Nova Swap
Nova Swap
Evening gents,
New to the board. I have a 76 Nova that I am planning to swap in a TPI engine. I picked up an engine out of a 1990 Trans Am GTA. It came with the trans, wiring harness, ECM, Steering column etc. I am just wondering if anyone has done this and if I'll need anything else, I am planning on using the trans to replace my turbo 350.
New to the board. I have a 76 Nova that I am planning to swap in a TPI engine. I picked up an engine out of a 1990 Trans Am GTA. It came with the trans, wiring harness, ECM, Steering column etc. I am just wondering if anyone has done this and if I'll need anything else, I am planning on using the trans to replace my turbo 350.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 14
From: Not in Kansas anymore
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 383 SP EFI/ 4150 TB
Transmission: T400
Axle/Gears: QP 9" 3.73
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,907
Likes: 1,014
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Nova Swap
I wouldn't deal with the column conversion just too keep vats or your cruise switch you can get one with cruise from a 79 or so or a pontiac omega. If you need help reprograming let me know or there are a ton of people on here that will do it.
Last edited by Tuned Performance; Nov 5, 2011 at 10:30 PM.
Re: Nova Swap
The harness is massive. Is it worth the 1200 bucks to buy this painless performance kit
http://www.jegs.com/i/Painless+Perfo...65246/10002/-1
Seems like it would make it allot easier and cleaner to install the motor.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Painless+Perfo...65246/10002/-1
Seems like it would make it allot easier and cleaner to install the motor.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,907
Likes: 1,014
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Nova Swap
That's a waste for less you can get a harness off eBay for 250 and a ebl p4
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,907
Likes: 1,014
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,907
Likes: 1,014
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Nova Swap
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,907
Likes: 1,014
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Nova Swap
If your deleting all that don't use the 88-92 serpentine setup. you can use this with a 85- 87 camaro water pump.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...dercoated.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...dercoated.html
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 14
From: Not in Kansas anymore
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 383 SP EFI/ 4150 TB
Transmission: T400
Axle/Gears: QP 9" 3.73
Re: Nova Swap
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TPI-Speed-De...item20bd8f9e35
Has the output signal for cruise control
Last edited by vetteoz; Nov 6, 2011 at 07:10 PM.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 14
From: Not in Kansas anymore
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 383 SP EFI/ 4150 TB
Transmission: T400
Axle/Gears: QP 9" 3.73
Re: Nova Swap
Once all the serp drive parts are gone ,it is just another SBC
FWIW;
If you like the serp drive setup , can ditch anything off the '90 you don't want
( A/c / smog / idler /PS ) etc ) ,
fit a regular SBC pump , use the serp pulleys and just make a old style adjuster
for the Alt to adjust belt tension
Buy shorter serp belt to suit
Pics have PS still in place but you get the idea.

Last edited by vetteoz; Nov 7, 2011 at 10:18 PM.
Re: Nova Swap
that looks awesome and is exactly what I want. Thanks so much. So I just ditch all the crap I don't want and then buy a shorter belt and the make an adjuster for the alternator. Got it. thanks again.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 14
From: Not in Kansas anymore
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 383 SP EFI/ 4150 TB
Transmission: T400
Axle/Gears: QP 9" 3.73
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,907
Likes: 1,014
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Nova Swap
The camaro serp uses a reverse rotation long pump and vette serpentine settle use reverse short ones.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 14
From: Not in Kansas anymore
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 383 SP EFI/ 4150 TB
Transmission: T400
Axle/Gears: QP 9" 3.73
Re: Nova Swap
Member

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Car: 1991 Z28 1LE
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: Borg Warner T-5
Axle/Gears: GM 7.5 3.42 Posi
Re: Nova Swap
Wiring this should be a breeze if you have any wiring skills at all. There's no need to utilize the column from the GTA either. You can spend big money and buy a painless or similar harness if you want to...but the harness you have will suffice and work just fine. All it takes is time and some patience. I've made scads of custom harnesses using OEM harnesses. The first step is acquiring a pin-out diagram of the ECM that you have. Once you have that, you should be able to figure this out for yourself. Some additional schematics will be necessary, however all of that stuff is readily available on this forum if you search for it.
Re: Nova Swap
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Hello, Michael
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