make sure Serena has the right look from behind...

Plans are :

Disc Brake Upgrade
4 Link and rear coilovers
Tru Turn and front Coilovers
LS with T56
DSE Mini tubs
18x9 and 18x11 wheels

I'll be scouring for parts so let me know if you see something good...

Here she is... Not perfect by any means, but a decent start

[ryeguy2006a]

Chris, what a great start to a project. Sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. Couldn't have picked a better tribute car, he had great taste. Subscribed for updates.

[thumper877]

Chris sorry about ur brother. A 70 nova was my first car so I know how ur brother felt. My dad had it since new and gave it to me for my 16 birthday. I would almost guarantee that every person on this site has payed more for a car than they should have and from experience with that kind of build your not done overpaying lol. Good luck with the build.

[Vimes]

Sorry for your loss. I doubt you overpaid for that car. I see Novas up for sale for 10 grand that look like someone tried to preserve the car in a pool of salt water. That looks like a good, solid car from the pics.

[raustinss]

My car has an emotional attachment too and , i promise when i start my build thread I'll lay it out there . sorry to hear about your brother , i hope you carry his vision thru . not sure if you want it but .. cover the shipping ill give you a decent ls9 clutch set up if you can make use of it . I'm going to end up going to a auto 10 speed

[csouth]

Chris, what a great start to a project. Sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. Couldn't have picked a better tribute car, he had great taste. Subscribed for updates.

Between this and my Cutlass, the summer should be busy. He would definitely love what I have planned for car.


Chris sorry about ur brother. A 70 nova was my first car so I know how ur brother felt. My dad had it since new and gave it to me for my 16 birthday. I would almost guarantee that every person on this site has payed more for a car than they should have and from experience with that kind of build your not done overpaying lol. Good luck with the build.

Yeah, I thought about it after we made the deal. I'm not going to over think it. You're right, I'm sure I'm not the only or last one to overpay...lol


Sorry for your loss. I doubt you overpaid for that car. I see Novas up for sale for 10 grand that look like someone tried to preserve the car in a pool of salt water. That looks like a good, solid car from the pics.

That's around what I have in this so far plus the tow fee... Yeah, I've seen a bunch of cars advertised and most of them were setup as caged drag cars or rust buckets....lol I can live with this car as is and patch in the future. The floors and trunk are super solid, but it will need lower quarter patches.


My car has an emotional attachment too and , i promise when i start my build thread I'll lay it out there . sorry to hear about your brother , i hope you carry his vision thru . not sure if you want it but .. cover the shipping ill give you a decent ls9 clutch set up if you can make use of it . I'm going to end up going to a auto 10 speed

Thanks, I may just take you up on the clutch. I'm looking at my options for motor and trans. I'm trying to see if I can maybe do an LQ4\TR6060 with magnum conversion. Manual is definitely in the plans....

[TANKMASTERJ]

Chris
Sorry for the loss of your brother. A tribute car to him named after his heart throb is a killer way to keep him close.
Kinda like that country song riding with private Malone.
May god bless your build and family during this time.

[David Sloan]

Sorry for your loss!
I’m in for updates, I will keep a eye out for parts! Do you have any thing in mind that you would be looking for?

[shelteredchevelle]

What a great way to keep the memory fresh, good luck with the build! I have a TR6060 complete that's pretty close to you if you're interested.

[csouth]

Made a little purchase to kick the project off right.... Should be getting started soon...

Also looking hear what people have used for mounts in LS swap. I was thinking Holley, but want to save a cpl bucks where I can. I decided I'm gonna got TKX so there's no saving on that...lol

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[Motown 454]

Sorry for your loss. Nice looking car! It's going to be a nice project.

[CapSS92]

Your bro's gonna be there right along with you man. I've gone both ways on an LS swap, generic and Holley. It's a little bit more for the Holley but it was well worth it. The Holley was hassle free and fit perfectly the first time. The generics gave me fits and the driveline angles were all messed up. I would have saved at least a month of frustration if I had gone with the Holley setup in the first place. The only issue will be the crossmember. For some reason they cover every tranny but the Tremec. Not the end of the world, just had to play with the height of the stock crossmember until the angles were where I needed them to be. A couple of spacers and it was all good. Best of luck, it's a great starting point.

Alex

[csouth]

Sorry for your loss. Nice looking car! It's going to be a nice project.

I surely hope so. Just want to make it something we would have built together if he were still here.


