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BravoXray
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Thanks everyone for the condolences, I appreciate it.
Restarting My '70 Nova Project
- Thread starter BravoXray
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Alan46
Veteran Member
Sorry for your loss bro! 
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BravoXray
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Okay, on a lighter note, it's back to the car, again. I think with all the goings on and all the work tearing it down and putting it all back together, I was kind of burned out from all the work on it, but I'll get back at it now. Went down to the shop this afternoon and spent a couple of hours working on it.
First, I filled the oil pan with oil, then pulled the valve covers off, chucked up the oil pump primer tool in a drill and ran it until I got oil feeding up all the pushrods and into the rocker arms. That took quite a while, and I turned the crank a few times so all main, rod and cam bearings were sure to get some oil. Put the covers back on, pulled out the priming tool and raised the engine and trans up so I could pull the stands off the engine and install the motor mounts.
I had to pull the Kubota outside so I could maneuver the cherry picker around to the front of the car, and got it into position to drop it into the engine bay. Once I got it part of the way in, I stopped and hung the left side header on, because it won't go in once the engine is all the way in without lifting the engine up a few inches. After that, I lowered it some more, got the floor jack under the trans to raise it up into position, then let it all the way down onto the frame mounts. It took some wiggling and a lineup bar to get the motor mount bolts in and some of the same for the trans crossmember, but eventually I got everything bolted in place. While I was trying to put the washer and nut on the left motor mount bolt, which is only an inch or so from a header tube, I dropped the nut, which landed on me by my neck, but couldn't find it. I got up felt all around for it, took off my work shirt, felt all around, no nut. Looked on the floor under the car, no nut. WTF? Finally I found it five feet off to the side of the car under the battery charger. I must have somehow brushed it off and that's where it landed.
By then my hands were cold so I closed up and went to the house. I'll get back on it tomorrow.
We got out first snow of the season today, not enough to cover the grass though, but cold and windy. Looks Like Moss got more then we did.
First, I filled the oil pan with oil, then pulled the valve covers off, chucked up the oil pump primer tool in a drill and ran it until I got oil feeding up all the pushrods and into the rocker arms. That took quite a while, and I turned the crank a few times so all main, rod and cam bearings were sure to get some oil. Put the covers back on, pulled out the priming tool and raised the engine and trans up so I could pull the stands off the engine and install the motor mounts.
I had to pull the Kubota outside so I could maneuver the cherry picker around to the front of the car, and got it into position to drop it into the engine bay. Once I got it part of the way in, I stopped and hung the left side header on, because it won't go in once the engine is all the way in without lifting the engine up a few inches. After that, I lowered it some more, got the floor jack under the trans to raise it up into position, then let it all the way down onto the frame mounts. It took some wiggling and a lineup bar to get the motor mount bolts in and some of the same for the trans crossmember, but eventually I got everything bolted in place. While I was trying to put the washer and nut on the left motor mount bolt, which is only an inch or so from a header tube, I dropped the nut, which landed on me by my neck, but couldn't find it. I got up felt all around for it, took off my work shirt, felt all around, no nut. Looked on the floor under the car, no nut. WTF? Finally I found it five feet off to the side of the car under the battery charger. I must have somehow brushed it off and that's where it landed.
By then my hands were cold so I closed up and went to the house. I'll get back on it tomorrow.
We got out first snow of the season today, not enough to cover the grass though, but cold and windy. Looks Like Moss got more then we did.
Last edited:
MossRoad
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Nice work! 
Yep, it snowed all day, but I was just out in the garage an hour ago hanging patio chairs in the rafters for the winter and I could see the grass poking through the snow already. The airport said 1" official, but I think we got 2+. It never stuck to the driveway or roads.
Yep, it snowed all day, but I was just out in the garage an hour ago hanging patio chairs in the rafters for the winter and I could see the grass poking through the snow already. The airport said 1" official, but I think we got 2+. It never stuck to the driveway or roads.
MossRoad
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On the snow note... I used to love my 70 Nova in the snow. Donut city!
And it was so light, if we got stuck a couple buddies could just push it out.
And it was so light, if we got stuck a couple buddies could just push it out.
OP
BravoXray
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A while back, I came across another term that is used to describe what we, in this area call "doing donuts." I think in Minnesota they call it "whipping shitties." Someone needs to check out what may be in the water up there.On the snow note... I used to love my 70 Nova in the snow. Donut city!
Urban Dictionary: whipping shitties
Last edited:
MossRoad
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Erp!
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BravoXray
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Well, I have it almost done. Worked for a little over three hours this afternoon, and got everything done except for installing the shifter and trim plate, and filling it with coolant.
I messed up and didn't install two bolts in the backs of the heads that hold the ignition wire loom braces, and due to the limited space between the firewall and the heads, they are real buggers to get in. The left one wasn't too bad, but the right one was, I ended up having to take the rocker cover back off to be able to get it in. Then, when I installed the wire looms, getting them tight was no fun either. Again, the left one wasn't terrible, I ended up being able to get a 3/8" ratcheting wrench on it to tighten it, but the right one was blocked by a couple of wire harnesses and a heater box stud. I ended up getting it from underneath, with a long 3/8" box end wrench, 1/12th of a turn at a time.
I got the clutch linkage hooked up, the bolt on the outboard end of the Z-bar is a real treat too, zero room to get at it with a wrench or ratchet. I ended up using a short box end wrench to get it tight.
I tied all the wiring up and out of the way of any moving and hot parts, got the exhaust connected up and put the driveshaft in.
Of course, the distributor fought me too, it fits tighter in this block, not sure why, possibly the intake manifold is shifted one way or the other a slight bit, don't know. But after rocking the crank back and forth and pushing down on it, the distributor finally dropped into place.
So, after all that, it was tired, closed up the shop and will finish it up tomorrow, maybe. I found a really nice Suburban at a dealer 100 miles from here, that I may have to go take a look at, if the deal is good enough. We'll see.
So I'm getting close....
I messed up and didn't install two bolts in the backs of the heads that hold the ignition wire loom braces, and due to the limited space between the firewall and the heads, they are real buggers to get in. The left one wasn't too bad, but the right one was, I ended up having to take the rocker cover back off to be able to get it in. Then, when I installed the wire looms, getting them tight was no fun either. Again, the left one wasn't terrible, I ended up being able to get a 3/8" ratcheting wrench on it to tighten it, but the right one was blocked by a couple of wire harnesses and a heater box stud. I ended up getting it from underneath, with a long 3/8" box end wrench, 1/12th of a turn at a time.
I got the clutch linkage hooked up, the bolt on the outboard end of the Z-bar is a real treat too, zero room to get at it with a wrench or ratchet. I ended up using a short box end wrench to get it tight.
I tied all the wiring up and out of the way of any moving and hot parts, got the exhaust connected up and put the driveshaft in.
Of course, the distributor fought me too, it fits tighter in this block, not sure why, possibly the intake manifold is shifted one way or the other a slight bit, don't know. But after rocking the crank back and forth and pushing down on it, the distributor finally dropped into place.
So, after all that, it was tired, closed up the shop and will finish it up tomorrow, maybe. I found a really nice Suburban at a dealer 100 miles from here, that I may have to go take a look at, if the deal is good enough. We'll see.
So I'm getting close....
Last edited:
MossRoad
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Nice!
Good luck on the Suburban.
Good luck on the Suburban.
Fuddyduddy1952
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A friend has a 454 big block Suburban he ordered new, '95, 60kM. For sale, always garaged. S. Va. though.