FULL BUILD: Out With The Old Lady Car, In With A GM Crate Engine Upgrade For A 1970 Chevy Nova
2021 ж. 23 Қар.
983 777 Рет қаралды
No more old Granny car! A low-mileage 1970 Chevy Nova gets a 440hp GM crate engine upgrade.
No more old Granny car! A low-mileage 1970 Chevy Nova gets a 440hp GM crate engine upgrade.
I agree with others, they should have left it they way Lou intended. They could have at least given us some on street sleeper footage and a dyno test, it was kind of aggravating really.
Totally.
@@Spike9803 I really feel the same way about seeing the low budget Nova build on you tube that we can all watch it go
Seems like the changes after Lou were kinda stupid.
Yeah this definitely pissed me off in the last part of it when they took over. What really sucks is Lou was the last face seen before it ended. Did he bow down in the end and go along with it?
That hood totally killed the sleeper vibe
An early Jared Z & Lou video - I am stoked! I miss you guys from the late Saturday am Motor Trend TV show. Great chemistry and some of the coolest builds.
40,000 dollar budget build on a shoestring budget. Hell yeah !!!!
Yeah ... really.
Get a better job
Should’ve left it alone when Lou was finished. You guys jacked it up like you always do
some corporate sponsor threw RTM a shit ton of money and expected PN to bow. Old blue hair became the victim to settle that debt
Lou’s talent is amazing. I wish they’d found another Nova instead of this mint survivor. He could have built everything from the the ground up.
Lou is a ex-navy guy who went to one of those cookie cutter " be a mechanic " schools. He's nothing special when it comes to real world experience.
@@olderthanyoucali8512 "Lou joined the U.S. Navy in 1981 as a Seabee mechanic supporting Navy Seal Team Eight. As a Seabee, Lou was responsible for maintaining heavy equipment that was vital to the safety and support of Team Eight. His fabrication abilities were an asset, as parts were sparse and conditions intense. After a decorated career, Lou took an early retirement in 1997 to care for his wife. After retiring from the military, Lou earned an Associate's Degree in Human Behaviour from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC. He began working as a Behaviour Management Technician at a school for children with behaviour challenges. A fabricator at heart, he turned his sights on building muscle cars, starting with transmissions, brackets, roll cages and chassis and performance parts." - Wikipedia
@@olderthanyoucali8512 Oh shut the hell up. Lou is an awesome tech and fabricator.
This is the first time I've seen anyone address mounting the motor with a different motor than what was originally in the car 👍😄
I remember watching some this build this episode in 07? Never got to see the full build until now.
Why did you put that bonnet / hood on it ? Like putting a blower through and calling it a sleeper ! Ridiculous should have left the paint after Lou had done . Think I’d have restored it properly back to exactly how it left the factory as it was so nice and original would have been really nice .
Loc has so much Talent! First time I seen his Work on Muscle Car Show!👍👍
Boy's, I had a 1970 Nova like that which I purchased in 1979 for $600 with 63,000 miles. It was the same 'misty turquoise' color but mine had the optional 250 ci. 6 along with an AM radio and a floor shifted Muncie 3 speed as the only options. It listed new for $2250 according to the original window sticker. Had a black bench seat so my gf could sit real close!
My first car I got in 1976 is a 1970 Nova. Original drivetrain was 230 turbo thrift and 3 speed manual. Saved my money up and did a 327/Muncie 4 speed swap. Easy swap with V8 motor mount holes already drilled in cross member since Novas were also available with factory V8. Muncie Transmission used same cross member as 3 speed and was same length so could use same driveshaft. Doesn't get any easier than that for a swap. I still have it and will passed along to my son one day.
I am struggling to understand why you put a distributor in it? More power? And you just should have put it on the dyno before you started your power adding. Great video, my vote is for the sleeper version. I would like a answer on the distributor
Advertising a kit is its only purpose.
I think they didn’t have a way to tune it with an aftermarket ECU back then.
I remember watching this on tv love it and now I’m thinking of doing something like this love this show
I remember this build when all these episodes first aired and I still feel the same way today that I felt back then. This build should have stopped when Lou was done with it. Cool car in the end but it was nowhere near what Lou had envisioned it to be when it was done or what the viewer was expecting to get to see roll down the road.
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Don't know about you guys, even if the updated engine with new heads and NOS makes more HP, I prefer the sleeper look and the first crate motor fitted. And going from electronic ignition back to a dizzy seems a little odd. All the wiring and spark plug leads of the new engine mods is so untidy 😱
Yep, disappointing looking at how busy all the nitrous wiring looked. Not very clean.
Opportunistic advertising that killed the purpose of a restomod sleeper.
I kept saying that,,,why the hell did they take the coil packs off?!?!?! Alot of work to go backwards ignition wise.
