Wayne, don't do an LS swap. We have made quite a bit of power with the OEM dual plane intake, well over 700 and even hitting 800 with the dual plane OEM BBc intake.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...bbc#Post645188
Or get ahold of Mark Jones for one of his pump gas BBc. He too has been high 700Hp range.
Also, as for the rear suspension? Few bits:
Why the rear shackles? With my set=-up in the Nova, they all recommended "roller-bearing slider" over the shackle? But mine a Smiths Racecaft set up. And I would VERY STRONGLY recommend you move the bolt out of the top hole on the front. Nova's tend to want to flip over if you hit it with any real power and hook that car. I've been warned about NOT having wheelie bars and the lower hole with mine? Many say I might trash the front end since these cars hit pretty hard.
Are you, or have you put a bar in the car? Because even the LSX 454 will put this car well into the 9's? You will need a 10 point, 8.50 cage in that to be "legal".
John