Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

As promised welded guide plate pics. Spent the day frustrated, all we had to do was check the mains and start assembly. #3 main seemed weird in that the cap didn't snap in the block, I could push it in real easy, wasn't like that before, and the bearing was .0005-.0007 tighter than the rest. Pulled the bearing, re-torqued and the bore read .0005 tighter than when it was align honed. I replaced all the new bearings with the old set of King's I kept and although they seemed to check more consistent betwen all of them, #3 was still screwed and for some reason everytime I torqued the mains it comes back with a different measurement. Engine pic is of it being checked with the King bearings. The camels back... it's broken!
https://i.imgur.com/A9cahvdh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TJEr9aUh.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd,
I'm so sorry to read of all the issues this engine is producing, you are a trooper. Where does one go as of now? :confused:

Wishing you all the best,
Glenn

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I think I found 2 good blocks local to me, I'll pick them up Monday and order a new crank to get started.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd if your going to stick with a stock block I would look for a 4 bolt with nodular caps.

That's probably not going to be easy to find nor does it insure its a real good block cylinder wall thickness-wise.....and it still needs a lot of prep work

I know its expensive but a Bowtie or an aftermarket, legal block is a far better choice....

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Check out the Dart shp block.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Check the new blocks before you send them off. The main bearing housing bore might surprise you. "If it ain't broke don't fix it"

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I like the Dart block I bought for my Chevelle.It's quite thick, rather heavy, but nothing I could do to it would hurt it,barring a broken rod or something. You've had the crank checked and done so many times it probably isn't the problem, check and use i again if it's a steel crank. The production GM 350 blocks tended to be thin,sometimes you go through a lot of them before you find one with no core shift or thin places where it needs to be thick.It sounds like something is structurally weak in the block you have been using, something obviously moves when you torque it down if the results keep changing. Einstein said that the definition of insanity is when you try the same thing over and over expecting different results. This block sounds like you constantly try the right thing the same way each time, and different results keep popping up. Something is moving around and giving you different results each time. It could be a hidden crack, a soon to be crack, or some type of metallurgical flaw.It could result in disaster. Also, 4 speed cars are harder on a lot of things, the Dart block might be what's required to keep the cylinders round, the decks flat,and the main bearing line bores straight. The NHRA approved parts list has the correct part number for that block, and Summit ships them right to your porch.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

The two blocks I have access to are NOT nodular caps, just grey iron. Since were looking at less than 400hp I'm not worried. I want two engines so I need a cheap one to run then I'll buy a good block and internals for a nice one.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

The NHRA legal replacement part number for a 4 inch bore SBC with a 2 piece rear main seal is 31161111. Summit shows it in their catalog for $1718.26 on page 124. That's the March-April catalog.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Everything is absolutely correct, especially this.