Just wanted to get everyones opinion on a project I am working on.



Specs are as follows.



1974 Nova



Engine

13b-re Engine

2/3 Bridgeport

GT40R Turbo

FMIC



Exhaust

Custom schedule-10 SS Exhaust Manifold

Tial 44 mm Wastegate

3.5" SS Downpipe

3.5" Aluminum Exhaust

Burns Lightweight SS Muffler



Wheels/Tires

2" Rear Mini-Tub

Budnik Gasser Wheels

Front - 18 x 7 (235/40/18 BFG KDW)

Rear - 18 x 11 (315/30/18 BFG Drag Radial)



Drivetrain

Turbo II Transmission

Aluminum Driveshaft

12 Bolt w/ 33 Spline Gun-Drilled Axles

4.88 Gears



Suspension/Chassis

Chris Alston Front Clip

Front Coilovers

Custom Traingulated 4-link

Rear Coilovers

Subframe Connectors





And the list goes on....



We went to great lengths to make sure the car was light enough for a rotary. Curb weight should check in around 2700 lbs. Car is currently being painted Chrome Orange with Pearl Diamond SS stripes. We've previously built a '69 Corvette, '87 Grand National, 900 HP Pro Street 85 Chevy Truck, '05 SRT Neon, 700 HP '98 Dodge Ram, '67 Mustang Fastback, and a '04 Nitroused Chevy Silverado. Got tired of doing the same old thing.



Whadda ya think?

Couple more pics.

i hate to say this but i would have stayed with the V8 on that one b/c lead slead and small motor u might not get that much out of it as in speed wise b/c of the weight. but i could be wrong so keep us posted on how it goes and runs ok lata.



P.S 20B might have been better lol

Thanks for the thoughts. The thing weighs 100 lbs less than an FD, so the weight shouldn't be an issue. What fun would a v8 have been? Would have been the same as a million other novas out there! You can only build so many BBCs before ot starts to get a little boring. 20b would have been a little tougher to fit. Would have had to raise the tranny tunnel a couple of inches. Would have hit the rack and pinion otherwise.

Nice. Interesting idea.

I'm currently working on a '66 Nova, but elected to stay with a SBC.



I think you'll be alright with the rotary. The early Nova's are lighter than most people realize.



Personally, I think the benefits of going bridgeport with a capable turbo are dubious, at best. A mild streetport and an extra pound of boost will get you to the same number, with the likely benefit of improved durability.

Heard the same thing about the bridgeport from a couple of other folks. I'll talk it over with Adam from rx7specialties before he begins porting. Thanks!

very nice... im diggin it

I like it. Don't let naysayers get to you, it's your car to do with what you want.

Thanks. I realize it's not everyones cup of tea. Some people love it, and some people hate it. It's gonna definitely turn some heads with pro-touring muscle car styling, a brap, brap, brap idle, gilmer belt whining, turbo screaming, and bov poping! It's gonna be the weirdest sounding nova ever!

i love it nice work should be alot of fun

nice i did not know that i weight in less than a FD u must took out every thing lol well still good luck with it and tell how it runs when u are down with it.

haaha very interesting project you have there. keep us posted.

Way to think outside the box! Keep up the good work!

Wow! There's been a lot more positive feedback than I expected. Most of the muscle car guys I talk to think it is sacrilege.

Most of us rotary guys think it's sacrilege to put a LS1 in a formerly rotary-powered car. When the tables are turned, most of us love it.

Cheers!!!!

If you can fiberglass any body panels that you can. They make all sorts of fiberglass parts for those cars. Should help lighten it up a little more. Great project keep us posted. I've always wanted to put a rotary in a Shelby Cobra replica.

A rotary Cobra would be sweet! Talk about a lightweight package! I agree that fiberglass panels are the way to go. The nova has a fiberglass hatch, hood, bumpers, and a lexan rear window. I'll post the list of lightening modifications tonight. There are so many that I can't remember all of them off of the top of my head.

Quite a few experienced enginebuilders feel otherwise.



That said, I opted out of the bridgeport because I have never used them, and dont have the time or the resources to try at this point.



https://www.nopistons.com/forums/index.php?...p;hl=Bridgeport

That is sweet! https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.gif

Thanks for the link. Maybe the 2/3 bridge is the way to go. Not too concerned about the side effects of a rough idle and part throttle driveability. This guy is more of a weekend cruiser. My previous project car had a 509 BBC with a huge solid roller cam with plenty of overlap.

