one shortcoming ive always disliked about the Nova is the lack of a third pedal.... i REALLY would love to row my own gears, ive been considering a Manual conversion. Ive considered 4 and 5 speeds, but i think go Big or go Home... T56 all the way!
Right now i got a TH350, for those who dont know trannys, its a 3 speed auto, not the greatest for gas mileage, but its decently strong but mine is on its way out. its starting to slip pretty bad in first, so here are my options. If i stick with an Auto, im not keeping a 3 speed. im looking at a 200 4-R out of a G Body for the Overdrive, as its a very simple swap. I would have it built to handle alot more power then im puttting out, just in case...
Option 2, being heavily considered... Yank out the slush box, and start the long, expensive T56 swap. Ill need a custom crossmember, a pedal assembly, a hydraulic clutch setup, a special bellhousing, flywheel, driveshaft, etc.. ill have to cut the tranny hump and enlarge it. I can prob keep costs down by getting a low mileage trans and all the clutch parts (besides the discs themselves, ill go new for that) from an F-body, and all the work will done by me and my friends.
My nova will progress more and more towards my original plans of a street warrior, so either a Built 4 speed auto and the T56 should be up to a bit of a beating, though the T56 will keep the revs down with the planned 4:10 gears....
what it all comes down to is money/time... while a new auto trans is cheaper and easier to replace, how freaking cool would a 6 speed in a Nova be? yeah its been done, but the thought of rowing through a double overdrive tranny with a classic hurst shifter jutting out of the floor just makes me smile...
just thought id get some opinions/comments/criticisim