I'm going to be converting my 1973 nova to tpi. What I want to know is can I retrofit the Vats lock cylinder and key into my column? Does anyone make a retrofit kit? I think that retaining VATS is a good idea with the relative simplicity of breaking into and stealing a nova of this vintage.

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355 c.i.
Dart 180 Heads
Lunati 224/224 cam
Harland Sharp 1.5 rockers
Performer RPM Manifold
Holley 600 cfm double pumper
Hooker Super Competition Headers
Flowmaster Exhaust
Competition Engineering Sub-frame connectors
Super T-10
GM posi 3.42 rear
Hurst Roll Control
13.9@102

 

you can either purchase a VATS bypass box
that attaches to your TPI harness or have VATS
removed in the chip.
wiring the switch concerns more wires, VATS
module and IMHO a pain to mantain.
call me
501-9450354 deano
airdeano

 

I don't know / remember how the upper bowl on a 73 Nova is.

If you have a column that's like an 82-92 upper end, you can use an 88-89(?) 'Bird upper bowl section (w/ VATS, w/out airbag) and add the wire to the column, and the wires to the dash.

Again, I don't know what the Nova column is like. I'm fairly sure that if you went to the latest Nova column that fits in your car (77???) you could retrofit the upper bowl section.

The VATS key cylinder from an LT1 car fits in the same column as a TPI car's key cylinder. Just wire the "choke" light to be the VATS light

Columns in 79 received upgrades to make them harder to steal (old slide hammer the key cylinder out isn't as doable) and in 82 they got the cruise / signal wand, and in 84 the cruise changed again (an 84 stalk will operate all later cruise up to at least 97...)

email me if you need to know if the 73 column will work; I can ask someone.



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jmd
1986 SS with...
86LB9 TPI atop the original L69, Hooker emissions legal PN 2050 headers, stock L69 cat (yes, a real one), hydraulic clutch T5, Energizer 272 cam, chargedair.com fan, Global West CNR-88-C negative roll kit, 89 Iroc front springs, CC635 Moog rear springs and a whole bunch of other fun stuff

 

Well, the ultimate goal is theft prevention, so my idea is to retain the use of the stock Nova column, and wire that in line with a lock cylinder with VATS, say, in the console glove box that I got out of an 89 Camaro, along with the Vats module. EH? What do you think? Even if somebody breaks into the car, they still have to get the right resistance in line with the vats module to get the thing to start.

 

An excellent idea, but would it be easier to get an alarm w/ a starter kill relay? what would happen if a thief just ripped the lock cylinder out and tried to "hot wire" the vehical? having a vats key would be much cooler than a alarm remote.

 

Well, number one he would have to find the second ignition switch. Number two he would have to put the right resistor in line. He would also have to strip the original column. As it stands now, he would just have to run a jumper from the battery to the distributor, bump the starter over or roll it down a hill and take off. The starter kill is a lot less effective. It just doesn't allow the S-terminal to close on the starter so no power is transferred to it. You can get around that with a good screwdriver. Time is precious when stealing a car, and if a theif strips my column, and throws a screwdriver between the starter and the s-terminal. He isn't gonna hang around for more than two minutes cranking that thing in the middle of the night? What do you think? How many different resistors did GM use with Vats? Was it like 39?

------------------
355 c.i.
Dart 180 Heads
Lunati 224/224 cam
Harland Sharp 1.5 rockers
Performer RPM Manifold
Holley 600 cfm double pumper
Hooker Super Competition Headers
Flowmaster Exhaust
Competition Engineering Sub-frame connectors
Super T-10
GM posi 3.42 rear
Hurst Roll Control
13.9@102

 

15 differant resister values


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86 Camaro Sport
LT1 Induction
383 Speed-O-Motive Crate Engine, Raptor 700R4 Tranmission, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge G2's, 58mm Accel TB, 3.73 Auburn Pro, SLP Cold Air Induction and Headers, Hooker Cat-back, Serpentine Belt Setup, Dual IROC Fans, Jamex springs, 16" IROC Rims, 36mm/24mm Sway Bars, Global West Steering Brace. Hotchkis Rear LCA's,Panhard Bar and SFC's.
My Camaro Project
Moderator at SE ThirdGen

 

Well I come to find out the 73 column won't take the '88 upper column section You have a dimmer on the floor, yes?

Anyway, I noticed that 82-92 F columns are the same length as 78-88 A/G columns.

So maybe something like an 81 F column would work in your car with some wiring changes & such. Rebuilding a column isn't tough; knowing what can be thrown together successfully is. The only real fitment issues are the length, where the dash bracket mounts, and then the wiring crap. Just don't know what to tell ya to use though.

This is why COMPLETE TPI donors are a world of difference than buying a harness and an intake.

Very few on the early TPI's - John already answered. The later ones have thousands IIRC.

Matthew



------------------
jmd
1986 SS with...
86LB9 TPI atop the original L69, Hooker emissions legal PN 2050 headers, stock L69 cat (yes, a real one), hydraulic clutch T5, Energizer 272 cam, chargedair.com fan, Global West CNR-88-C negative roll kit, 89 Iroc front springs, CC635 Moog rear springs and a whole bunch of other fun stuff

 

deleted by me

[This message has been edited by Bugsbunny (edited October 19, 2001).]

 

Hey bugs! Nice to see you again! My, you have become quite the little message board terrorist, haven't you? I hope that the entire TPI board turning against you does not give you severe psyhcological disorders and a strong, irrational fear of abandonment. I'm going to tell you a story for your own edification (feel free to look that one up).

Not too long ago I had a 1987 Formula 350. It was a nice looking car, handled awesome, but it had about 160,000 miles on it. I considered building it, but I had sunk quite a bit of money into my nova before that, so I woul have been forced to start over again. Also, some concerns that I had were the limitations imposed by the single 3'' exhaust, the 7-5/8'' rear end, Torque arm dedication. As I am sure you are well aware, because you seem to be a very educated individual, that the tpi 350's are available only with the auto, and I had to have a manual. I am currently in college and have yet to amass the same amount of wealth an individual such as yourself does working late nights at McDonalds. Yet another reason that keeps me from actively seeking to build up an f-body is that, while people like Traxion and Kevin91Z and the vast majority of the members on this board, set the bar for F-body standards, the fact remains that there are an equal number of idiots out there (such as yourself) who drive their rusted out six cylinder camaro's to McDonalds and do greasy, peg-legged burnouts in the parking lot for their equally ignorant freinds. I mean no disrespect to burnouts (the kind you do in your car), but I don't want to be associated with you. I don't like you. Unless you have a valid point to make about lock cylinders, please leave.

 

Hey, I was promoted to Head Fry-Guy last week so give me some credit.

Bugs

 

Good job. Credit Given.