Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Front suspension apart for a freshen-up......bushings, control arm shafts, ball joints, etc. Will also treat it to some lightweight disc brakes. Once that's back together the motor will go back in:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps08e73e76.jpg

Relocated and raised the shifter with some 6061 I had laying around:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps38f6610a.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

That's clean Al...I really need to do something with our shifter as well.

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Rich, the round stock is 3/4". With a .750 counterbore, I went .125 deep in the plates as a register for the round stock, faced off the ends of the round in my lathe, drilled and tapped the ends of the round 1/4X20 and used a standard 82 degree countersink for the flat head Allen screws. You could also just have it TIG'd and simplify the deal.

Took longer to clean up the chips than make the part. Not really....... -Al

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

What brake components are you going with? We ended up having to space the m/c off the firewall using the Bickel piston rod kit...had a high pedal and it was not fully retracting. http://www.jerrybickel.com/brake-kit...-jbrc1064.html

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps39cb91cf.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

The last couple of weeks has been some non glamorous, greasy, knuckle bustin' stuff. Urethane bushings for the upper control arms and offset shafts:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps53d36c3a.jpg

On the lowers, urethane bushings, new control arm bolts, new inner and outer tie rod ends and adjuster sleeves, new upper and lower ball joints and new springs. After getting everything stuffed back together, Steve Koppien and I counted our fingers. We came up with ten each and considered the job a success.......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps9aa5ec0a.jpg

New Mickeys on 9" Bogarts, ARP studs and J&J Racing Products stud sleeve and nut setup:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps7615d662.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

FedEx dropped off a box full of Aerospace brake stuff. The only hiccup in the install were the rotor mount holes. My bet is they thread these holes early on in the process and the threads move around a bit during heat treat. A quick touch up of those and life was good again:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psc5674856.jpg

The stuff looks so nice it's a shame to cover it up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps2f5d0455.jpg

Next.............

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps2b4959f2.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

How much quicker are you anticipating all of these changes/improvements are going to make?

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Looks great Alan - You have the calipers I probably should have went with on ours. One thing I found on those fronts is only tighten the bearing caps with two fingers. Even with grease on the o-rings I thought my partner was going to take a hammer to the car trying to remove them one night...maddest I've ever seen the fellow lol! :p

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Al,
Looks really nice and should be effective. With all the weight reduction you might consider a weight box? :-)

FYI: A little late now but a road racing trick is to radius all the holes in the rotor on both sides. This doesn't affect braking but will lengthen brake pad life considerably.

Keep up the good work and look forward to seeing you/ it at the races this year.

Be safe

Jim Parsons

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Al, looks good! One thing I would suggest to anyone working on the front end of a GM car would be to add the Afco lower shock mount kit when you have the lower control arm off. Then you have the ability to use the Afco style shock more effectively. http://www.afcoracing.com/graphics/c...hock_mount.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

where's the "LIKE" button?

Lookin' good, Al!

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

You are doing right the first time, going to be a great piece, have fun with it. With all the help you have there it truly will be a winner.Tom

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Fat Man and Little Boy.....for those that remember their nuclear history. It was real hard not to put the hoist on that 396/375 Super Stock motor (grin):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps0bba3630.jpg

It's been so long since its been on all fours and with an engine in the frame, the poor thing damn near rolled out of the shop on its own!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psa62c67d0.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

A change of doors and that motor would look sweet sitting in our car...:D

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

You wouldn't know how to handle that power Al. ;)

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Love the "project" nickname it whitesands ---Oppenheimer

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

love the pictures on this cold snowy winter day.

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Nice job on your car. You hang out with the right guys.
No ribs? Steve makes great ribs and race cars

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Been doing some small stuff that takes time....underhood details, etc. Progress stalled last week as I was vacationing with my family on Anna Maria Island in Florida.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psab9a0baf.jpg

Got the East Coast one wire alternator mounted. You can't see it in the pic, but I made a tab that bolts to the crossmember for the adjustment.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps627f90b2.jpg

Made the throttle linkage rod from a hunk of 6061 hex and a couple 1/4" Heim joints.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psb702f4d8.jpg

Made a bracket for the Quick Fuel regulator.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps0b38b4ea.jpg

Powered up everything but the MSD. Stuff spins and pumps like it's supposed to. ;)

The front spings need to come back out this week for a clip job. -Al

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Looks killer Alan! Boy, do I need a vacation...:o Who's headers are those?

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Rich, they are Hooker 1 3/4" adjustables.

Hope your trans woes are a simple fix. -Al

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Probably nothing Arnett has not seen before. :)

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Just waiting for some warmer weather:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps890b9ecb.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Looks great. Warm weather coming soon! I hope..

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Wish our's was as slick and devoid of decals like that. :o

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Rich,, don't you have acess to a heat gun and some degreaser? They will come off, you know.
Danny Durham

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Along with the paint behind every decal lol...believe me, I have tried. :p It's getting stripped and painted later this year for sure. :cool:

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Yeah,, I had that happen years ago on my '66 Chevy II,, I figured it was due to the old factory laquer paint, and my youthful inexperience.I was hoping your paint job was better and I know you're wiser than I was back then. Take care.
Danny Durham

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

I would take my stickers off too, but they are the only thing holding my old Wagon together! LOL!

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Just an update: It runs, moves under it's own power, the oil and water stays in the motor and none of the wiring went up in smoke. Also upgraded the driveshaft to a chome moly unit with 1350 series yokes and joints. It's off to the alignment shop next week. -Al

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Looking forward to seeing it go down the track Alan. :)

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Back from alignment...front tires pointing where they're supposed to:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps04f71fa5.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Get it down the track Alan...one of us has to succeed lol! :D

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Like!

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Made 5 runs today. Had a few glitches. The Line Loc solenoid developed an internal short and blew a fuse each time...so much for anything resembling a decent burnout. On the last run, the starter acted wonky in the lanes. I went to the scales after the run and the starter drive hung up in the flex plate and wouldn't retract. But all in all, nothing too drastic.

The car drives smooth, goes straight, stops well and no parts fell off. It wasn't real fast, though...barely two tenths under the NHRA G/SA index. The car feels really 'tight' when it leaves...like maybe the convertor is 'way to tight? I checked the 'flash' on the return road a couple of times (in high gear about 20 mph) and it flashed between 4400-4500. Not where a combo like this should be...

All in all, not a horrible start. :) -Al

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psaa05f174.jpg

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

What did it E.T. before you bought it?

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Sounds like not near the problems we are having Alan. :p Car looks great and I'm sure you will get it sorted quickly.

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Virtually identical times, Glen. The convertor is the big unknown. Heck, I'm not even sure whose convertor it is,though I do have all the code numbers that are stamped on it. -Al

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

I'm learning all the stars must be aligned with these Stocker's...one piece out of whack and it all goes to hell it seems. :(

Re: Nova stocker project.
 

Ditto! :D