Hagerty’s Driveway Finds is back with another budget LS swap. The subject is a 1972 Chevy Nova, the crew previously rescued from the earth for $5,700. With the small block Chevy still under the hood and a trip to LS Fest Las Vegas coming up, they raised the budget by another $5,000 and did what any reasonable enthusiast would do: pull an LM7 out of a 2002 Tahoe and drop it in.
How The Budget LS Swap Came Together
The LM7 is a 5.3-liter V8, a step down in displacement from the 5.7-liter small block it replaced. Even so, the crew expected to pick up around 100 more horsepower along with better durability. They already owned the donor Tahoe, and comparable units turn up at junkyards across the country for around $1,000. A mild camshaft went in, the rocker arms got a trunnion upgrade, and they swapped the oil pan to clear the Nova’s crossmember. Fresh valve springs were added to handle the extra rpm. A $39 eBay mini spool locked up the rear axle so both tires would spin, and a party valve plumbed into the brake line cut rear brake pressure to help the car lay down a proper smoke show.
Headers, wiring, and the fuel system each brought their own headaches. The headers that fit the crew’s truck did not fit the Nova. The driveshaft needed attention after the engine sat slightly further forward than the original small block. Since the LM7 has no mechanical fuel pump, they mounted an electric unit in a pocket in the Nova’s floor. By the time everything was sorted, the complete budget LS swap came in at $4,963.
LS Fest Las Vegas And A Spectacular Ending
The Nova made the trip to LS Fest Las Vegas on a trailer, which turned out to be the right call. During the first round of Burnout Wars, the car held together, blew one tire, and drew a solid crowd reaction. The engine hit 240 degrees after two minutes on the rev limiter, but it survived. The second run was a different story. The engine let go hard. When the crew tore it down, they found three snapped connecting rods, shattered pistons throughout, and a damaged camshaft. Every single piston in the engine was broken.
With the swap hardware still intact, grabbing a fresh LM7 for around $500 gets the Nova back on the road without starting over. Thanks to the incredible affordability of the Gen III truck platform, getting back in the game is as simple as finding another junkyard 5.3 and turning a few wrenches. Making it to LS Fest and competing in Burnout Wars is a win worth celebrating. And for a Nova that spent decades slowly disappearing into a field, that sounds like a pretty good second chance at life.
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