Smith's 1973 Nova Custom
- Thread starter Smith
- Start date
What I’ve read, see where people try to use rubber to make it a little more quiet. Free is free though so going to rock it :shrug:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I may have a couple more part lying around for sbc if you need something.
I definitely have LS swap parts laying around. When I did my swap, at the beginning I was like "this isnt going to be too expensive" and at the end I was like "fuck me I forgot a lot things that cost money"
Hahaha, I bet man! I use to have a spreadsheet that I can’t seem to find where I had tons of parts/links/prices and is part of the reason I’m using this motor for awhileeee. Def will hit you up if I run across something you might have.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So I need to get this motor up off these tires and moved around the shop. Was going to order this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BPUU1...colid=UH8VCTJC3Q7I&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
And this….
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077ZWHNV...colid=UH8VCTJC3Q7I&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
To both get it up off the ground and for when I got to put it in the car. Anyone have a preference with anything else?
Also picked me up another Haynes manual to browse over/have on hand!
Also, with Black Friday coming up Ive set aside some money to go ahead and buy a few things to get this motor in the car (hopefully some places will have decent percent off sales). Figured car stuff was more productive than what most people would be out looking for. Lol.
Have a few questions in regards to those items.
1.) Going to try and get the TH 400 crossmember from tamrazs (as recommended) since I need one with mount in the middle for a SBC not to one side for BBC https://www.tamrazsparts.com/68-72-nova-67-69-camaro-firebird-th-400-crossmember-small-block-sb-chq/ $145
2.) I need a transmission mount. Will just any turbo 400 mount work? Saw these on several sites, figured I could just snag some of them? https://www.jegs.com/i/Prothane/311...MIwcHTmcrX3gIVjjZpCh0TywsgEAQYBSABEgItgvD_BwE $31
3.) Motor mounts! I know you have short and tall/clamshell, etc etc. Read several threads where I believe Firebird69racer went into detail on when they changed and part numbers, etc. but I’m still a little behind the times. Get OEM or poly? Or? Looking back at my pictures I believe I still have the motor side of the mounts but how do I figure out what I need to order?
4.) This electric kickdown jazz, people argue back and forth about hooking it up but Ive decided its there for a reason and needs to be hooked up. However, how is another story. I’ve read on both this
B&M https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI2cGW887X3gIVCqdpCh2D1w6REAQYBCABEgLpwfD_BwE
and this Lokar https://www.jegs.com/i/Lokar/625/KD...MI2cGW887X3gIVCqdpCh2D1w6REAQYASABEgLSqfD_BwE
Anyone have experience with either? Care to comment?
5.) Feel free to link any other links to some recommended items. Going to have to snag more hoses, gaskets, fuel lines and all that jazz but mainly wanted the stuff to pick this motor up and stab it in to get to doing the other stuff.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BPUU1...colid=UH8VCTJC3Q7I&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
And this….
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077ZWHNV...colid=UH8VCTJC3Q7I&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
To both get it up off the ground and for when I got to put it in the car. Anyone have a preference with anything else?
Also picked me up another Haynes manual to browse over/have on hand!
Also, with Black Friday coming up Ive set aside some money to go ahead and buy a few things to get this motor in the car (hopefully some places will have decent percent off sales). Figured car stuff was more productive than what most people would be out looking for. Lol.
Have a few questions in regards to those items.
1.) Going to try and get the TH 400 crossmember from tamrazs (as recommended) since I need one with mount in the middle for a SBC not to one side for BBC https://www.tamrazsparts.com/68-72-nova-67-69-camaro-firebird-th-400-crossmember-small-block-sb-chq/ $145
2.) I need a transmission mount. Will just any turbo 400 mount work? Saw these on several sites, figured I could just snag some of them? https://www.jegs.com/i/Prothane/311...MIwcHTmcrX3gIVjjZpCh0TywsgEAQYBSABEgItgvD_BwE $31
3.) Motor mounts! I know you have short and tall/clamshell, etc etc. Read several threads where I believe Firebird69racer went into detail on when they changed and part numbers, etc. but I’m still a little behind the times. Get OEM or poly? Or? Looking back at my pictures I believe I still have the motor side of the mounts but how do I figure out what I need to order?
