Project 66 Nova - Page 14

james schaechter · 01-19-2013, 09:13 AM

Our car is still in pieces and we are planning on going to Belle Rose. Maybe I should come by and "borrow" yours? It would be a lot easier! LOL. Looks and souns nice! Don't do too much joy idling! You need to get a good ring seal on that bad boy!

Paul Merolla · 05-11-2013, 10:20 AM

Well fellas, I finally made it. I joined this site in Dec. of 2001, when I first got bitten by this classracing disease, and have learned probably 80% of what I know about these cars from all of you. (Well, most anyway! All I learned from Ed O'Brien was how to step on my...)
Last night, I took the Nova to Midamerica Motorplex for its first shakedown passes, and had the time of my life. After wanting to do this so bad for so long, I was wound up pretty good in the lanes before my first attempt. I had gone through the procedure a million times in my head, but it was really hard to concentrate. Burnout went fine, put too much brake in it to stage. Launched hard, went right. Pedaled it like Capps, haha, then it went straight but it got stuck in third gear. Got back to the pit and found the one detail I had overlooked....tightening the jam nuts on the linkage. Got it straightened out. Went back up, and was a lot more calm that time. Set the 2-step at 5500, still getting my feet wet, and turned 'er loose. Oh Yeah!!! That, friends, is what it's all about! Managed 3 shifts, and it was over. (wish we had a 1/4 mi.) Got my timeslip and drove back to the pit pumping my fist and shaking like a leaf. 7.381...that means I'm UNDER the 7.57 index for F/S! Now I have nowhere to go but quicker!
Big thanks to my wife, Elizabeth, for lots of encouragement and presents from Summit. Also to the midwest Chevy II contingent, all of whom have helped me with this project: Dave Cech, Jim and Joe Schaechter, Jim Parsons, John Hladky, and Tom Meyer. Big thanks to Frank Allen for keeping me motivated with good stories and great sound effects.
Thanks to many of you on this forum for sound advice, not directly, but by answering the questions of others. Alan Roerich, Adger Smith, Dwight Southerland, Bub Whitaker, and on and on. Geez I'm sounding like the Oscars....anyway, a couple of pics to close it all out:

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23587359@N05/8727842419/]

Billy Nees · 05-11-2013, 02:24 PM

Great job! AND the personal satisfaction of doing so much of it yourself.
It just goes to show, good things ARE worth waiting for!

bigsixman · 05-11-2013, 04:20 PM

Nice job and a big congradulations to you on a job well done!

cicero819 · 05-11-2013, 07:12 PM

Congratulation on a job well done, now you just have to get the c/d out there soon. Claude Ruel

Paul Merolla · 05-11-2013, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Great job! AND the personal satisfaction of doing so much of it yourself.
It just goes to show, good things ARE worth waiting for!

Thanks, Billy - you belong on that list, too, along with Eddie Rezac.

gmonde · 05-11-2013, 11:57 PM

great job on getting it all put together ,, bonus you get to drive it ,, on the two step and let the clutch out ,,, there is nothing like it ..make some passes , you will get it figured out Gmonde

Geerhead55 · 05-12-2013, 02:07 AM

Way to go Paul,,, glad you finally got it out to the track. It was very enjoyable following along with your build,, take care.
Danny Durham

69Cobra · 05-12-2013, 03:28 AM

Very Cool and Congrats!!!! I hope you be where you're at this time next year.

Jeff Kempton · 05-12-2013, 09:42 AM

Paul; thanks for taking the time to post pics and text to allow us to follow along with your build. The race debut post captured your emotions perfectly and was icing on the cake. Best Of Luck and have fun racing your sharp Chevy II in the future!

01-19-2013, 09:13 AM	#131
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,992 Likes: 1,293 Liked 1,436 Times in 299 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Our car is still in pieces and we are planning on going to Belle Rose. Maybe I should come by and "borrow" yours? It would be a lot easier! LOL. Looks and souns nice! Don't do too much joy idling! You need to get a good ring seal on that bad boy! __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK

05-11-2013, 10:20 AM	#132
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 611 Likes: 242 Liked 293 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Well fellas, I finally made it. I joined this site in Dec. of 2001, when I first got bitten by this classracing disease, and have learned probably 80% of what I know about these cars from all of you. (Well, most anyway! All I learned from Ed O'Brien was how to step on my...) Last night, I took the Nova to Midamerica Motorplex for its first shakedown passes, and had the time of my life. After wanting to do this so bad for so long, I was wound up pretty good in the lanes before my first attempt. I had gone through the procedure a million times in my head, but it was really hard to concentrate. Burnout went fine, put too much brake in it to stage. Launched hard, went right. Pedaled it like Capps, haha, then it went straight but it got stuck in third gear. Got back to the pit and found the one detail I had overlooked....tightening the jam nuts on the linkage. Got it straightened out. Went back up, and was a lot more calm that time. Set the 2-step at 5500, still getting my feet wet, and turned 'er loose. Oh Yeah!!! That, friends, is what it's all about! Managed 3 shifts, and it was over. (wish we had a 1/4 mi.) Got my timeslip and drove back to the pit pumping my fist and shaking like a leaf. 7.381...that means I'm UNDER the 7.57 index for F/S! Now I have nowhere to go but quicker! Big thanks to my wife, Elizabeth, for lots of encouragement and presents from Summit. Also to the midwest Chevy II contingent, all of whom have helped me with this project: Dave Cech, Jim and Joe Schaechter, Jim Parsons, John Hladky, and Tom Meyer. Big thanks to Frank Allen for keeping me motivated with good stories and great sound effects. Thanks to many of you on this forum for sound advice, not directly, but by answering the questions of others. Alan Roerich, Adger Smith, Dwight Southerland, Bub Whitaker, and on and on. Geez I'm sounding like the Oscars....anyway, a couple of pics to close it all out: [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/23587359@N05/8727842419/]

05-11-2013, 02:24 PM	#133
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,499 Likes: 3,601 Liked 7,782 Times in 1,743 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Great job! AND the personal satisfaction of doing so much of it yourself. It just goes to show, good things ARE worth waiting for! __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

05-11-2013, 04:20 PM	#134
bigsixman Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Crookston, MN Posts: 157 Likes: 8 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Nice job and a big congradulations to you on a job well done! __________________ 1969 camaro, pump gas 540"bbc, jerico 1967 camaro, pump gas efi 620", coan t-400

05-11-2013, 07:12 PM	#135
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,086 Likes: 31 Liked 69 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Congratulation on a job well done, now you just have to get the c/d out there soon. Claude Ruel

05-11-2013, 11:57 PM	#137
gmonde Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 615 Likes: 56 Liked 165 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova great job on getting it all put together ,, bonus you get to drive it ,, on the two step and let the clutch out ,,, there is nothing like it ..make some passes , you will get it figured out Gmonde

05-12-2013, 02:07 AM	#138
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Way to go Paul,,, glad you finally got it out to the track. It was very enjoyable following along with your build,, take care. Danny Durham

05-12-2013, 03:28 AM	#139
69Cobra Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: California, Ky Posts: 669 Likes: 61 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Very Cool and Congrats!!!! I hope you be where you're at this time next year. __________________ Kris Rachford 69 Cobra 428CJ 4 Speed C/S 3032

05-12-2013, 09:42 AM	#140
Jeff Kempton Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 238 Likes: 1,044 Liked 66 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Paul; thanks for taking the time to post pics and text to allow us to follow along with your build. The race debut post captured your emotions perfectly and was icing on the cake. Best Of Luck and have fun racing your sharp Chevy II in the future!