Here is the list of weight reductions. I'm sure I left some of them out. Most of them are estimates, but it should be fairly close.



Weight Reduction (lbs)

Fiberglass Front Bumper 90

Fiberglass Rear Bumper 90

Fiberglass Hatch 50

Fiberglass Hood 20

Lexan Hatch Window 5

Removed Trunk Paneling 50

Removed Trunk Paneling Mounts 2

Removed Hatch Springs 2

Removed Hatch Spring Mounts 2

Chris Alston's Front Clip 40

Disk Brakes and Aluminum Calipers 10

Engine/Transmission 150

Aluminum Radiator 5

Removed Heater 5

Aluminum Door Pannels 2

Removed Door Cross Bracing 20

Gun Drilled Axles 2

Drilled Rear Window Arms 2

Sound Deadening 10

Carpet Padding 2

Hollowed Radiator Support 1

Aluminum Driveshaft 5

Lightweight Battery 20

Windshield Washer Fluid 3

Aluminum Exhaust & Burns Muffler 20



Weight Addition

Subframe Connectors 22

Undercoated Trunk 10



Vehicle Base Weight 3364

Total Weight Reduction 608

Total Weight Addition 32

Final Vehicle Weight 2788

Very cool project BTW. Gonna confuse your fare share of muscleheads...



also, loose that crap foam air filter and get yourself a K&N!!

Probably will in the long run. Couldn't help myself though. I've always wanted the signature ricer "Mushroom filter." Nothing will confuse a diehard muscle car guy faster than that goofy looking guy.

I agree hks / foam filters are for ****

Very clean! Most car enthusiasts should appreciate a good clean swap. I enjoy seeing LS1/Piston powered RX-7's, as long as it is done clean and thoroughly, not thrown all together by a backyard mechanic.



Good project, let us know the numbers when it's all done with.

i dunno my dad had a straight 6 with a rotrex turbo kit and a 3 inch single exhaust back in the 80's... sounded crazy. it'd be a close call



I drive a 66 Olds 442 clone, and have a 72 pickup and another 72 cutlass, and i would love to have a modern non american swap in a mustang or nova.



didnt u see tokyo drift?

Sure did. It came out a couple of months after I started working on this swap. I was pissed that they used "my" idea!

I love it, looks very well done.

Updates?



I had a '69 Nova. It was my last car V8 "toy car" before going Rotary in '80. Well, I thought it was my last. Anyway, ran low 11's with a 350 SB and a built engine with a M22 behnd it. Most I could get mine down to was about 2800lbs. You went to some extremes!



I think your idea is unique and outrageous. Hopefully it is going well.



Tony

I really like that. Nice to see something totally different. What kind of #'s are you expecting? Many domestic lovers need to realize the potential of a few imports.

Man... I think your project is one of the most "thinking out of the box" ideas I've ever seen. I'm loving it. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are great. I'd love to see the finished product. Good luck.

wicked!!!

I appreciate it. A quick update. The car is still at the body shop. Things are moving, but slowly. The bodyshop guys painted me a sample hood and the "chrome orange" with pearl white stripes is awesome. Realistically, I'll probably have the car back around November. Subframe is powdercoated, aligned and ready to go. While I'm waiting for the car to come back, I've been building a '95 GSX eclipse with a 50 trim and custom FMIC. Can't get enough of building intercooler setups. I really get a kick out of welding aluminum.

well, it's certainly different, i'll tell you that much. weight was my first concern, too, but if you've got it lighter than an Rx-7, then hey, i'm all for it. i mean, i thought it was cool before i read your post on the weight, but now it should perform as well as "be cool". https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.gif i've always loved those Novas. they make some of the best sleepers, i swear. anyway, great job and i can't wait to see pics of it when it's painted. just out of curiosity, what final gear are you going to run on it.

4.88

This project is just too damn cool. Cheers to you man, keep us in the loop.

4.88 diff... It will go!

any new pics yet?

Still sittinging at the paint shop. Been working on so many other projects that I haven't been pushing them as much as I should have. A couple of pics of some of the fabricated parts you couldn't see in the previous posts. The paint sample in the attached pic doesn't do it justice. It is a chrome orange pearl with pearl white stripes. Looks sick when the sun hits it.