my 63 nova 427 ls3 build

[kbclamper]

im copying this over from another forum that i started on. ill get this caught up to where i am and continue to update.

First a little history. I bought this car not running with a straight 6 and th350 for really cheap. First thing i did was get it running and rebuilt the front suspension. It didnt take much to get running and the car was fun for a little while.

Next up was the search for more power. i started looking at small blocks but the LS bug got me and i found an lq4 out of a wrecked truck for cheap. I didnt know anything about fuel injection so i decided to go with a carb and a msd 6010. This was great for the power but the car scared the crap out of me with the stock drums and horrible stock steering that needed to be replaced.

Time for front end upgrades. I met a guy out at sears point that had some used stuff for sale that he had just taken off his racecar and he told me to come take a look. He had an early church boys r and p, cpp mini subframe and aerospace brakes. This setup was great. I finally felt safe driving it and i did for a year before the upgrade bug hit again.

[kbclamper]

I decided i needed more power. Time for a new top end. I got a big cam, pro systems carb and sent my heads to advanced inductions. This should have been a great combo in a light car but i had a little problem. The #5 piston decided to let go after 20 miles and ruined my new heads. I parked the car after this for a year.

After not having a toy for a year I was getting antsy. I couldn't decide if i was going to sell the nova and buy a new vette or dump a bunch of money into the nova and make it what i wanted.

Well im still on this site so i decided to keep the nova. I started collecting parts for my build. My first call was to church boys for some suspension. I originally was just going to get the uppers but that changed and now have everything they sell front and rear. I got the ats spindles so i could run vette brakes and I hit up Tobin at Kore3 for Z06 brakes front and rear.

I plan on big power so I called Detroit Speed for some mini tubs and am currently trying to install them. With more room out back coming soon I ordered Boze 18x10 and 18x8 with nitto 295 and 235.
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Old 2nd-January-2017, 02:49 PM

[kbclamper]

I have a 427 ls3 shortblock i picked up on black friday with AFR heads and a ported fast 102. Im going to have Tony Mamo build the engine and break it in on the dyno. Im hoping for north of 700hp with this combo. THis will be going in front of a t56 magnum and a full floating 9". Ill update with pictures as soon as i can figure it out. I have a July 1st deadline to get this up and running so hopefully i get it done.

[kbclamper]

heres the car a month ago when i started its dusty as hell from building some speakers for my buddy.http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0446_zpsalapegtn.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0446_zpsalapegtn.jpg.html)

[kbclamper]

the reason for the rebuild
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0433_zpscgshnfpe.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0433_zpscgshnfpe.jpg.html)
the rest of the piston
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0432_zpsd7savlkb.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0432_zpsd7savlkb.jpg.html)

[tubbed69]

That will be nice,keep the updates coming:thumbsup:

[kbclamper]

im running Church Boys Racing suspension front and rear. the front uses viking double adjustable coilovers and Ats spindles with corvette unit bearings allowing me to run Z06 14" brakes
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0437_zpsszotp3z4.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0437_zpsszotp3z4.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0436_zpsosuxwzdm.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0436_zpsosuxwzdm.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0435_zpswtdrynw0.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0435_zpswtdrynw0.jpg.html)

[kbclamper]

im currently working on the minitub which is taking me longer than i would like but its getting done. the passenger side is almost done
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0442_zpsn7klnzto.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0442_zpsn7klnzto.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0440_zpsp7jfdntz.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0440_zpsp7jfdntz.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0443_zpszwotqvan.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0443_zpszwotqvan.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0460_zpsephe42dk.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0460_zpsephe42dk.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b427/kbclamper/DSCN0459_zpsxq04y0dp.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/kbclamper/media/DSCN0459_zpsxq04y0dp.jpg.html)

[no go nova]

Looking good any more pics on the min tub?

[kbclamper]

ill try to get some more pics tomorrow. ive got the passenger side tacked in, hoping to get it welded out completely tomorrow

[kbclamper]

its been awhile since i have updated this thread because ive been working 7 days a week for the last couple months. the good thing about all the work is the extra money that comes with it.

i just got home from dropping my shortblock off to tony mamo in valencia, ca.
i was going to reuse my old afrs and fast 102 but after talking to tony im changing directions a little. my cathedral port setup is only good to about 660hp with the drivabilty im lookin for so a new topend was in order. after talking with tony the bigger ls3 topend will hit my goal and still have the drivabilty im looking for. parts are getting ordered now and ill update the thread with what tony is picking out for me.

[waynieZ]

Nice Tony,s top notch! This is going to be a sweet ride when your done.

[kbclamper]

i hope so. i have a ton of time and money into this time. motor should be back in july and im hoping to have everything else done by then

[WSSix]

Good luck. Sounds like you have a solid plan.

[kbclamper]

just got some of the parts list from Tony.
mms 260cc ls3 heads milled for 11.8:1 compression
fast 102 with midlength runners
243/252 114+4 custom cam
short travel lifters
yella terra shaft rockers

[waynieZ]

Those are some nice parts.

[Zoomin]

I've done two cars hat came with a six and am about to tear into a third. I prefer to buy a car with an engineer ne no one wants than to pay for a nice engine that I'm going to change anyway.

It is kinda fun giving these granny cars a new go in life. This build is right down my alley. :thumbsup:

[kbclamper]

this is going to be the 3rd ls in this car. it started with the straight 6 then a stock lq4 with a carb. the last one was an lq4 with cnc 243s big cam and a 950 pro systems. im hoping this motor will cure my hp addiction for awhile

[kbclamper]

11 months and a lot of issues later i finally got my motor. due to issues with a new shortblock that i brought Tony this project got setback a lot but Tony figured them all out and i now have an engine. i watched the engine on westechs dyno yesterday. it made 678.51hp @7100
and 576lbs/ft. this should get mt little car movin pretty good.

heres a link to the final power pull https://youtu.be/xJsAivbP6B8

xJsAivbP6B8

[Flash68]

Bad ass!
Great power from an LS3!