You took a great sleeper car and turned it into a freaking mess under the hood with all the wiring like spider web and boiler room plumbing!.can't leave well enough alone!!!!!
You got that right!
Just had to put that ridiculous ‘power bulge’ hood. If your gonna pull the engine, put forged internals, slap a supercharger on. Done.
was not well enough, is now though
If we all "average garage guy" only HAD the "no expense spared" t.v. endorsed budget.... that original idea of a sleeper nova would turn into a full blown funny car w/sponsor decals all over it!! You guys ruined the whole original concept & created a 100% out of reach dream car .... again
Should have a sbc
An unmolested Nova is always a great find. Lou did a great job as it was. Dropped or pushed back the drivetrain for handling and cleared the factory hood with less modification to the trans tunnel. Skipped the juice cam and heads with the front mounted Ford dizzy. Great video regardless. Thanks guys.
When was the show originally released
@@MIKEK3NT about 15 years
Great video. I laughed when you said, "shoestring budget." I am not sure what your budget is but the parts you used in this build are anything but cheap! I may not be able to to afford the build of this video but that car looks amazing!
Correct ... this is ridiculous!
Ya if this is a “shoestring budget” I can’t even imagine an all out budget!!
For the most part it is on a budget the motor isn't on a budget correct everything else is on a budget
I bought a '65 Chevy Biscayne with a 283 an 3 speed. I installed a 550hp 454, 6 speed, Hotckis suspension and disc brakes.
Thanks for sharing🎶👍🥰 Stay safe and connected. Have a nice day, my dear friend💝❤💞
I remember years ago running into Lou at the Detroit Autorama and asking him about this car, it always was my favorite build of all time.
On the drum brakes the big boy rides in the back grandpa taught me that in the 70s
Very talented fabricator, Really like the old nova.
Yeah, this was a cool project, but should have stopped when Lou was done. The hood totally blows the "sleeper" image. Nothing low budget about this rig. Minimum $30k, including purchase price. Column shifted automatic may have been even more stealth. Speaking as a past owner of a 1969 Nova SS (350 4 spd, 12bolt/4:10) all these mods are huge improvements, over what GM built. Just finished binge watching the entire story. Overall, good job guys!! Looks killer.
This build started nearly 15 years ago so the prices are not the same but still not a budget build even then. 100% agree about the hood.
Shoestring budget? My shoes are made of leather & I have a feeling yours are made of platinum inlaid gold!!! Great build though 😃👍
I love the project my brother especially on and over I am going to continue watching, I am a old school guy on three muscle cars myself a original LS6 Chevelle a 1970 Chevelle 307 power windows and I also owned a 1972 Chevelle dark big block aluminum engine 700R with a monster shift it was a quick one about 9 seconds quarter mile with slicks
I always loved those hood loovers on the older novas,brother had 3 growing up, all 3 had hood loovers !!
This reminds me of the Nova SS I ordered and bought new in 1969. Mine was gold with a black interior and bucket seats/console. I was young; abused the 350/300, and it took it. With the 3.31 diff, it would "bury the needle". 50 years later, and driving a C-6 with a cam job, I'm still a motorhead.
Gorgeous time capsule .Chevy icon, legendary auto.
The prices were a dead giveaway that the video is from the early 2000's lol. That car as bought for 7500 would fetch 20k now. Looks great at the end. Id like to see it now.
2007
I feel lucky! I paid 7k for mine. Granted it had a primer paint job and mid 100k miles. But complete and it ran
2005
_
Love these full build posts, it's the whole reason I subscribed.
I Swear These Be The Best Type Videos
Ditto
Same here brother
This guy can build an entire car!!
I love the way the whole series is combined.
My first car (but second vehicle, first was a truck) was a 1973 Nova Custom. One of the very few cars I regret selling in my life. Bought it off my uncle for $3,000 in 2014, got it running, did headers, intake manifold, carbs, cam and whole valve train.... had the original, untouched 350 in it with about 30,000 miles, no rust, it even had the original, factory undercoating that looked brand fucking new. Every single thing still worked in the car, interior was in good shape. I still kick myself in the ass for selling that car.
Sounds like a great car, keep your head up. You’ll find another soon enough.
And you will be kicking your ass for a long time because the price of Novas has recently skyrocketed.
This guy is an incredible builder!
That hood is crazy enough to blow the sleeper image but it looks good!
1. how was this done on a shoe string budget as lou suggested? 2. the sleeper aspect was gone the second they changed the hood 3. why paint it? it was fine as it was
cuz some corporate sponsor aka overlord gave RTM a shit load of money and said shlep our products, our partners products. PN changes directions mid build all the time cuz of it
That's an awesome nova ,I had a 72 nova ..
