LQ4 into a 3rd Gen/1972 Nova by frojoe

5 minute(s) of a 891 minute read

Got the exhaust hangers and brackets wrapped up yesterday (just tacked in place). The dual pipes are bolted to each other in two places (front & back) to keep the entire exhaust as a solid unit, to help give the rubber straps and easier job with less independent deflection..

Next up, I FINALLY found a belt length that will work well with my setup.. 104.5" long. It's hard because I was finding inconsistencies between different manufacturers' "effective" and "outside" and general belt lengths, which led to me just getting a couple to trail and error test in real life despite my best efforts to estimate length in 3D on the computer.

It's easy to install around all the pullies, and the belt lands it right at the correct mark on the tensioner. With the rad+fans installed there should still be around 1.5" room to stick a hand in there and re-route things if there needs to be a roadside fix.

Finally getting around to radiator stuff too... this is going to be tight!

The C&R radiator I'm using comes with a straight-thread fitting at the top of the radiator, which is annoying since it's sold separately but also nice since it's less welding needed to be done on the radiator. Naturally I need to hack it up to fit my needs...

This is the reason why.. if I left the fitting as a straight nipple with a rubber 90* on it, it would rub the passenger side compressor housing...

The lower fitting also aims it directly at the subframe, so off that has to come too....

Fan combo I'm going to run.. ~2000cfm 25.4A 16" Derale/Spal fan (P/N 16136), combined with a ~2000cfm 24.8A 12" Derale/Spal fan (P/N 16924)...

Clearance is tight on the driver side too, but should work. No idea where I'm going to jam the coolant overflow tank... probably on under the driver side turbo compressor housing, on the core support

Juuuuuust barely fits behind the grill....

Just need to figure out how to merge this elbow to the top tank geometry...