75 Nova U/SA
 

I started this build summer of 2014, it is finished but have only done 3 test sessions, results are under the IHRA index and close to NHRA.. Bored with winter and all the pics I took were to big to post, so I am shrinking them down and posting as I get them done. It begins life as a 76 with a 305 that would barely run, metric 200, 7.5 rear end with multi leafs, some rust in the drivers floor (rest was good), lower front fenders(poorly patched), trunk lid and rear window body panel. The Trunk floor was perfect.The radiator support was junk, took forever to find a decent one to restore -no aftermarket available. Tough issue for building a 75 and up nova, very few reproduction parts. The engine will be the 262 V8 rated at 165.


These are a few of the 'before' pics.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Looks good, is it going to see a trip to Florida next month?

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Billy,
Thanks, if I can get a little more testing in and the results are good, yes.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mike,

Let me know how you make out with your testing, did you ever try that other convertor ???

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Fabricated brackets to keep brake rod from falling out and remounting brake bias valve. Mount for fuel cell (one 4 foot piece of box tubing from Lowes cut up, welded, bolts welded in for ease of install. Fabricated mount for accelerator cable(adjustable), original from 305 did not fit. Fuels cell and pump mounted in trunk. Overflow/vent is pipe connectors from Lowes, the underside pipe has holes drilled in it, then wrapped with screen and attached with hose clamps. front frame and underside was cleaned with a pressure washer then painted with rustoleum. Front suspension had new(stock) bushings replaced in upper control arms, new calipers, rotors, brake lines. Fuel cell $25, pump $15 from craigslist.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Test fit and fabrication of alternator relocation mounts, Front and rear bumpers backside and inner mounts/braces were very rusty, wire wheeled them, treated with naval Jelly, painted with rustoleum. A LOT of work but didn't want to be dropping rust all over the track. The rubber bumper ends were coming off, so made aluminum end caps to hold them in place. Finished mounting master cylinder and line lock. NOTE - 75 - 79 nova brake pedal arm for power brakes differs from manual, push rod/clevis hole location is way different, there are NOT 2 different holes like the older Novas. You have to drill a new hole for the pushrod/clevis and make your own rod and clevis unless you can find the stock pieces in a wrecking yard. I found a picture on a Nova website he helped me locate the new hole, modified a rod/clevis kit from Speedway.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mike I have a 262 or a 267 block I would like to sell if anyone is interested?

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Modified a JEGS universal fit drive shaft loop, cut one of the loops down and redrilled holes, shortened the L mounts. Reused the cutoff pieces by tack welding bolts in them so can put these inside the car and can 'one man' mount the loop from the underside. Cleaned/painted the underside of car. The rearend is 8.5 ten bolt with top Moser stuff and 5.14 gear, all new brake parts. Lucked out finding a housing with single leaf pads. Refurbed the used core support, welded patches where needed, sand blasted, naval jelly, rustoleum. The rear mounted with energy suspension pads, spring bushings, and eventually stock spring shackles. Comp engineering adjustable shocks set on 50/50, the comp engineering traction bars are a Craigslist score for $125 complete. Drivers side floor pan patched (I fabricated, took the replacement panel back) rest of the floor good. Also did a test fit on the slicks-a used goodyear radial and a M/T I got in the throwaway pile at Charlotte. No interference anywhere.
Behind the core support is a used Sepanek metric 200 and PTC converter I found on Craigslist for $600 total. Also some weld wheels for $250 total (all four). Not pictured are Goodyear front skinnes for $75, and Hoosier 28x9 bias almost new for $100 from Craigslist.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Cheap automotive carpet from local piece goods shop. Homemade mount for fuseblock from Autozone, feeding water pump, fuel pump, fan, tach. Cheetah shifter (craigslist $75) mounted. Radiator fan mounts from a couple of 2" by 1/8 aluminum strips. Finished underhood. . Had to modify the 75 grille to mount to the 76 mounts. Fayetteville NC warmup before test runs. Making easy passes to check for leaks and parts falling off, all went well but it was a little slow.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Not yet, last test was at Piedmont 1/8 mile, best of 9.32 at 71.80 with a 1.987 60 ft. That was with a new holley blue pump, change from hedman to hooker headers, added 6 " of collector. Waiting for some decent weather do test again, extending collector length to 25".

