1974 13b-re Nova
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 438
Likes: 5
From: Ft Worth, Tx
Finished the oil thermostat mount. I think it is a Perma-cool unit. Doesn't seem like they put too much thought into how people would be able to mount it. Oh well.....turned out pretty good.
TACOCAT
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,042
Likes: 2
From: Milky Way
I laughed until I cried.....seriously. I appreciate everyone who is giving the project kudos, and even those who aren't. Without a few..."I'd never do that" and "I'd have put a big block in it" comments, it wouldn't be making the impact I'd hoped for. Everyone has their own idea of what cool is.
A little history might shed some light on why I'd want to put a rotary in a Nova. In the past 10 years my brother, father, and I have build/owned the following....
1969 Corvette (427cid and 6-pack)
2008 Corvette Z06 (Stock)
1985 Pro Street Chevy C10 (509cid w/8-71 blower)
1998 Dodge Ram (408 w/Novi 2000 Supercharger *607 whp*)
2005 RX8 (Stock)
2006 SRT-4 (~350 whp)
1995 Eclipse GSX (50 trim & FMIC)
We've done the rediculous horsepower thing.
We've done the luxury sports car thing.
We've done the import thing.
We've done the muscle car thing.
Of all of the cars, the most fun to cruise around town is by far the '69 corvette. You just can't find a better looking car than classic muscle. But, wrapping the engine in the RX8 to 9,000 rpm is an awesome feeling. Big blocks and ridiculous horsepower seemed kind of played out, and weren't any fun any more (The '85 went through four different configurations). So, it was time to combine the favorites......the muscle car styling with a revolutionary engine design well of the beaten path. Viola.....nova with a rotary.
I can't wait to see the looks (good and bad) it'll get once it's up and running!
A little history might shed some light on why I'd want to put a rotary in a Nova. In the past 10 years my brother, father, and I have build/owned the following....
1969 Corvette (427cid and 6-pack)
2008 Corvette Z06 (Stock)
1985 Pro Street Chevy C10 (509cid w/8-71 blower)
1998 Dodge Ram (408 w/Novi 2000 Supercharger *607 whp*)
2005 RX8 (Stock)
2006 SRT-4 (~350 whp)
1995 Eclipse GSX (50 trim & FMIC)
We've done the rediculous horsepower thing.
We've done the luxury sports car thing.
We've done the import thing.
We've done the muscle car thing.
Of all of the cars, the most fun to cruise around town is by far the '69 corvette. You just can't find a better looking car than classic muscle. But, wrapping the engine in the RX8 to 9,000 rpm is an awesome feeling. Big blocks and ridiculous horsepower seemed kind of played out, and weren't any fun any more (The '85 went through four different configurations). So, it was time to combine the favorites......the muscle car styling with a revolutionary engine design well of the beaten path. Viola.....nova with a rotary.
I can't wait to see the looks (good and bad) it'll get once it's up and running!
You sir are ******* awesome! I LOVE this NovaRota project you are doing...MAD props! You are very creative, talented and just a ******* genius!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 438
Likes: 5
From: Ft Worth, Tx
Thanks! Feels good to hear that. It takes me forever to come up with some of this ****. Took two days and some lost sleep to finally decide how I wanted that oil cooler mount. Simple when it's all said and done, but damn!
TACOCAT
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,042
Likes: 2
From: Milky Way
i could only imagine...this is not an off the shelf project...of course its gonna take some time. man if i am ever up in san angelo PLEse let me check your nova out...hell i'll ride up there with Allen in his rx-3
edit: i bet you had SOOO much room to work with in that nova engine comartment especially going with the rotary LOL!
and on a side note, don't let the negative posts discourage you in any way shape or form........some poeple are born douches....and they never grow out of that phase.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 438
Likes: 5
From: Ft Worth, Tx
No chance.
TACOCAT
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,042
Likes: 2
From: Milky Way
OMG allen's rx-3 is beyond words! I got a ride in it BEFORE he ever got it professionally tuned and that was when it had about 350-400hp......and that ride was incredible! Now that it has 650hp+...oh man i think i would be shitting my pants if i got a ride in it again LOL! Allen is also another man a master at his craft!
and im not just saying that because he is a good friend of mine
!["LILHEMI"'s Avatar](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 50 50'><circle class='avatar-circle-default' fill='%23ccb0e0' cx='25px' cy='25px' r='20px'></circle><text class='avatar-text-default' x='49%' y='53%' fill='white' text-anchor='middle' alignment-baseline='middle'>"</text></svg>)
The Great Usurper
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: sparks, nevada
and no lilhemi is not my ride. doc holiday took care of that. i actually took a real muscle car, not some left over post golden era bucket, and put a real honest to goodness motor in it and run 9s with my eyes shut. amazing how just a couple of nutswingers give people delusions of grandeur
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 438
Likes: 5
From: Ft Worth, Tx
No delusions here. There's always more to learn. The choice of a "post golden era" car was intentional. Easier to mini-tub and you can make it lighter than a non-hatchback. Only differences when it is all said and done are the rear tail lights and the rear side glass.
