Ot:but anyone think a 500 caddy could be put in a nova? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69Elky · 05-25-2003, 03:12 AM

that'd be sick ultimate sleeper lil puke green nova all stock looking with ralleys and a quiet exhaust...

**Palf70Step** · 05-25-2003, 08:45 AM

With a big enough hammer and a torch anything is possible, but is it worth the effort. Considering some of the nova's came with 427's, Id say it is easier than putting a 454 into a Yugo.

lux hauler · 05-25-2003, 09:32 AM

I believe it can be done without much trouble and have been kinda thinking of doing that with my 500 instead of putting in my truck. There's a guy on the MTS message board that's running a 500 in a Mustang (87-93?) and another that has one in a Thunderbird T-Coupe. I would think the Nova would have more room than either of those cars.

Longhorn Man · 05-25-2003, 09:44 AM

Heck, one of the guys on the MTS board has shoe horned one into a Datsun 280Z!
Here is a link to there board. http://www.webdeveloper.com/animatio...files/sexy.gif
I go as andy in Ohio, but don't post too often.

jhwkns · 05-25-2003, 11:49 AM

I don't think the nova body would handle the torque

lux hauler · 05-25-2003, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jhwkns
I don't think the nova body would handle the torque

Isn't the Nova a full frame car?
If the Mustang (uni-body) is handling it, the Nova will.

TooMany2count · 05-25-2003, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Isn't the Nova a full frame car?

nope it has a sub-frame, basicly it has 1/2 a frame then uni-body.
As for the QQQ of a caddy motor going into a Nova

there is a kit out there, I seen it in Hot Rod I believe. if I see it again I'll post the name of the company.........joe

sbc350gearhead · 05-25-2003, 02:53 PM

If a nova handled the 427, then it should handle the power of a 500 caddy. You would want to tie the frame in, especially before you run slicks.

cableguy0 · 05-25-2003, 03:46 PM

of course the nova will handle it. i have seen nova running 10's on basically a stock suspension

Longhorn Man · 05-25-2003, 03:56 PM

Remember, the nova was basicly a first gen camaro underneath...and I have seen a few 67-69 camaros with 500s in them.

Longhorn Man · 05-25-2003, 11:54 PM

OOPS! That link isn't quite what I intended... here is the right one, I hope. ;0 http://www.hwforums.com/2089/

Longhorn Man · 05-26-2003, 11:15 PM

Here is a camaro that has a 500 in it...

And a link telling about it all. http://www.carcraft.com/featuredvehicles/66358/

GMC JUNKIE TOO · 05-26-2003, 11:31 PM

I saw a 500ci cad in a chevet

Longhorn Man · 05-26-2003, 11:42 PM

heh heh heh...that was sweet huh?

TooMany2count · 05-27-2003, 12:10 AM

how bout a 500 caddy mtr in a Metropolitan

, hell the guy sat in the back seat.joe

jeffspower · 05-27-2003, 12:46 AM

If you are wanting to put it in a later Nova with the steering gearbox up front it will fit pretty easily without column shift & using an Eldo pan. You will need to fab up a pair of steel plates to extend off the crossmember for the Cad's motor mounts which will pretty much be completely hanging in front of the crossmember. The plates are simple to make & just weld them in. You will probably need to replace the fat ugly joint on the steering gearbox shaft at the column end for manifold clearance. Use RWD exhaust manifolds. BBC headers will adapt with some choppin'.

As for the older Nova with rear mounted steering gearbox, for all practicality, FORGET IT. I tried it with a '73 Apollo which is the same as a Nova (Buick clone). It sat in nicely without an oilpan or left exhaust manifold. I figured I could c-notch the oilpan for drag-link clearance or make a drop drag-link easy enough. But the real problem was the left exhaust manifold. There is NO WAY it will clear the steering gearbox. I even tried a manual box for more room. With the engine centered, the rear exhaust port lines up perfectly with the box and about 1/2" clearance. There would not even be room to fab up headers without some serious engine offset to the right side. Even then, it would be tight & probably need the L.R. tube smashed in. It looked like the only way for a decent fit was to build a sub frame from scratch & use a Stang II rack or something.