Your bro's gonna be there right along with you man. I've gone both ways on an LS swap, generic and Holley. It's a little bit more for the Holley but it was well worth it. The Holley was hassle free and fit perfectly the first time. The generics gave me fits and the driveline angles were all messed up. I would have saved at least a month of frustration if I had gone with the Holley setup in the first place. The only issue will be the crossmember. For some reason they cover every tranny but the Tremec. Not the end of the world, just had to play with the height of the mount until the angles were where I needed them to be. A couple of spacers and it was all good. Best of luck, it's a great starting point.

Alex

Yeah, I feel him watching over this whole project.

Thanks for the insight...I'm definitely going to use the Holley mounts and crossmember in my setup to save some time and frustration. I was hoping I'd be able to save some money on headers, but I haven't heard any suggestions that are cheaper than Holley and fit...lol

[ryeguy2006a]

Take a look at the Speed Engineering headers. I was looking at their revised headers and they look very similar to Holley's design. I was going to give them a try, but I'm pretty happy with the shorty's that I have now.

[CapSS92]

My bad, I meant to say had to use the stock crossmember. Their crossmember will not work at all with the Tremec. Had a nice $300 paperweight for a while. Not sure why they didn't include it in their design but I get it. It's about what sells. As for the headers I used their cast iron headers. I would have liked the medium or long tube but I would have had to have sold my youngest child to afford those lol. So coated cast iron it is. I'm happy with them. Zero clearance issues. And everything was bolt on.

Alex

[csouth]

My bad, I meant to say had to use the stock crossmember. Their crossmember will not work at all with the Tremec. Had a nice $300 paperweight for a while. Not sure why they didn't include it in their design but I get it. It's about what sells. As for the headers I used their cast iron headers. I would have liked the medium or long tube but I would have had to have sold my youngest child to afford those lol. So coated cast iron it is. I'm happy with them. Zero clearance issues. And everything was bolt on.


Alex

I pulled the trigger on the Holley Mounts and crossmember. They do have one that the list for T56/Magnum. I think I will run into a different problem though. I found a good deal on a T6060 so I might pull the trigger. Totally different mounting situation and more questions than answers...lol


Take a look at the Speed Engineering headers. I was looking at their revised headers and they look very similar to Holley's design. I was going to give them a try, but I'm pretty happy with the shorty's that I have now.

I wouldn't even know which ones are the revised version. I see a lot of guys on the LSX Nova group say to stay away unless I want to beat the #3 tube. I guess I need to see which are the old and revised version.

[TomMLS1]

Looks like a great canvas....in for the build...

T,

[csouth]

Looks like a great canvas....in for the build...

T,

Thanks.. I'll start tearing in this weekend to see what I'm really in store for.... lol

[csouth]

In the meantime, I got new additions to the parts pile. Holley mounts, crossmember and Pypes exhaust. I'm still waiting on the Holley Mids. I also got my Rick's Restomod tank.

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[ryeguy2006a]

Chris, this car is going to be amazing with all those parts. Can't wait to see you digging into the car. :evil:

[csouth]

Chris, this car is going to be amazing with all those parts. Can't wait to see you digging into the car. :evil:

I'm ready to start... I'm waiting on my Kore3 brackets, they will be here next week. I need one more spare to put on the front so I can convert the brakes to C5.

[Jk918]

This projects getting sweeter by the day with this pile of parts, can't wait to see the progress

[csouth]

This projects getting sweeter by the day with this pile of parts, can't wait to see the progress

Thanks.. i wanted to gut the car this week but that will probably be on hold as we are expecting rain everyday :banghead:

[csouth]

Hadn't made any updates in a while. Between the rain and helping a family member with their business in the evening, time has been short. Got around to disassembling the front end. It was full of busted ball joints and grease was everywhere.

191280

[csouth]

New brakes and suspension installed. Ridetech with single adjustable coilovers, muscle bar and Tru Turn. I need to replace the studs on the cheap CCP studs for longer ones.

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[David Sloan]

Looking really good Chris!
Getting it done!

[csouth]

Looking really good Chris!
Getting it done!

Thanks, I'm trying.... I need to get this front studs swap ASAP so I can get this car on the ground. I really want to move the rear and do the 4 link before the end of the month...

[ryeguy2006a]

Looks great Chris!

[csouth]

Looks great Chris!

Thanks... I'm pushing along... Wanted to get the new studs in today, but we've been having power outages in the area so lots of businesses are closed. Couldn't buy the studs...