Come on guys! Someone say something nice about Lil-Hemi. I think he feels left out. A hug maybe?
Come on guys! Someone say something nice about Lil-Hemi. I think he feels left out. A hug maybe?
Last edited by 13brenova; Oct 22, 2008 at 08:27 PM.
No delusions here. There's always more to learn. The choice of a "post golden era" car was intentional. Easier to mini-tub and you can make it lighter than a non-hatchback. Only differences when it is all said and done are the rear tail lights and the rear side glass.
Come on guys! Someone say something nice about Lil-Hemi. I think he feels left out. A hug maybe?
Come on guys! Someone say something nice about Lil-Hemi. I think he feels left out. A hug maybe?
Adolf Hitler Verfechter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 969
Likes: 0
From: Northern South Africa
Very good progress you have made there! you fabrications skills are amazing . Very excited to watch it go under its own power.
LilHemi : Maybe you should refrain from coming into this thread.
Nobody cares about the you,or the nasty comments you are making.
Are you too retarded to see this is HIS build thread?
Its idiots like you,that give America a bad name.
Cliff notes :
Take you piece of crap V8 ,and mosey the **** out of here.You are not welcome.
Good day.
Karis
. Very excited to watch it go under its own power.LilHemi : Maybe you should refrain from coming into this thread.
Nobody cares about the you,or the nasty comments you are making.
Are you too retarded to see this is HIS build thread?
Its idiots like you,that give America a bad name.
Cliff notes :
Take you piece of crap V8 ,and mosey the **** out of here.You are not welcome.
Good day.
Karis
The Great Usurper
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: sparks, nevada
Very good progress you have made there! you fabrications skills are amazing . Very excited to watch it go under its own power.
LilHemi : Maybe you should refrain from coming into this thread.
Nobody cares about the you,or the nasty comments you are making.
Are you too retarded to see this is HIS build thread?
Its idiots like you,that give America a bad name.
Cliff notes :
Take you piece of crap V8 ,and mosey the **** out of here.You are not welcome.
Good day.
Karis
. Very excited to watch it go under its own power.LilHemi : Maybe you should refrain from coming into this thread.
Nobody cares about the you,or the nasty comments you are making.
Are you too retarded to see this is HIS build thread?
Its idiots like you,that give America a bad name.
Cliff notes :
Take you piece of crap V8 ,and mosey the **** out of here.You are not welcome.
Good day.
Karis
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 438
Likes: 5
From: Ft Worth, Tx
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 438
Likes: 5
From: Ft Worth, Tx
It's official.........the 15 second, post golden-era, everyone's going to laugh at you bucket has color! Andy Stapp called last night to say he just shot the interior. So that means the underside, firewall, interior are done. He's jamming the car today and spraying a light coaoting of semi-textured bedliner under the rear wheelwells and trunk area. We're headed up this Saturday to put on the rear suspension, subframe, axle, wheels/tires, subframe connectors on the car so he can align body pannels and spray the outside. Pictures to follow..........
I switched the 4-link to dual Heim, DOM trailing arms from Out-Pace Racing. P....I....M....P! I'll post pics tonight.
I switched the 4-link to dual Heim, DOM trailing arms from Out-Pace Racing. P....I....M....P! I'll post pics tonight.
It's official.........the 15 second, post golden-era, everyone's going to laugh at you bucket has color! Andy Stapp called last night to say he just shot the interior. So that means the underside, firewall, interior are done. He's jamming the car today and spraying a light coaoting of semi-textured bedliner under the rear wheelwells and trunk area. We're headed up this Saturday to put on the rear suspension, subframe, axle, wheels/tires, subframe connectors on the car so he can align body pannels and spray the outside. Pictures to follow..........
I switched the 4-link to dual Heim, DOM trailing arms from Out-Pace Racing. P....I....M....P! I'll post pics tonight.
I switched the 4-link to dual Heim, DOM trailing arms from Out-Pace Racing. P....I....M....P! I'll post pics tonight.
Badass, can't wait to see the pics!!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 438
Likes: 5
From: Ft Worth, Tx
Made it back from Stapp's around midnight last night. Everything went pretty smoothly. The color is absolutely amazing! Andy sprayed the interior, hitting it with the standard 3 coats of pearl. It looks great, but he wasn't totally happy with it, and made a heavier pearl mix for the jams and the rest of the car. Looks bad ***! Take a look at the gauge pod. That is the best shot of the pre-hella-pearl. The outside is going to pop even more than that! Pics.........