'72 Nova needs engine/trans

[Razorhead]

Hi guys,

I'm looking at a '72 Nova
Now the car is a project, no rust or whatsoever, still in original orange paint (faded really cool)
Pretty much everything is there except engine/trans.



Now I'm wondering what to take here, a manual transmission for sure. I live in Belgium and at some places you can do some real high speed cruising, so an TH350 like my previous Nova won't cut it (didn't go any further then 180 kph)

So I'm wondering what to do here without to much cutting.
I've heard that the Tremec TKO 600 has some issues with shifting (most 2-3), but the T56 is easy 1000 dollar more and won't fit directly ?

Also the Engine has yet to be decided. Maybe an LS1 or so?

I was thinking for some 2nd hand engine with an T56 already on it..

What do you guys prefer ? Pros/cons on engine and tranny please (with the cost) Don't want to spend to much money but I don't want to cut to little here.
Looking for at least 350 hp+

[Razorhead]

Probabely going to buy a 383 with 400+ hp, looks good enough for the application (weekend driver)
but the tranny... I don't know.. lot of people complaining about their TKO600 ..
are the Keisler RS600 still for sale ?
https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...r-RS600/page10
don't find them anywhere ... seems to be okay ?

-bump, they don't make them anymore...-

[Schwartz Performance]

TKO's in their stock form don't shift that great, but it depends how you drive it. High RPM shifts are the main concern in my experience. If you're just cruising and not shifting fast then you'll probably be ok.
As far as the Keisler trans, Keisler is out of business. The actual design built by Liberty Gears (LGT700) is available through Bowler Transmissions. It is much more expensive than the TKO but is also a much better trans.
I don't have first hand experience with a T56 into a Nova using a stock subframe.. Sorry.

-Dale

[Razorhead]

Well it will be a car that will cruise sometimes.. but not a lot ;) Therefore I want something that shifts fast, I don't want to feel the transmission is holding me back..
The stock subrame will need some minor adjustments, the tranmission tunnel need to be cut a lot if I see the other Nova/T56 projects.
I don't know how many upgrades it already has, I know it has disc brakes in the front.