4.) This electric kickdown jazz, people argue back and forth about hooking it up but Ive decided its there for a reason and needs to be hooked up. However, how is another story. I’ve read on both this
B&M https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI2cGW887X3gIVCqdpCh2D1w6REAQYBCABEgLpwfD_BwE
and this Lokar https://www.jegs.com/i/Lokar/625/KD...MI2cGW887X3gIVCqdpCh2D1w6REAQYASABEgLSqfD_BwE
Anyone have experience with either? Care to comment?
5.) Feel free to link any other links to some recommended items. Going to have to snag more hoses, gaskets, fuel lines and all that jazz but mainly wanted the stuff to pick this motor up and stab it in to get to doing the other stuff.
Ended up snagging just a load leveler from Harbor Freight. Got the motor moved, going to clean it up another weekend.
Also bought the Turbo 400 crossmember for a SBC, a transmission mount, and some motor mount bolts.
Still need to figure out a few other things as well as get frame side motor mounts. Mounts on the block are ~4” wide so I need the clamshells that fit or I need smaller motor side brackets.
Also bought the Turbo 400 crossmember for a SBC, a transmission mount, and some motor mount bolts.
Still need to figure out a few other things as well as get frame side motor mounts. Mounts on the block are ~4” wide so I need the clamshells that fit or I need smaller motor side brackets.
You homo’s have any suggestions??
Copied from my build on thread on a Nova site:
Have both of these sitting in a cart to be ordered to just make sure I have the right mounts instead of guessing if what’s on the motor works. Just waiting on a little larger order.
Now to figure out the other parts. Specifically the radiator and electric fuel pump.
For those of you with a 350 and in a 3rd gen? More specifically a 73’ custom. Is there a size you recommend? I’ve seen chatter about champion as well as some of the universal summit ones? Plan is to take off my current fan blade and buy a Taurus fan, trying to track down a Volvo relay and all but those aren’t common in my area so might have to find someone online selling them.
Next up is electronic fuel pump and wiring it up/where to mount/bracket, etc? Currently have a Holley red that was given with the motor. After reading I know I need to try to get it below the bottom of the tank, I know I need at least an 85 micron before pump and a 10 after (any affordable recommendations?) My problem comes in to mounting and wiring, I’ve looked at online diagrams but does anyone offer a wiring kit? A bracket? Definitely want to be on the safer side and wire with some type of relay and not just to a hot ignition wire, etc.
Searching on here but seeing lots of in truck fuel cell types and not much stock tank stuff. Thanks in advance.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Copied from my build on thread on a Nova site:
Have both of these sitting in a cart to be ordered to just make sure I have the right mounts instead of guessing if what’s on the motor works. Just waiting on a little larger order.
Now to figure out the other parts. Specifically the radiator and electric fuel pump.
For those of you with a 350 and in a 3rd gen? More specifically a 73’ custom. Is there a size you recommend? I’ve seen chatter about champion as well as some of the universal summit ones? Plan is to take off my current fan blade and buy a Taurus fan, trying to track down a Volvo relay and all but those aren’t common in my area so might have to find someone online selling them.
Next up is electronic fuel pump and wiring it up/where to mount/bracket, etc? Currently have a Holley red that was given with the motor. After reading I know I need to try to get it below the bottom of the tank, I know I need at least an 85 micron before pump and a 10 after (any affordable recommendations?) My problem comes in to mounting and wiring, I’ve looked at online diagrams but does anyone offer a wiring kit? A bracket? Definitely want to be on the safer side and wire with some type of relay and not just to a hot ignition wire, etc.
Searching on here but seeing lots of in truck fuel cell types and not much stock tank stuff. Thanks in advance.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Probably the best place that will be the lowest and still mostly protected will be close to where the fuel filter is on this one. Should even have room to keep your filters tucked up but still accessible for service.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rfw-fp36/
Here a fuel pump wiring kit, has a 30 amp relay
Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of people mount them there but most try and get as low as possible but still as close to the tank as possible also. I saw a kit with relay for like $20-25 that many use also, but also add an oil pressure switch for safety reasons. Some even add in inertia switches Incase of wreck as well. Any idea on best place to put a oil pressure switch on the motor?
