Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Headers changed, checked the lash, put some new plugs in and started building a new crankcase vent/catch can. Got some pictures to put up.
https://i.imgur.com/iN13hshh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vSmZC22h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6oXq8KQh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fT0mIBZh.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Couple little things left to do when we get to Rockingham but we're mostly ready. New crankcase vent is operational and ready for testing. We're loaded up and should make it tomorrow night.
https://i.imgur.com/GcZkV04h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/07TLDh6h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lwBScDfh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BnpgbHQh.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Racing was called today due to rain so I'll update... I feel like our header change made very little difference in how the car reacts to shifting early, however It did slow us down .10-.13 in E.T. but we did gain 1mph to 117.50. Ran 11.485 11.480 11.480 on our three passes yesterday, talk about luck because there's no way it's that good hahaha, don't have enough real data to know what to dial so 11.48 it was for this morning, .011 red and ran 11.51, she hit the limiter pretty hard 1-2 so she's working on that and I think the weather was a little worse. I guess they'll finish this race in the morning then start the national open.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd, I watched all of Autumn’s runs on the live feed. VERY few cars on the premises were as consistent on the incrementals and ET. You’ve developed a great base to work on and Autumn is showing a great deal of promise. One thing you might consider is enrolling her in one of Frank Hawley’s Super Gas classes. It will help her slow everything down and help make the runs more relaxed. Don’t fault anything she’s doing, just think that Frank’s tutoring and giving more insight into focus and the psychology of racing would be a great asset for any young racer. Again, great job by you both and good luck tomorrow if they get the National Open in.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Thank you, We're learning together and video in and out of the car every run has taught us the most. we did tighten the clutch up a little in testing (base) to further help with her burnout, which it has. We've run from 11lb to 13.5lb in the tires trying to see where an inconsitency might start but it's been all good. The starting line is really bald so I figure if it goes down this weekend it may just go down anywhere we race. I know there's lot's of adjustment here and we're trying to learn everything we can. So far I think we have a pretty good setup.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd and Autumn: nice progress!

Todd, let me know your thoughts on venting off the fuel pump area. I worked with that a couple years ago....there's more going on down there than it seems. ;) -Al

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I almost bored the pushrod hole out to the cam tunnel, wish I had.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Crankcase volume velocity through the oil drain back hole is impressive, to say the least...... :eek:

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Absolutely, I'll call you and give you an idea of my plan.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd,
Please post a photo of the engine compartment from the front of the car so we can see your great work.
Thanks in advance,
Frank

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Hello Todd and Autumn,
My name is Gary Howe and I have to tell you both you have inspired my daughter Tiffany and I to go stock eliminator racing. We were back at Indy this year and stopped by your pit spot more than once because we saw you all on the starting line and were in awe of what a nice job you did on your Nova!! Unfortunatley, we never got to meet you and your family as we didn't want to bother you in the lanes Tiffany has been wanting to drive my car for a while but after seeing your car she agreed with me that we should go this route. So we purchased an all original 1977 Nova this past weekend and have it home to begin our project. H/S 350 4 speed . As we get started, my question is what size tires did you go with on the back and what gear ratio for the 12 bolt and how much rpm do you have at the finish line at say 116 to 117 mph. My Super Stock car was the one from Gig Harbor Washington,
the Blue 1955 stick car. My son said you came by and I missed you there also. Next time for sure!! Thanks Gary

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Any updates?

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Hope everything is ok with Todd and family? He has not logged on since 11/11/19, which is unusual considering how often he was updating this thread. Hopefully just super busy at work.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Gary, sorry we missed you and Tiffany at Indy. We met so many people and had such a nice time. Gary our tires are M/T stiff sidewall 29.5/9.0-15, our gear is a 5.14 currently and on a real good run we'll go through at 6900 rpm. Yes Autumn and I went to see your car, it's a real beauty! Please post up some pics of you guys and the Nova.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Marc and Jeff, We have been at the track a few times but haven't done much in the way of the car. I had grand plans and didn't do crap. We are however doing great, Went to PRI and had a blast, enjoyed the holidays and of course been working too. Autumn, since last season has gotten a real job and will soon be starting college which should hurt our racing program but ahh well, life is like that sometimes. We should be at D2 Orlando! I do have a little project going on as my wife and I are going out west directly after gainesville to Moab, UT. and then on to the Little Sahara sand dunes in Oklahoma on our way back to FL. We'll be gone almost a month so I'm working on our new Polaris RZR gettin it ready for the trip West. I'll update here as we get ready for Orlando starting this weekend.
https://i.imgur.com/hVVZmt0.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Great to hear from you guys!! Sounds like you are getting a well deserved break. I decided to take a year off and do as much or as little as I felt like, it will be up in early July. I got a little tired of it all. Sounds like you guys are getting ahead, as well.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Well deserved break Greg... but you better have your tools polished up come July hahahaha.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Sitting watching some rain today at our first 2020 D2 race today. Here's a video of our final time shot from yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p3K...ature=youtu.be

