Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Waited the heat out a bit this afternoon then we cruised around on the pit bikes taking in some of the cool D-1 cars, then it was off to work. Pulled a couple carbs apart to see some differences and start to get a better understanding of how these things operate and what my changes might affect. I was gonna set the tach up for multiple shift lights because she needs to make sure 3rd gets wound up good so 4th doesnt lay over as bad but in order for that to happen more wiring needs to happen to the tach and I can't do it now so no go on that.
https://i.imgur.com/GlDHdT0h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GFSvKz6h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/smR2D68h.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Go to see the car yesterday, it's real nice!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I was making that comparison based on 1970 technology and what we had back then.

I really don't think there is anywhere near as much difference with what was being used for hydraulic lifters in the modern era.

My hydraulic roller cam/lifter equipped EFI LT-1 could rev to the moon with very moderate spring pressure. Maybe not the best comparison to a flat lifter cams but still hydraulic lifters...

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Weather is cooler today but certainly not ideal, feels real damp. We tried to concentrate on keeping the car a bit cooler this morning and she made sure the 3-4 shift was a little late and ran a bit faster than yesterday. Don't pay any attention to the weather numbers in the photo, that's old info.
https://i.imgur.com/4GE2Vsfh.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Thank you.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Weather is getting a bit better, had a nice run going, 60' was good but she shifted too early into 4th and it didn't recover well. Doing burnouts and having a blast!
https://i.imgur.com/hJOLWO1h.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feGA...ature=youtu.be

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Looks good! Wasn’t aware the index was .15 lower than automatic. In any case wondering which Hoosier you’re running and air pressure?

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

How much air pressure? Needs more for sure.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Your going in the right direction,3rd pass .56 under!. Maybe a high 30 next?..gsa612

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

M/T stiffs 12psi.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Pretty sure we can run 30's with a perfect run, she was a little late on the 1-2 but nailed everything else. Happy about the mph here too.
https://i.imgur.com/qEcOzWoh.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I never noticed that until today..Probably the toughest stick index.
Not that it matters, except for Indy next year. ;-)
Autumn is hitting the tree well! She'll be tough to beat, once it's dialed in.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I don’t know why for sure, but the 1-2 shift on our Nova when we runa Qjet combo is the hardest 1-2 to hit on time. Harder than the 350 hp the 283, even quicker superstock cars. Maybe it is the gearing and the ability for it to recover from the launch.

The Racepak really rattled me out there. Anyway, we have a digital 7 box and adjust the shift point for the 1-2 a couple of hundred lower and it seemed to help. Yes, 3-4 is easy to short shift so you are going to be fine when you get your shift light the way you want it.

We would run H sometimes with the 283 just because it was fun to run at 2800lbs, but it wasn’t as good as I.

Your driver is doing great by the way!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I don't know what RPM you are shifting 1-2, but if it is early relative to the other shifts the ET won't suffer.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

For a stick car the 11.43 is great for the mph its right on the money.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

We ran better this morning but after looking at the video I think maybe we have some discrepancy in tach rpm and actual rpm, I have been telling Autumn as she gets more comfortable to pay close attention to the tach and not the shift light, this morning she hit 1-2 at 7300ish 2-3 7000 3-4 7000 (She's usually higher). 1-2 sounded ok but 2-3 and 3-4 didn't recover well, so I stopped the video on the 2-step (set at 6200) and the tach looks like it reads 6500. So possibly the tach is reading 300 high, we'll test the theory 1st round. Either way, it ran good but would have been faster. Oh and tires were 13.5 and had the best 60' yet.
https://i.imgur.com/HYBQOFzh.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Adding more tire psi really picked up the 60'.The motor is making way more than 390 hp!.Good job!!...gsa612

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd &Autumn,
Electronic tachometers are typically +/-5% of full scale devices. You could have used the tach while you were on the dyno (using the dyno tach as a standard for comparison) to quantify it. However, you can use an MSD ignition tester to quantify the real numbers fof both tach and shift light. :cool: The process only takes a few minutes and doesn't require running the engine, using a test spark plug.;)


The g meter indication on the race pak can also give you lots of info on shift points as when the g is at peak in each gear so you can relate that to RPM for solid reference.;)



Good Luck in your testing process. Takes a lot of passes, but worthwhile when you take good notes and narrow solution paths.:D


Regards,
HB2:)
Dissident

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

An MSD ignition tester is a good tool to check a tach.