Later on I wondered- will a later nova stub bolt into an earlier body?

----------------------
78 regal 500 cad/switch-pitch 400 2.73 posi ran best of 14.00/96mph BONE STOCK (not mine anymore)

80 GMC K-20 mild 500 cad/switch pitch 400-205-4.10's. Might be for sale soon

72 Chevy K-20 stock 500 cad/th350-205-4.10's eaton locker rear trac-loc front

88 Chevy V-30 dually camper special 454 TBI/4 speed-205-4.10's dana power-locs going in F/R soon

88 Chevy C-30 single wheel e-cab 454 TBI/TH400-4.10's in a 70HD. Anyone have 3.42's & carrier for this???

Longhorn Man · 05-27-2003, 07:59 PM

Hmmm, interesting. I asumed it would be fairly easy since ithe under pinnings are so much like the fist gen camaro.
That DOES sound like alot of work.

*1FaastC10* · 05-27-2003, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TooMany2count
how bout a 500 caddy mtr in a Metropolitan , hell the guy sat in the back seat.joe

every metropolitan i've seen didnt have a back seat...

Baradium · 05-27-2003, 11:30 PM

My friend used to have a '63 Nova (didn't look like anyone was considering those). He had a built 305(?) or so from a trans am in that car... and *that* motor was more than enough. With the factory 2.54 rearend he had that car over 150 mph before... and then he only stopped because he scared himself to death doing that speed on a 2 land country road with a 45mph speed limit. That car could really move. Only thing faster than that I've seen in person is the buick regal he traded the nova for. Built 455 that wanted race gas but would run on premium with octane boost. Dyno'd at over 600 hp at the wheels (premium with boost, gained at least 50 hp with the race gas). That car had a 2.73 rearend.

05-25-2003, 03:12 AM	#1
69Elky Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 121	Ot:but anyone think a 500 caddy could be put in a nova? that'd be sick ultimate sleeper lil puke green nova all stock looking with ralleys and a quiet exhaust...

05-25-2003, 08:45 AM	#2
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,978	With a big enough hammer and a torch anything is possible, but is it worth the effort. Considering some of the nova's came with 427's, Id say it is easier than putting a 454 into a Yugo. __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

05-25-2003, 09:32 AM	#3
lux hauler Psycho-billy Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: about 40 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,591	I believe it can be done without much trouble and have been kinda thinking of doing that with my 500 instead of putting in my truck. There's a guy on the MTS message board that's running a 500 in a Mustang (87-93?) and another that has one in a Thunderbird T-Coupe. I would think the Nova would have more room than either of those cars. __________________ '72 C-10 350 w/Lunati Voodoo cam (207/213, .437/.454), Performer intake, 625 Road Demon Jr. and Hooker headers. Support your community, support yourself. Buy local, buy American (or Canadian).

05-25-2003, 11:49 AM	#5
jhwkns Registered Cruiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 2,230	I don't think the nova body would handle the torque __________________ I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

05-25-2003, 03:46 PM	#9
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	of course the nova will handle it. i have seen nova running 10's on basically a stock suspension __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

05-25-2003, 09:44 AM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Heck, one of the guys on the MTS board has shoe horned one into a Datsun 280Z! Here is a link to there board. http://www.webdeveloper.com/animatio...files/sexy.gif I go as andy in Ohio, but don't post too often.

05-25-2003, 02:53 PM	#8
sbc350gearhead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 1,413	If a nova handled the 427, then it should handle the power of a 500 caddy. You would want to tie the frame in, especially before you run slicks.

05-25-2003, 03:56 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Remember, the nova was basicly a first gen camaro underneath...and I have seen a few 67-69 camaros with 500s in them.