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

We're home. After a 24hr rain delay the D2 crew managed to wrap everything up today around 6pm. Came home and dropped the car off in the shop, still have a few things to tinker with coming into race 2 at SGMP in a few weeks. We continuously made changes this weekend but still have a few small nagging issues. Autumn had burnout issues this weekend that didn't help us out and neither did my inability to dial the car. I keep anticipating ET changes that never come, I just need to trust the car because it's really all in all pretty good. Here are the slips from first and second rounds today (2127)
https://i.imgur.com/YTCGFRa.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

.014 and .012 on the tree...nicely done! :) -Al

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

She sure looks comfortable and in control.
Great driving. Bob

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Looks great and there is room to go quicker for sure. Question. From the video it looks like there is no passenger seat? Or is it back far enough were it is behind the camera view? Just curious. Keep up the great work.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Passenger seat is visible in the shop photos in this thread but out of the frame in all the videos. Maybe the seat comes out so the camera mount can "see" more of the drivers actions? Would have to be in for competition. Lots of electronics on the passenger side floor, too.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Yes, Dale is correct in that the passenger seat is way back and out of frame.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

We did some house cleaning last weekend and got the Nova cleaned up. Swapping carbs for the SGMP race this weekend. Was leaving today to test tomorrow, but looks like the weather might get us for Thursday so not sure when we are leaving yet.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Heavy rain forecasted for the entirety of Thursday.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

The rain helps melt the snow off the roof of the trailer. 😀.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Made our first time run with a carb we hadn't used and it was a disaster. second time run we swapped back to the original carb and it was a pretty close repeat of our last two Orlando runs. Third time run the weather was real good, car was faster but the clutch was a little too lose. Adjusted the clutch and in first round she was red, I think she was slightly earlier than normal and the clutch being tighter made it a bit worse. Weather had backed off a bit and I saw the car make the biggest performance move yet and slowed considerably (I think the clutch being tighter slowed it too), I'm gaining some weather info which should help me in the dialing game in the future. All in all we had a great time and are looking forward to Gainesville. I'll get some video up this week.
https://i.imgur.com/1Flx8oC.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

How much clutch did you put in it 1/2 turn or more.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Thanks for your posts. The road map of Jeff's car was a good gift and fun to look at.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Jim, It was 3/4 of a turn. Our biggest issue has been doing a burnout, if the car leaves real nice with a softer clutch it wouldn't hardly do a burnout. With some recommendations from my clutch guy burnout issues are no more, it wasn't the clutch it was the technique. However, we have a new set of heads so most of these current settings will be changed anyhow. It's been a learning experience so far.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd i have watched your progress and must say ,you and Amber have done a great job. Good luck with the heads. Look at the intake also.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

When having a low HP engine trying to do a burnt with a stick it can be tough. Ive glazed a couple of clutches because I drove thru it badly on the burnt out. At least for me I found the best thing is to bring it to 6000 and do like the pro stocks and womp the throttle 2-3 times to get the rpm up never letting it drop below 6000 and nothing over 7000.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I do the same thing with my nova

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

That is a common challenge. It was really tough with the 283 stocker. We fought a bog more than spinning so we had to set the clutch real loose. We would spin lightly in first to make sure the tires were wet then roll to the edge, put it in second or third depending on what we wanted. Have to be aggressive and get the RPM up and break the tires loose or you are toast.

If you let the clutch out easy or too low of an rpm, the clutch slips too much. Have to be quick to clutch it and not let it pull the rpm down and let it slip coming out of the water. Keep the rpm up and just clutch quick.
You might even find that you need a burnout rpm higher than the launch rpm. If that is the case, you could have a toggle switch to switch to a higher rpm switch if your ignition doesn’t have a burnout setting.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Yes Jim, a new intake is next.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Thanks Jim, we found what constant rpm worked best then off the clutch real quick and our burnouts are real good now.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I know everyone is bummed to not be racing, we are too, I hope we all get out very soon! The current business climate is strange and scary, My wife and I haven't been getting paid to keep our employees paid even though we have very little work (we are deemed essential based on some of our customers). I hope every one of us get back to normal very soon because I know ya'll miss that call "STOCKERS TO THE LANES" just as much as we do! Stay well my friends, Todd

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Great video, guys. I watched this race on DR.TV

What are the two switches she hits just after the waterbox?
Who's idea was the glitter ball? That would drive me nuts.I have a couple of Dilbert dolls for my dash. One is The Pointy Haired Boss and the other is Catbert Evil HR Director.