I also prefer it the way Lou did it
The Nova WAS a sleeper until the Power Nation Guys got a hold of it. This changed the whole gist of the original build concept. I really love Power Nation, but they ruined this car IMO. The budget build sleeper done right was a great idea; a fun, affordable, streetable ride that runs "under the radar". It WAS a car that you could take your Honey out for an ice cream in, yet would still impress your pals on the straights. The Nova Sleeper was something us regular guys could afford. Now this Nova is a rumble and shake, pimped out full tilt drag car; WTF?! The car didn't need a paint job! Just because you get the parts for free is no reason to throw the whole catalog at the project. This Nova is overdone; now it needs better brakes and a parachute. If it was my car I'd put it back to an actual sleeper. You guys at Power Nation been sniffing too much nitrous.
Fully agree. I was really into watching Lou (this was the first time I"ve come across him or his work. He was great to watch. I really was onboard with what he was doing to this car. (Thought I started to say, "what the hell" when he threw the crazy tires on it.) Then along comes Power Nation and completely fucks everything up. Clinkity clink in goes a high pro cam. What is it with these guys that they just can't seem to guide a new cam in slowly and gently and are always banging away at it. Why not just take an old 2 x 4 and a hand held sledge and just let her rip next time? An interesting build just goes for a dump at the hands of Power Nation.
I totally agree 💯% brother
Oh dude I totally agree. What really gets me going is. If you want to make a car as they did here. First don't destroy an original that another man would love to have. Find a car that needs a little work. Especially if you have lots of money, or get free parts. Fined one that has lots of miles on it. One that needs love some work done. Then it's justified to Jerk out the engine and gut it. Thease guy found a perfectly running car that is 52 yrs old with 33,000 original miles on it. And decided to Ruin it!
Lou hand builds headers, makes the bench seat work. These guys turned it into a moonshine runner. I’ve seen a lot if these “modded” muscle cars . Big tires, giant power hump in the middle of the hood and the cheapest Flowmaster .
@@KuhladestkyickyI couldn't agree more
I miss when shows were like this so much energy
Wow I had one when I was 16th teen till 25 live it now I’m 55 I’m getting one
hey big homie! you did a great job restoring this beast
Miss these guys. Great classic Muscle Car episode, never missed this on Saturday mornings. Wonder what year?
Looks like they started in '06 and ended in '08-'09.
Presenters are a great team, pleasure to watch
You guys.. did an Epic job on the old girl.. she looks Gorgeous.. Thanks for the video.. I love the Sleeper look.. and looks all Original.. too boot. I love that she was unmolested...A beauty..
My first car, I bought new, a 1970, Chevy Nova, 307/3 speed on the floor, Forest Green, my only option was the Rally wheels, thanks, brings back great memories
Love seeing the gray primer on the quarter panel
Something very interesting, all that work and under no circumstances I saw you with dirty hands, at my 71 years of age and being part of y mechanical field that doesn't work that way, no offense please, you guys are outstanding, very neat job, most kind of you for sharing it with us, from the endless summer paradise Puerto Rico Jesus Torres.
beautiful patch job
Great job God bless you all amen
This is great build super strong 💪💪💪, but I love the classical look
“Shoestring budget” 😂
Would’ve been hard for me to cut on that all original car
Hey Lou,You the man... Te guillas papá.. :)
Great metal work !!!
I’ve always watched yauls show ( and the nova I really love it too )everyone great job no joke!!
I bought a 70 Nova SS 350 when I was 18. It had no exterior upgrades other than a white pinstripe on its black/black color. It did have the custom interior with the bench seat which included carpet, but it was a 4 speed, manual steering sleeper, I still miss that car, 50 years later.
so much for the sleeper, might as well do it up the rest of the way
That looks exactly like the one I had back in the mid-70s. Same color, same straight 6 cylinder engine with an automatic transmission. It was my daily driver to save miles on my Porsche 911E.
I enjoy lu lu. You spent over 30,000 on your car. Me myself I would have done a stroker big block with an automatic with a Dana.
I have a 1968 Nova second owner 46,000 miles all original.
Everything is simple and easy when you don't have to pay for the parts
I'm going to watch this episode to the end of the year
Gt Sounds killa great job guys and I'm keen to see the xe project Nathan lol..
Love seeing this. My first car was a 72 Nova with a 307 v8.
Lou you are a smart ass.!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, I'm building the same identical car
GREAT VIDEO GUYS I LOVE U RENOVATIONS ON THIS CAR ,I USE TO HAVE A 1969 NOVA ,70,71 ALL THE THE SAME STYLE, 72 A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, MY SISTER USE TO HAVE 1969 CAMARO ,I USE TO HAVE 1971 MALIBU CHEVELLE ,THEN I CHANGE TO 1971 FORD LTD ,FORD GALAXY 500 =1967 [THEN 198O TOYOTA COROLLA, 1981 TOYOTA COROLLA SR /1983 MAZDA RX7 ,1984 TOYOTA CELICA ,1987 MUSTANG 5.0 /1992 HONDA ACCORD /1996 ACURA INTEGRA/2001 TOYOTA CAMRY /2005 TOYOTA COROLLA TYPE S AN 2001 HONDA CRV (OLD DAY I FORGOT =1975 PONTIAC FIREBIRD /I WISH I HAD THOSE CARS 🚗 NOW ,I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY 😊
2006 but it’s looking like 1989. What a welding skills 😂 bro I’m literally laughing
Man can't beileve they painted over the original paint it was nice stock !