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mike I am digging this build ,I am working on a 78 Camaro that looked great but seams all the hiden stuff is slowing me down

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Yeah, I found a lot of small things and issues with parts fitting etc during the build, good luck on yours.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Thanks Mike, my car was from Georgia the was alot of hidden rust,and parts that i Had that I thought I could use I could'nt .I am looking forward to reading more on your build

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

always interesting to see something different from the norm

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mike very interesting build . How much effort have you put into the
engine so far?

Joe

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

The engine was a decent piece I got from fellow race Joe Huestis who had run it in a Monza (thanks Joe). It already had a bullet cam and schubeck lifters. Billy Plage (thanks Billy) freshened and updated with a few newer parts. I believe it to be a pretty good piece, haven't had enough runs to shake everything down.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Good luck with your new car Mike. What class does it fit??Bob Michael

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Will be in U/SA @3470, can also run T @ 3305. Depending on the grill/year, it can run a 350 2v, 350 4v, and a 305 2v. You know me, I'd really like to try a stick!

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Good job, Mike
I see some of that "Cincinnati rust' had to be taken care of.

What does the converter flash to?... and how much brake stall can you get out of it?

You would have been lucky to find one with the stator configuration that car's gonna need.
Call Kenny Ford at PTC and give him the numbers. Tell him I said to call. He'll get it dialed in for your combo .
Good luck!

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mike has done an outstanding job on this project working on a budget. When he was testing at VMP in Dinwiddie, he had several folks come over and check out his car. It catches attention cause it's different. Not your everyday type stocker.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Amen!

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

I love it !

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

It's on the 'to do' list for sure.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Update - Tested at Fayetteville NC this weekend, BIG steady headwind.


Best of 14.97 @ 85.44, 60ft 1.923, 8th mile 9.23 @ 70.26. So it went under both 1/8 mile indexs and IHRA 1/4. Still need a little more for NHRA 1/4 mile (14.85). Biggest change was adding 18 more inches of collector for a total of 25". With this change, it seemed to want less jet than before. I had cheap paint on the collector looking for some to burn off, but that didn't happen. Seemed to be a semi-significant heat differential around the last 7" of collector(last 7 were cooler) so may shorten them there. Any suggestions?

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

What is your rpm through the lights? Maybe go to a 5:37 gear?

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

1.9110 was best 60 ft. Time. lots more in this combo and Mike is hacking away at it !

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

I'm considering that, or more. It's 5700 rpm right now. Is there a 5.57 for a 8.5 ten bolt?

I would like to try a smaller tube header, 1.5 primary but don't see any available, pretty much spent two days on the internet looking.

Also, I should say Joe Huestis is a BIG help on this deal, he was right there this weekend. Thanks for your help, Joe.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Motive Gear, Precision Gear, others have a 5.57 for an 8.5" 10 bolt.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

COOL: :cool:

http://classracer.com/classforum/att...3&d=1422035187

http://classracer.com/classforum/att...8&d=1422035830

http://classracer.com/classforum/att...6&d=1422035187

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Try Schoenfeld for the headers, they have 1 5/8 for the Nova

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mikey, Here's what I'd do out in the back yard.
Get a few of the these and cut the first 8- 10 inches out of each tube..one at a time.
Slip a piece of these of the appropriate size into what you've got there.
You don't have to be a welding pro because the smaller tube is going the right way, if you follow me.
You might be able to slip the tube into the 1 and 5/8 stub on the flange. Mig weld or braze it on the outside of the flange. De -burr and roll the inside edge ,and you got it.
Doubt if it will hurt anything..Might tell you a thing or two.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Mild-S...Inch,1734.html