05-25-2003, 11:54 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	OOPS! That link isn't quite what I intended... here is the right one, I hope. ;0 http://www.hwforums.com/2089/ Last edited by Longhorn Man; 05-25-2003 at 11:57 PM.

05-26-2003, 11:15 PM	#12
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Here is a camaro that has a 500 in it... And a link telling about it all. http://www.carcraft.com/featuredvehicles/66358/

05-26-2003, 11:31 PM	#13
GMC JUNKIE TOO THE QUICKER FIXERUPER Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ok Posts: 615	I saw a 500ci cad in a chevet

05-26-2003, 11:42 PM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	heh heh heh...that was sweet huh?

05-27-2003, 12:10 AM	#15
TooMany2count Who's in CHARGE?????????? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cahokia, IL Posts: 455	how bout a 500 caddy mtr in a Metropolitan , hell the guy sat in the back seat.joe __________________ Send a card to a soldier in Iraq My Music PlayList Large Marge Donate Blood,Plasma,Platelets & sign your DONORS CARD & SAVE a LIFE

05-27-2003, 12:46 AM	#16
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	If you are wanting to put it in a later Nova with the steering gearbox up front it will fit pretty easily without column shift & using an Eldo pan. You will need to fab up a pair of steel plates to extend off the crossmember for the Cad's motor mounts which will pretty much be completely hanging in front of the crossmember. The plates are simple to make & just weld them in. You will probably need to replace the fat ugly joint on the steering gearbox shaft at the column end for manifold clearance. Use RWD exhaust manifolds. BBC headers will adapt with some choppin'. As for the older Nova with rear mounted steering gearbox, for all practicality, FORGET IT. I tried it with a '73 Apollo which is the same as a Nova (Buick clone). It sat in nicely without an oilpan or left exhaust manifold. I figured I could c-notch the oilpan for drag-link clearance or make a drop drag-link easy enough. But the real problem was the left exhaust manifold. There is NO WAY it will clear the steering gearbox. I even tried a manual box for more room. With the engine centered, the rear exhaust port lines up perfectly with the box and about 1/2" clearance. There would not even be room to fab up headers without some serious engine offset to the right side. Even then, it would be tight & probably need the L.R. tube smashed in. It looked like the only way for a decent fit was to build a sub frame from scratch & use a Stang II rack or something. Later on I wondered- will a later nova stub bolt into an earlier body? ---------------------- 78 regal 500 cad/switch-pitch 400 2.73 posi ran best of 14.00/96mph BONE STOCK (not mine anymore) 80 GMC K-20 mild 500 cad/switch pitch 400-205-4.10's. Might be for sale soon 72 Chevy K-20 stock 500 cad/th350-205-4.10's eaton locker rear trac-loc front 88 Chevy V-30 dually camper special 454 TBI/4 speed-205-4.10's dana power-locs going in F/R soon 88 Chevy C-30 single wheel e-cab 454 TBI/TH400-4.10's in a 70HD. Anyone have 3.42's & carrier for this???

05-27-2003, 07:59 PM	#17
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Hmmm, interesting. I asumed it would be fairly easy since ithe under pinnings are so much like the fist gen camaro. That DOES sound like alot of work.



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05-27-2003, 11:30 PM	#19
Baradium Binder Rep Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Salcha, AK Posts: 1,506	My friend used to have a '63 Nova (didn't look like anyone was considering those). He had a built 305(?) or so from a trans am in that car... and that motor was more than enough. With the factory 2.54 rearend he had that car over 150 mph before... and then he only stopped because he scared himself to death doing that speed on a 2 land country road with a 45mph speed limit. That car could really move. Only thing faster than that I've seen in person is the buick regal he traded the nova for. Built 455 that wanted race gas but would run on premium with octane boost. Dyno'd at over 600 hp at the wheels (premium with boost, gained at least 50 hp with the race gas). That car had a 2.73 rearend.

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