Engine decision for my nova

[wage92]

Not sure if this belongs in the garage but oh well...

So last fall I found a 69 nova that i could not pass up, and since then it has been sitting in storage for the winter and i have been trying to decide what route i should go.

Right now i have a 355 chevy and a muncie 4 speed for it, nothing special probably just under 300 horse. The car is set up for an automatic trans but i have all the pedals and such to convert it to manual. This was my original plan for this summer, to put the sbc in and get it running and driving and enjoy it...however we all know how plans change.

So now me and my dad are gearing towards putting up a garage this summer so all my spare cash and time is going towards that, and from the looks of things our budget may get worn thin a little quick.

So heres where the decision part comes, im considering selling off some of the nova stuff, because ultimately its going to be getting an ls transplant ive decided. My problem is that i need to decide if i should hang onto the engine and get the nova running with that first to work out any problems and then do the ls at a later date, or should i sell the engine now and just not be able to drive the car for a year or two while i get funds and time to install an ls engine.

My gut feeling is to hang onto the engine and keep with the original plan to get the nova running this summer, and just have to hammer out the OT at work to cover the garage budget, but i also find it hard to convert the car to a 4 speed when an ls engine will be going in it with probably a 4l60e or 80 (because it will be a part time drag car) and i would be just patching holes in the trans hump and removing the clutch pedal anyway...

I could go either way on this, so what say the brotherhood?

Pic because i know someone will ask

 

[76zimmer]

I think you'll find any issues with the car when you do the LS swap anyway. If you can get decent money for the 355/4sp go for it. sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy without doing a engine/trans install only to tear it back out. Unless it will be 3yrs or more before you can get to the LS, I say let it sit til you can do the LS swap.

 

[wage92]

im figuring it will be a year or two before the ls, just due to finding time and saving money. But i hear ya, this summer will be busy even without the engine swap. thanks for the opinion, most of what you said is what i have been thinking

 

[dhcomp]

Put the motor you have in it.

You wont' get a ton for it, and having a running/driving vehicle will keep you motivated. Projects that aren't driveable for long periods of time are tough to stay focused on.

Get it running, and enjoy it a bit before the swap. We all look down the road to badass motor swaps, but truthfully, you'll have plenty of fun with the car pre-swap too.

Don't get so tied up on the motor swap that you don't enjoy the car in the mean time. Get the garage built, and then the LS swap will come in due time.

 

[evolve991]

Put the motor you have in it.

You wont' get a ton for it, and having a running/driving vehicle will keep you motivated. Projects that aren't driveable for long periods of time are tough to stay focused on.

Get it running, and enjoy it a bit before the swap. We all look down the road to badass motor swaps, but truthfully, you'll have plenty of fun with the car pre-swap too.

Don't get so tied up on the motor swap that you don't enjoy the car in the mean time. Get the garage built, and then the LS swap will come in due time.

X2!! Buddy of mine had the same plans for his 67 LeMans. 10 years ago. I'm looking at it outside the window sitting there sad and rusting away right now. Beautiful Nova by the way! Don't neglect such a classic!

 

[79rustyk10]

Use what you have and get it going. 300 horse with a four speed will be a blast in that car.

 

[Bowtie85]

Use what you have and get it going. 300 horse with a four speed will be a blast in that car.

This

 

[drew4x4]

an LS swap would be awesome... but if your budget is thin..... $5g is about the cheapest budget i've seen-or-heard of an LS swap being completed on. you won't get that kind of money for your current engine, no way.

beautiful nova though. i'd love to see an LS under that hood! i love novas! we need moar pics

 

[paratrooper307]

Put the motor you have in it.

You wont' get a ton for it, and having a running/driving vehicle will keep you motivated. Projects that aren't driveable for long periods of time are tough to stay focused on.

Get it running, and enjoy it a bit before the swap. We all look down the road to badass motor swaps, but truthfully, you'll have plenty of fun with the car pre-swap too.

Don't get so tied up on the motor swap that you don't enjoy the car in the mean time. Get the garage built, and then the LS swap will come in due time.

X3. It's so much easier to tackle the projects, because when you have a running car you notice what you want to improve about it, and you can work on things bit by bit. When you have a non-running car that requires a large investment of time and money just to get it going, it's real easy to put on the back burner, because there's always some other priority. Many a project car has started out with good intentions but languished for years because of the actual and psychological hump that the owner doesn't get over in order to get the project moving. Throw in the drivetrain and work on the other projects until you're ready to do the LS. Also, if you're married, it's a lot easier to justify spending money on a running car to the better half!

 

[wage92]

we need moar pics

heres what i got, i only had it at my house for a day and then it went straight to storage, lets just say i cant wait til warmer weather...










And yea what all you guys are saying is pretty true, thats why my initial thought was to put the engine and 4 speed in and just enjoy it, then over time make it better.

A little about the car, has no engine or trans, but has a 12 bolt posi rear with 4.88s, subframe connectors, cage, fuel cell in trunk, battery in trunk, all glass front fenders, doors, hood and front bumper. Was a drag car but its pretty clean and wasnt taken overboard so i will be driving it on the road and making it a street/strip deal.

And no its not a real SS, PO added those

 

[big dan]

$5g is about the cheapest budget i've seen-or-heard of an LS swap being completed on.

Really? I guess if you're looking for a nice low mile or rebuilt high hp ls engine with lots of bling but I did my ls swap (basic truck motor with 120K and as much factory stuff as I could use) for $1500.

But Ill put in another vote for using the what you've got. Maybe try and trade the 4 speed for a good auto, just because you plan on swapping back to an auto and all the swapping around gets to be a pain. But you've got a good solid start on a dang nice car. No way I could let the sit for 2-3 years waiting on a motor swap. Hell I would run a stock 305 if I had to.

 

[dhcomp]

Really? I guess if you're looking for a nice low mile or rebuilt high hp ls engine with lots of bling but I did my ls swap (basic truck motor with 120K and as much factory stuff as I could use) for $1500.

But Ill put in another vote for using the what you've got. Maybe try and trade the 4 speed for a good auto, just because you plan on swapping back to an auto and all the swapping around gets to be a pain. But you've got a good solid start on a dang nice car. No way I could let the sit for 2-3 years waiting on a motor swap. Hell I would run a stock 305 if I had to.

There are guys doing the swap for cheap, but most are craigslist motors with no history, DIY harness mods, mailed out computers for custom tunes, etc. And most have met significant challenges.

I'm not saying it can't be done for less than $2000, but when i looked into it, I was also close to the $5k mark.

Ex) yes, you can get a $500 LS off craigslist. But, to get into a run and tested motor (Say, BD Turnkey), you are easily $3-4k for the motor alone.

I would say the average swap cost is way north of $2k.