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Good idea Mark, I got some old Hedmans laying in the corner I was going to cut up and modify on the collector end, might as well do the other end and try for s step header effect. Thanks.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

been following your project Mike. Great first time outing. keep us posted. Bob Michael

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Hey Mike thanks for the thread. This is what I believe Stock Eliminator is all about. You did not throw $ at the project with people doing all your work. Your work is extremely clean and functional and obviously works! My 65 Impala project is going the same way, I was able to get my parts Cheap because I sold my 68 Impala to a guy who restored it to stock. After that I have to work smart. Big thing is I trust my welding enough to do everything myself. You also have great help with Joe Huestis, just make sure he doesn't get behind the wheel, we still have no idea what that 14" shoe can do!

Will Lamprecht
65 Impala stocker in progress.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

[QUOTE=impstocker;461637]Hey Mike thanks for the thread. This is what I believe Stock Eliminator is all about. You did not throw $ at the project with people doing all your work. Your work is extremely clean and functional and obviously works! My 65 Impala project is going the same way, I was able to get my parts Cheap because I sold my 68 Impala to a guy who restored it to stock. After that I have to work smart. Big thing is I trust my welding enough to do everything myself. You also have great help with Joe Huestis, just make sure he doesn't get behind the wheel, we still have no idea what that 14" shoe can do!

Will Lamprecht
65 Impala stocker in progress.[/QUOTE

Sorry Will, already got behind the wheel last Sunday. Pissed off Mike caused I ran a lower ET than him. So he gets in and runs .05 better the very next run ! By the way they're a size 15 ! LOL !

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Mike...love your build. :)

For some 1.5" headers, take a look at the Flowtech #11108's. Thery're a 'shorty' but not a block hugger style. They are long enough to get past the crossmember and with a few pieces of tubing could be lengthened. I'd try them first out of the box with a nice long collector extension.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Flowtech/387/1...rentProductId=

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Schoenfeld has a pretty good looking set.Either 1-5/8 or 1-5/8 to 1-3/4" step and reasonably priced. Quality much better than the Flowtechs too.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sch-165a

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sch-165va

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

Hey Joe, Clem was always right about that, you do have an advantage with more surface area in contact with the gas pedal! I think Pat H. has a complete 283, with a 2 Barrel I would fit into U/SA with the 65. Anyway great job with, truly an inspiration. I have only run a Street Hooker Headers with my BBC , My thing will be to modify those at least to equal length and maybe a step collector, but that's down the line.

Willie Lamprecht
i/SA 65 Imp in progress.

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

I believe the secret to unlocking a better ET out of this car is really basically in the converter and rear gear. Last year while talking to Lenny C. he had talked about rpm drop between gear changes and what the converter played in this. I've heard folks say rpm should not drop more than 500 between gear changes ?? While making a pass the Nova sounds like this drops significantly between second and high gear. Best results so far have been shifting about 5500. Does the 10% rule still apply for trap rpm ? Should the car run through the lights over 6 grand and some ? Still need to check the flash rpm for the converter too. What flash rpm would you recommend ?

Re: 75 Nova U/SA
 

I was trying to find a used set of these just to try, and was thinking the same about the collector - nice long one just for a test. I found this interesting article while looking for 1.5 tube headers.

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/148...ermediate.html

Ron,
I looked at the Schoenfeld but the tube/collector dim's are the same as my hookers. They do have a 1.5- 1 5/8 and 3 collector step headers but they only fit 1973 - 1988 Chevy Malibu, Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix, Olds Cutlass, Buick Regal , and Camaro 70 - 81.

Hedman has a step header (68274) for a Nova like the Schoenfeld above, but it seems it is unavailable. I sent them and email to find out what the deal is.

Also looking a cutting the hookers up at the end and putting on an OBX merge collector, they are available on ebay $69 each.