Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I believe you are right.
My reasoning is due to the fact that we used new GM factory bolts all through the 70's -80's and never had one fail..7- 8000 all the time.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Not the horsepower of engine but the weight of piston assembly and rpm.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I've used the 8740 bolt in an 800hp small block and I've had the 2000 bolts to over 1000hp. I can't much comment beyond my experience but in my current particular case I should probably be using top of the line because all I do is break everything.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Today things got slightly clearer, we're taking a 993 core and trying to get close to the one good head, the crank is 90% balanced and I'll finish it in the morning. Pistons should be here Thursday and cam will be here Monday. Oil pan, oil pump, bearings, timing cover, timing chain, plugs and gaskets will be here Thursday.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

UPS tracking indicates that your 993 head is out for delivery by the end of today. Those people aren't kidding about the 2nd day delivery!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Perfect, thanks again Greg. You're definitely keeping us rolling!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Did some more work on the block today, plugging holes and a little grinding I missed, finished the balancing, pulled all the rods apart and cleaned them. Looking forward to tomorrow when some parts start showing up and maybe we'll have some new pictures ya'll can look at, untill then here's the plugging and balancing pics.
https://i.imgur.com/qFJV0mWh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/j2dqPJih.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Kind of a little side note on the CR community that I thought needed to have it's own post to mention a real positive experience in a world full of way too much negativity. It's certainly no secret this build has had some real ups and downs, but all of the downs were followed by help from the members here. The last explosion was followed by encouragement and help options from members. I would like to "call out" some people that reached out to help us with either parts, advice, or getting us in touch with people who may have parts. Autumn and I would like to thank you all in no particular order!
Jim Marshall
Greg Reimer
Keith Bennett
Nick Hoffman
Al Nyhus
Jim Schaechter
Bill Kelley
Rob Turkal
Hannah Line
I hope I didn't miss anyone. Thanks to all.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Hello Todd,
I have been following your journey and can't imagine the heartache that you have been through.
I have been involved in professional racing for a really long time, and I would like to share some advise I was taught by one of the best: if you expect different results you have to change something. Please don't use those "fancy" wristpin retainers again. Round wire retainers or double spirolox have worked for ever. And be certain to have .030 or more wristpin end play, the pistons deflect and the wristpins broach the clips out. That lesson was an expensive one, we lost multiple Indy and Cup engines because of that. That piston deflection is one of the reasons you see "box bridge" pistons nowadays.

KC

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Agreed 100%, but I can assure everyone that any round wire lock (what these pistons were machined for) used would have come out as these wire locks did.