Hello guys,
I realize that I have not posted in here for a while, but I have been having one problem after another with my Nova. We put a 454 in the car around Christmas time. After 200 easy miles on the motor, my transmission couldn't hold up and gave way. I stayed sidelined for about a month getting the tranny redone. After it was done, I put maybe another 300 miles on the car, and then the 8.2 inch 10 bolt rear-end gave way (which I was expecting, so I wasn't too mad). Well I found a 12 bolt out a 70 Nova SS for 100 bucks, then bought a set of 3.73 gears to go in it along with a powertrax locker. The car should be back up and running this weekend.
With all that being said, I wanted to list my motor build, and I'm hoping some of you guys can maybe give me a few tweaks I might be able to do to squeeze a little more power out of the motor.
Here is my setup:
The motor is a 2 bolt main 454 that was completely rebuilt and by a reputable machine shop (McMurtry's for any of you in the southern Mississippi area). The rods were reconditioned and fit for ARP studs. (I realize this has nothing to do with "making horsepower," I'm just saying this so you guys know that the motor is very well built).
The pistons in the motor are stock compression.
The heads are closed chamber rectangular port heads that have valve springs to support a .600 lift cam. The heads have 2.19/1.88 valves in them. (the heads are casting number 3964291 which is an origional head off the 454 in the LS-6 Chevelle).
I figure my compression to be around 8.75:1
The cam specs are this:
Operating Range: 2300-6500 RPM
Duration Advertised: 284° Intake / 296° Exhaust
Duration @ .050'' Lift: 240° Intake / 246° Exhaust
Valve Lift w/1.7 Rockers: .574'' Intake / .578'' Exhaust
Lobe Separation Angle: 110°
The motor has comp cams aluminum 1.7 ratio roller rockers, Edelbrock RPM Performer dual plane intake, MSD 6AL ignition, 9mm race wires, and a Holley 750 carb.
Would a small shot if nitrous be a safe, viable option for the motor that I would see some gains with? (maybe a 75 shot)
That's about all the info I can think of at the moment that has to do with the engine.
On a side note, what do you guys Guesstimate the car would run through the 1/4 mile? I hate "bench racing" just as much as the rest of you, but with all the problems I've had with the car, along with the 1/4 mile track being quite a hike, I haven't made it there yet and I'm not sure that I ever will.
I guess the car to weigh about 3500-3600 pounds with me in it. It has the 454 mentioned above, a 2800 stall converter with a turbo 350 thats very well built, a 12 bolt positive traction rear end with 373 gears, and I have a set of 26/10/15 mickey thompson drag slicks to go on the car.
I am very sory for the long post, but I have been away awhile and wanted to ask the experts all the questions I have had in my head.
Thanks to everyone for their time, (and for reading this long post if you chose too)
There is a picture of my car, and we managed to get the 454 under the stock hood.. kind of gives to the "sleeper" effect.
Rob
I realize that I have not posted in here for a while, but I have been having one problem after another with my Nova. We put a 454 in the car around Christmas time. After 200 easy miles on the motor, my transmission couldn't hold up and gave way. I stayed sidelined for about a month getting the tranny redone. After it was done, I put maybe another 300 miles on the car, and then the 8.2 inch 10 bolt rear-end gave way (which I was expecting, so I wasn't too mad). Well I found a 12 bolt out a 70 Nova SS for 100 bucks, then bought a set of 3.73 gears to go in it along with a powertrax locker. The car should be back up and running this weekend.
With all that being said, I wanted to list my motor build, and I'm hoping some of you guys can maybe give me a few tweaks I might be able to do to squeeze a little more power out of the motor.
Here is my setup:
The motor is a 2 bolt main 454 that was completely rebuilt and by a reputable machine shop (McMurtry's for any of you in the southern Mississippi area). The rods were reconditioned and fit for ARP studs. (I realize this has nothing to do with "making horsepower," I'm just saying this so you guys know that the motor is very well built).
The pistons in the motor are stock compression.
The heads are closed chamber rectangular port heads that have valve springs to support a .600 lift cam. The heads have 2.19/1.88 valves in them. (the heads are casting number 3964291 which is an origional head off the 454 in the LS-6 Chevelle).
I figure my compression to be around 8.75:1
The cam specs are this:
Operating Range: 2300-6500 RPM
Duration Advertised: 284° Intake / 296° Exhaust
Duration @ .050'' Lift: 240° Intake / 246° Exhaust
Valve Lift w/1.7 Rockers: .574'' Intake / .578'' Exhaust
Lobe Separation Angle: 110°
The motor has comp cams aluminum 1.7 ratio roller rockers, Edelbrock RPM Performer dual plane intake, MSD 6AL ignition, 9mm race wires, and a Holley 750 carb.
Would a small shot if nitrous be a safe, viable option for the motor that I would see some gains with? (maybe a 75 shot)
That's about all the info I can think of at the moment that has to do with the engine.
On a side note, what do you guys Guesstimate the car would run through the 1/4 mile? I hate "bench racing" just as much as the rest of you, but with all the problems I've had with the car, along with the 1/4 mile track being quite a hike, I haven't made it there yet and I'm not sure that I ever will.
I guess the car to weigh about 3500-3600 pounds with me in it. It has the 454 mentioned above, a 2800 stall converter with a turbo 350 thats very well built, a 12 bolt positive traction rear end with 373 gears, and I have a set of 26/10/15 mickey thompson drag slicks to go on the car.
I am very sory for the long post, but I have been away awhile and wanted to ask the experts all the questions I have had in my head.
Thanks to everyone for their time, (and for reading this long post if you chose too)
There is a picture of my car, and we managed to get the 454 under the stock hood.. kind of gives to the "sleeper" effect.
Rob