BBC help
OK, here's some of what you need to do on this swap:
1. Get a car oil pan. The truck pan or Corvette pan won't work. Also plan on puttin in a new pump & pick up at the same time. Minimum is changing out the pick up tube.
2. You need frame stands and engine mounts. Most any vendor can source these for you.
3. The Nova most likely has a Power Glide in it. THe Big Block is going to eat it at some point. Think about going to a TH350 Or TH400. THe 400 will need a different rear mount and the cross member needs to slide back due to a different trans length.
4. You will need to change out the front springs. MOOG makes a good replacement set. I have a set of F41's from a Chevelle I'm not using if you want). Remember once you go into the suspension, you should replace everything with Nova SS396 parts.
5. Radiator - stock replacement for a SS396 or ???? Remember that little radiator is for a little engine. Will work to get the car going, but not much else.
6. Rearend - This will be a 7.5 inch or simular. The BBC will eat this wimpy thing. But the explosion will be neat! Look for a Z/28 or Trans Am in the boneyard. Has the better 8.5 and bolts in.
7. Drive shaft - Get a good one made. They need to know several things about the car & measurements.
8. Rear Springs - SS396 & COPO 427 cars had the F41 suspension. This ment multi-leaf springs in the rear to handle the torque wrap on sudden acceleration. A 6 cyl equiped car has a single leaf set-up for the blistering acceleration that only an I-6 provides! It will break.
9. Fuel line - stock is 5/16", you will need to upgrade to 3/8". It will run with a smaller line, but will fuel starve and effect performance.
10. Exhaust - Kinda self explanitory. Either headers or SS396 manifolds from a Nova or Chevelle or Camaro. Front stub on a Nova is 1st Gen Camaro. Get a decent 2 1/2 " exhaust for it as well.
Front sway bar - upgrade to 1 1/4" bar or 1 3/8"
Rear Sway bar - good idea to add this as well
Another thing to stongly consider is sub frame connectors and a 6 point roll bar to stiffen the car up. Just be sure to check the door gaps before you weld thing up solid!
This is just off the top of my head and others are sure to chime in. I didn't cover brakes at all. Lots of good kits out there. If you stay with the stock units, this car will not stop well due to added weight over the front end. Now having said all of this, you need to start a thread on this site showing progress with pic's.
Jim
OK, here's some of what you need to do on this swap:
1. Get a car oil pan. The truck pan or Corvette pan won't work. Also plan on puttin in a new pump & pick up at the same time. Minimum is changing out the pick up tube.
2. You need frame stands and engine mounts. Most any vendor can source these for you.
3. The Nova most likely has a Power Glide in it. THe Big Block is going to eat it at some point. Think about going to a TH350 Or TH400. THe 400 will need a different rear mount and the cross member needs to slide back due to a different trans length.
4. You will need to change out the front springs. MOOG makes a good replacement set. I have a set of F41's from a Chevelle I'm not using if you want). Remember once you go into the suspension, you should replace everything with Nova SS396 parts.
5. Radiator - stock replacement for a SS396 or ???? Remember that little radiator is for a little engine. Will work to get the car going, but not much else.
6. Rearend - This will be a 7.5 inch or simular. The BBC will eat this wimpy thing. But the explosion will be neat! Look for a Z/28 or Trans Am in the boneyard. Has the better 8.5 and bolts in.
7. Drive shaft - Get a good one made. They need to know several things about the car & measurements.
8. Rear Springs - SS396 & COPO 427 cars had the F41 suspension. This ment multi-leaf springs in the rear to handle the torque wrap on sudden acceleration. A 6 cyl equiped car has a single leaf set-up for the blistering acceleration that only an I-6 provides! It will break.
9. Fuel line - stock is 5/16", you will need to upgrade to 3/8". It will run with a smaller line, but will fuel starve and effect performance.
10. Exhaust - Kinda self explanitory. Either headers or SS396 manifolds from a Nova or Chevelle or Camaro. Front stub on a Nova is 1st Gen Camaro. Get a decent 2 1/2 " exhaust for it as well.
Front sway bar - upgrade to 1 1/4" bar or 1 3/8"
Rear Sway bar - good idea to add this as well
Another thing to stongly consider is sub frame connectors and a 6 point roll bar to stiffen the car up. Just be sure to check the door gaps before you weld thing up solid!
This is just off the top of my head and others are sure to chime in. I didn't cover brakes at all. Lots of good kits out there. If you stay with the stock units, this car will not stop well due to added weight over the front end. Now having said all of this, you need to start a thread on this site showing progress with pic's.
Jim
