69 Nova LS1 mini-makeover, T56 conversion and season prep

[NOPANTS68]

Hello all- I've been nusy getting the Nova ready for the coming season. My gang is heading down to Del Mar again and after last year's fiasco (loose converter and a bunch of gear meant 55 mph freeway speeds for 44 miles) I sprung for the T56 swap. My tunnel was already cut for a TKO600 so it was an easy deal for the most part. I'm trying to get it in the 10s this year N/A. Other changes I made:

-ported and milled heads and ARP hardware
-notched the pistons for PTV clearance
-Katech rod bolts
-7.375 pushrods
-LS7 lifters and trays
-Monster stage 3 clutch system
-ATS firewall bracket
-ATS hyd system
-Quicktime scattershield
-Strange Eng. 3rd memeber with 4.33s
-custom shifter assy.

Notching tool installed:


In process:


cleaned up and ready for heads:


head porting by PRC- they flowed just over 300cfm at .600


LS7 lifter on the right:


scattershield:


notching the edge-a couple LSX guys recommended I do this as the bleeder hole is pretty tight. I'm sure glad I did. It made getting the tools up in there during the bleeding process much easier:


ATS bracket (super nice people at Speedtech BTW):


ATS hyd stuff welded up and ready to install:


Monster stage 3 clutch all set up:


A buddy at 3Am prepping for install (for no good reason other than killing a case of beer and some Guns and Roses CDs):


In the car with all the gingerbread on it:


I'm so stoked and ready to see what it'll do. The swap should also make the Del Mar trip a blast. Hopefully I don't get into too much trouble at the autocross for the drag radials again. Thanks for looking, Dave

[67 LS1 Vert]

Nice set up. Looks a lot like mine. What brand catch can are you using?

[NOPANTS68]

Thanks, I think it's a Steff's.

[waynieZ]

Sweet ! It looks great in there.

[KPC67]

wow nice clean install
is that a 5.0 shifter?

[NOPANTS68]

Yeah it's the Pro 5.0 power tower deal. Have not driven with it yet but it feels pretty good.

[Cris@JCG]

Very nice!! Intrested in cover that you used for wiring harness on the firewall..

[Ricochet]

Looks great Dave!! I think for the first time - I will be making it down there this year!

[osdmike]

Sweeet!!!


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[NOPANTS68]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Very nice!! Intrested in cover that you used for wiring harness on the firewall..

that's a little bulkhead a buddy machined for me that has a snout that holds the harness through the firewall. It's a two piece design that clamshells around the harness.

Originally Posted by Ricochet

Looks great Dave!! I think for the first time - I will be making it down there this year!

Good times Brent. We'll have to kill a beer together. Del Mar was one of my favorite events I attended last year.