I’ve had tachs off as much as 500 rpm at 7000

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

In todays weather, definitely more than 390!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

What's up in the 1st rd,on live timing it shows the car dialed at 11.30 and no other incrementals.Shows Cagnazzi the winner...gsa612 *edit* we both posted at the same time.I had the rotor loosen off tore the s*** out of the cap.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

We had a great matchup with Victor Cagnazzi today for first round which was kind of cool since Autumn first met Victor about 2005 and he has always been super cool. Unfortunately, in the burnout the car just abruptly shut off, got it back and started checking everything (we were expecting the worst) and turn out the little screw on the rotor came off and poof... the two piece rotor is in fact... a two piece rotor (maybe we need a Loctite sponsor:D:D:D). So Autumn has surmised that possibly our pass this morning wasn't what we thought it could have been because of a possible timing issue. Later testing will determine that. We'll leave tomorrow morning for home.
https://i.imgur.com/VdcyMkEh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NdOFVbqh.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd and Autumn---that might partially explain why the engine did not want to rev under a load as it was "partially retarding the timing" --- might want to replace the cap along with the rotor and in the future put a drop of loctite or silicone on those threads to keep them snug---its possible in all your thrashing and assembly that the "screw" really never was tightened merely snugged from the get go---I'm impressed its all coming together very nicely --- Optimistic for your future results--- might want to RE-DYNO the engine in an as is configuration and then try "some things" on the dyno to see what it likes--- looking for that sweet spot so to speak---Regards FED 387

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Totally my fault, I remember tightening it on the dyno but didn't use Loctite, just the little spring washer. Won't make that mistake again. I truly believe now (might be wrong) our old headers would cure the issue of pulling down low, they also might cause a horsepower problem up top though too. Maybe I just need some collector extensions, testing will sort all this out. We'll probably put some new plugs in it and swap headers for Rockingham to see what it does.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I just went out and pulled the distributor caps on both my Monte Carlo and my wagon and put a drop of blue Loctite on the rotor screw threads. A thing like this is worth checking. One thing about race cars, you never seem to run out of things to do where they are concerned.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

That's the plan, I hope some of our miscues help a few out. We certainly have made our share.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Just a heads up....

The screw coming loose on the 2 piece rotor will only change the rotor phasing and not the timing..

Just sayin'

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Then the timing was ok, rotor phasing, not so much.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

After some maths and assumptions, if we move to our natural class (I) our -.639 could be a -.689 and with a couple issues we have sorted out I honestly think we could go .80 under in great weather. Probably not with the old headers we're going to try, but if I can get some torque back with a collector swap or extensions on the new headers or maybe a gear swap (have to check the tach first) we might get close.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Back to back at the track. It's work but it beats wondering.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Rod, go to Quadrajetparts.com and order a #3133 accelerator pump rod that uses the hairpin clip.That way you wont have to push out that pivot pin every time you want to pop the top off of your carb. Good luck with your build.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Good idea.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Yeah, if you don't like work this game isn't for ya. We changed something every run at VMP and we'll be changing stuff at Rockingham too.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Especially with a stick car, but something tells me Todd and Autumn Greene will be enjoying a more relaxed experience in 2020. Before you know it you'll be a second under. You guys certainly have earned it.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

We feel like we've worked hard, now we just need to work hard for a good setup.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I have really enjoyed following your adventures, would make a good book.

I wish you all the best.
Glenn

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Glenn, some parts of this book would be a horror story LOL. Thanks for following along!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Going to the track this weekend? The bracket racers will think your nuts to change stuff at the track, but they don't run heads-up. Hope to see you at the Rock.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

We are going to the track this weekend, to an import race of all things, so no Nova. We will be at Rockingham, see you there.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Some related racing stuff going on like generator maintenance (seems like thats all I do) and keeping things cleaned as well as a few minor changes to the car getting ready for Rockingham this weekend. Looks like some nice weather will be in store and we hope to leave Wednesday morning and be in before they close early parking Wednesday night. I'll get an update in with some pictures before we leave.