I swapped a 6 to a 1974 low miles Caprice 350, 4 bolt in my 72 Nova. That in 1978. Edelbrock 180, 650 holley, blackjack headers
Ugh, the Engine Power guys ruined a perfectly good Lou-built car.
Great job!
That guy Lou was a master
Had a 70 years ago now have 76 nova with keystones and open headers
I know a little old lady with a '73 Trans Am, a 455 car, and she's the original owner. 😃
Awesome work!!!
I agree!
Cool header build. Aloha.
Don't forget to get you a blue hair wig when you drive her down the road. Lol .Great job keep up the good work
Damn i wish these dudes were still on musclecar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lou is the best!!!!!!!!!!! Ans my first car was a 71 Nova so they are very close to my heart lol
Great upgrades.
I think I'd rather have the straight six. I owned a 1970 Nova in 1979/1980. My parents had a 1962 Chevrolet station wagon. Both had straight sixes. I had a 1993 F150 with a straight six for 25 years. I like Sixes they have good engine balance. Where are you going to race your muscle car? The dragstrips have all closed where I come from. My 1970 Nova was dark green.
Agree, might of put a a crate 4.2 Atlas from the Trailblazer tuned it. Makes 360/360 tuned a set of brakes and suspension with ac and daily the old lady. I’m not one for street strip cars, barely using it doesn’t justify ownership.
@@WoodLox That would sound good to me too. I would just drive it in nice weather. I live Michigan & the cars all rust out from the salt in the winter. Although, the newer cars seem to not rust out as quickly. Muscle cars were great in the 1960's! A neighbor had a muscle car when I was a kid & we would go to the dragstrips. He had to work on it constantly.
Lou, you slay me!
Back home in Detroit, back in ‘72 my cousin and us guys, took a ‘66 327 out of a Super Sport, built it and put it in a ‘71 Nova, along with a built turbo 400 trans, along with a swapped in 12 bolt, with 4.88 gears. We had fun!🤩
Really? I put a jet engine in my Mustang last spring, and the chicks really dig me.
@@dannymccarty344 When are you returning to outer space, you cadet!
@@regsmith7604 ha ha ha ha! I went so fast that the heat caused it to catch a fire all around the windshield. Almost burnt up the whole car.
Lou U the man
Jared and Lou were great.
Killed that original patina paint job 😢
Any time I hear Granny car; I ask if she's the terror of the Colorado Blvd.
I know that Lou's video segment is 15 years old, but the aftermarket hood ruined it as a sleeper. Good job on the paint and losing the side trim was a good choice.
I found a 1969 Chevy nova 2 door with a four-cylinder and three on the tree
one thing for sure, Lou would not have installed the 2" carb spacer upside down. but great project in either configuration. i would have passed on the distributor since it already had a top quality ignition system.
I had a laugh at that too🤣.. One idiot put it on upside down then the next idiot put the carb on with it still upside down🤦♂️ 1:10:33
Alright! Another full build video. 👍
i would have gone with an automatic trans with the colum shift, to keep it sleeper looking anyway. had a whole stable of nova's back in the 70's. 68' with a 302, 69' with a 383, 70' with a factory "original" 375hp 396 then a 500hp 427, 73' with a 283. a lot of fun
The 2” spacer works great since you put it on upside down.
Lou was a fantastic host
By about 1:20 in I realized you guys could screw up anything you put your hands on. Cutting up a nova as clean as this one to throw advertiser parts at it is NOT a sleeper. This whole thing got ridiculous real fast. Now it's ruined.
Yeah I don't think they actually do any work. They cant even get engine displacement correct. This is a 230. Or maybe a 250
@@thecynic807 it's not even in the details...it's in making a "sleeper" when they totally made a hot rod street car than can be spotted a mile away as such. In as much that is not the problem....problem is calling it a sleeper. I could go on and on. My high 10sec 3800lb oldsmobile 442 with tailpipes was a sleeper because nobody ever figured that car to run that hard. Back around 1992 I had a green 1971 cutlass supreme. I planted a dirty 455 with stock air cleaner over a painted alum intake. Sure it had headers but full exhaust. Most people thought it was a low 14sec to low 13sec car. Instead it ran 11:80's at like 118 and I made a few thou on the streets with that car
pretty cool build....
Beautiful Car!