Restarting My '70 Nova Project

[goeduck]

My god, that is a GOOD LOOKING engine !!!! Belongs on a calendar. Very nice work !!

 

[goeduck]

I am checking back a few hours later .... Did I mention that is a GOOD LOOKING engine? Absolute beauty !!

 

[BravoXray]

I am checking back a few hours later .... Did I mention that is a GOOD LOOKING engine? Absolute beauty !!

Thanks!
I hadn't built a small block engine since I built a 302 Z-28 clone back in the '70s, so I kind of went crazy.

I'll have to post a link to a video when I get it fired up on the stand.
Should be kinda of lopey, I put in a hydraulic version of the old 327/350hp cam.
I pulled it out from the cranny where it's stored, and barred it over a couple of turns today. First time in a year or so. Gonna pull the plugs and quirt a little oil in the cylinders before I start it up.

 

[the old grind]

OEM #3863151 cam? What a great choice for the 'package'. (really 'comes on' at >2500 rpm, just right with 3.55:1)

Sign in front of passenger seat: "Hands of the grab bar, you're tearing out the dash!"

btw, traction bars if not a 4-link for that much muscle and IMO frame connectors are a must.

 

[jyoutz]

Novas were underappreciated at the time and only get better looking with age. Big fan of their looks, but I never had one

I had a 73 Nova, but it had an underwhelming straight 6 and speed transmission.

 

[jyoutz]

I had a 73 Nova, but it had an underwhelming straight 6 and speed transmission.

3 speed transmission

 

[BravoXray]

OEM #3863151 cam? What a great choice for the 'package'. (really 'comes on' at >2500 rpm, just right with 3.55:1)

Sign in front of passenger seat: "Hands of the grab bar, you're tearing out the dash!"

btw, traction bars if not a 4-link for that much muscle and IMO frame connectors are a must.

I don't remember what the OEM equivalent cam part number was, I put it together 5 years ago, and I've slept since then. I'll have to look in my build up book and find out. According to the head chamber CCs, the head gasket thickness and piston dish CCs, it should be around 10.25:1 compression ratio. I'm going to put a compression gauge on it before I fire it up just to get an idea of what the static compression ratio really is. Bore is 4.155" and stroke is 4.00". Had to do a little grinding on the block and use a special pan to get the rods to clear everything. The rods are asymmetric, one side has releif cut for cam clearance. Almost had to use a small base circle cam, but it clears as is.

I'm considering a set of Cal-Track traction bars. It has the F41 five leaf springs which work pretty well. I had a set of slapper bars on my '69 L78 SS396 Nova, and they rode like crap. I have a set of frame connectors for it, but I may fabricate my own setup once it's all back on the rotisserie.

If money was no object, I'd look into Heidt's independent rear suspension setup, but at over $10K, I think I'll utilize another solution.

 

[BravoXray]

I had a 73 Nova, but it had an underwhelming straight 6 and speed transmission.

My younger sister had a '72 four door with a six banger and three on the tree. Was a strange green color. Ugly, but super reliable. We nicknamed it Zeus.

 

[BravoXray]

Found the cam card. It's a Comp Cam 12-672-4 Nostalgia 30-30H.
Lift is speced for 1.5:1 rockers, I have 1.6:1 rockers installed so I'm getting .515" intake and .509" exhaust lifts.

I needed another bucket seat base, as one of the original set I bought was rusted too bad to use, so I tore apart one of the second set. What a job, nasty old foam, padding, rust and lots of hog rings to cut to get it apart. Worked for over an hour bead blasting the base and am only about half way done, but at least this base is usable.

When I get it blasted, primed and painted, I'm going to take all the seats, springs, foam and coverings to the local auto upholstery shop and let them put them back together. I know my limitations, and I'm not a proficient upholsterer.

 

[BravoXray]

After a couple of hours blasting the rust and crud off the seat base, I finally got it cleaned up so I could prime and paint it. I have glass beads in my cabinet instead of sand or blasting grit, and it's not nearly as aggressive at getting rust off, so it took a lot longer to get it cleaned up.
I got it primed and a coat of satin black on the top, I'll do the bottom tomorrow.
I also got the new springs installed on the second seat back. What a f@%&%!g job! You can get about 60% of the springs put in place pretty easily, and then the rest are just bastards to get twisted, pried and cussed into place. Was down to the last one and when I go it pried into place it snapped off one of the tabs that hold it in place. There was no way to get a MIG gun into that area to weld a new tab in place without taking the springs back off, so I was able to use a SS screw and washers to hold it in place.
Once I get the seat base painted and the springs installed on it, I'm going to take the front and rear seats, foam and covers to the local auto upholstery shop and let them put the new covers on.

Tuesday, I talked to the supplier that I ordered new front fenders from, and it sounds like I may have them by Christmas.

Oh well, that gives me time to get the 434 running. I may drop the subframe off the body install it and the TKO transmission in the subframe to test fit it on the body to see if there are any clearance issues with the transmission, and if there are, figure out how to make it fit. I have seen several conversions on Nova forums, and some fit with no issues, others needed the tunnel to be modified.
I have a good selection of hammers in the toolbox.