Gotcha, gotcha. I’ve looked at several but not sure what to get size wise. Just trying to get things in line so I can save the cash and drop it on a larger order.
Did get the stuff ordered to get the motor in and mounted though. Hopefully find a upcoming weekend in the next month or so to clean the motor and some of the engine bay up and get the motor at least in so I can see what I’m working with.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’d put a T in where the gauge is plumbs in at. I have a Vortec block just sitting in my garage, I’ll snap you where I had my mechanical gauge at.
Still haven’t ordered anything else, still planning on it running before the year is up. Have a cart on a few sites but keep not pulling the trigger because I want to make sure I have most of what I need when I have some hands on deck and a Saturday to get the motor in. Just posting to post...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Still doesn’t run, have cash set aside to drop on parts to get the motor in, one of my paw paw’s passed back in March and it’s really left one of my uncles with more free time/wanting to help me get things knocked out.....going to order some things in the next week or two, then try and snag a few more things after that, hopefully have it where it at least cranks up....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Decided to drop the tank to make sure it was up to par/not rusty as well as check on the condition of the float. Wanted to do this before ordering stuff to get electric fuel pump installed so when putting the tank back in I could spend the afternoon just mounting everything.
Super surprised on how good of shape the tank was in, had a little bit of gas and water in it that I had to pour out. Thinking of ordering a new float just because while everything is out.
Was hoping there would be a build sheet on top but no such luck!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Super surprised on how good of shape the tank was in, had a little bit of gas and water in it that I had to pour out. Thinking of ordering a new float just because while everything is out.
Was hoping there would be a build sheet on top but no such luck!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Few questions:
Someone posted some headers in a thread on the Nova site saying I needed new ones, which I agree, my motor is from a 95-00 truck, when looking for headers that fit my car, does this make a difference or should I just be looking for something that fits a 73’ Nova with a 350? I see lots of people in a 73-74’ Nova FB group using 2451HKR Hooker headers.
Also, putting together the stuff I’ll need to get my fuel system working. Going to get a new float and all but mainly need input on connections/filters for the electronic fuel pump. It’s recommended a 100 micron before the pump and 40 after I believe? What other connections/pieces do I need for the puzzle? Recommendations? Might drive over to Summit store tomorrow and look around on my day off.
Fuel pump I’m using....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Someone posted some headers in a thread on the Nova site saying I needed new ones, which I agree, my motor is from a 95-00 truck, when looking for headers that fit my car, does this make a difference or should I just be looking for something that fits a 73’ Nova with a 350? I see lots of people in a 73-74’ Nova FB group using 2451HKR Hooker headers.
Also, putting together the stuff I’ll need to get my fuel system working. Going to get a new float and all but mainly need input on connections/filters for the electronic fuel pump. It’s recommended a 100 micron before the pump and 40 after I believe? What other connections/pieces do I need for the puzzle? Recommendations? Might drive over to Summit store tomorrow and look around on my day off.
Fuel pump I’m using....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
Nice, wish Classic had more stuff that I needed, that always run good sales. I’m trying to stay motivated on my C10, did so much research and made myself cross-eyed buying parts/making sure I was getting the right stuff that I’m about burnt out now and haven’t even started the swap 
I’m no help on headers or the fuel system, never worked on a Nova and never ran an electric fuel pump either. On the race cars we just had a filter after the pump, but we cleaned those cells religiously so didn’t need a pre-pump filter. You definitely want one on both ends, just not sure what micron you’ll need. Could probably talk to Holley and they could steer you in the right direction.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I’m no help on headers or the fuel system, never worked on a Nova and never ran an electric fuel pump either. On the race cars we just had a filter after the pump, but we cleaned those cells religiously so didn’t need a pre-pump filter. You definitely want one on both ends, just not sure what micron you’ll need. Could probably talk to Holley and they could steer you in the right direction.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro