Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Checked pin bores today and a couple more parts came in. Got a call from Black Magic, they've received and are going over the clutch.
[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/ntGXQK4.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/QEz4NH7.jpg[/IMG]

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Always nice to see your posts and see what you guys are doing.It's nice to see a first class engine build with the best parts. Can't wait for you guys to get out there and go racing again!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Thanks Greg! We're excited to have some grade points this year, finally get to run some national events.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Few more parts came in today, timing chain, new timing cover, cam and some gaskets. We also got to filing some rings.
https://i.imgur.com/QgR61X3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8ef3Q4O.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Had a couple things that weren't perfect when it came apart and here is one of them. Mains look a little weird, a stripe on some edges. We've seen this on the previous engines too, I'm going to change the balancer as it's a common denominator. ATI is making a new one suited to us now. We're still getting an education here.
https://i.imgur.com/HG0RyaW.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Rings are all filed and worked on intake gaskets today. Going to be busy this weekend so probably won't work on it but next week I'll hopefully get an education on the valve job.
https://i.imgur.com/EVZ2lLD.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

How's the build going Todd ? BTW Happy New Year!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Great to see your thread back up, Todd. Nobody details every aspect of a build like you do. You give an honest account of the things that don't go well and also the good things that happen, too! Thanks for your time and best of luck to you and April in 2021.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

https://i.imgur.com/EVZ2lLD.jpg

Can I ask, what brand of intake gaskets are those?

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

So far so good! HNY

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Thank you Terry, Thanks for following along.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

These are Speedway Motors brand gaskets made by Interface Performance Materials. They come in .060 or .120 thick, I think they'll take some massaging but will work. Found them hunting around the internet and thought we'd give 'em a try.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...ick,49597.html

https://i.imgur.com/VtayFQI.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Got a message today and the clutch is already done and should ship out tomorrow. Balancer showed up today. Gonna do some work to the valve job tomorrow.
https://i.imgur.com/c4umSS3.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Todd--- tried sending you a PM your box is full!!!!! FED 387

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Try now, for some reason I have been unable to access my messages but got in tonight and cleared some out.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

It's kind of obvious in that picture above featuring the mock up of the engine on the stand, that the relationship of the deck surfaces of the block and the heads in relationship to the intake have changed. Sometimes, it can be a problem, but it looks like the whole thing is close enough to come together adequately after everything is torqued down and ready for final assembly.A new block is a starting place. It takes time and work to get it to the point of final assembly. That's why it's often practically an emotional moment when the car goes out and gets down the track several times with no drama.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

If emotional you mean crying myself to sleep at night then yes, that's what stock has been to me LOL.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

The education continues... pretty amazing machine, you can plot out a seat design and this bugger just bangs it right out.
https://i.imgur.com/UrQCzrL.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

That machine is truly amazing. It would have to be costly, but the time it saves would certainly offset a lot of that cost, especially in a busy shop! My comment about emotions is the way you feel when a long hard project works very well and hangs together for a long time and is fun to drive.You guys can't put a price on the time you have had together!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

You have to do a lot of work to pay for a Newen.

An amazing machine.......especially compared to what we used in the stone age........LOL......and I still do occasionally with a Kwik Way seat grinder....

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

How'd Jim do on those heads?

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Jim who?

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Trying a different lifter this time.
https://i.imgur.com/3R08CM4.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I'll assume I'm not the ony person that does stupid sh!t. I usually do this when I just don't know any better, not because I don't care to do it properly. So on that theme, I've recently learned that it's not a wise move to use a tool steel lifter on a billet core cam... aparently the lifter needs a DLC coating or something-er-other. So this is what the lifter will look like if you do it wrong, sort of looks like its cracking on the surface then pulls what looks like metal slivers off the lifter. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! :D
https://i.imgur.com/ak3vgWF.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

We've had a bit of an issue breaking the lower o-ring on the distributor so I went in and gave the block a little more taper. Then wash wash wash!
https://i.imgur.com/pkmXQCA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zhcpO1a.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wh3dT9N.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Good catch, Todd. :) -Al

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I only caught it after I tore something up hahaha.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I have heard not to use a tool steel lifter on a steel cam, but never saw what happens if you do. Treated and coated lifters would be the answer. What did it do to the cam lobe? Also, do you suppose that those used steel lifters could be coated? Might pay to find out.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I have had a set of tool steel lifters repaired. you should be able to then coat them.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Cam isn't hurt, I think I got it just before it really started to do some real damage.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Thanks Keith, I'll hold onto them.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Not a very productive day today but plugging away.
https://i.imgur.com/q3PUPIE.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Had to go to work today (total BS :D) for a few hours but still managed to get over and get some work done. Measured for spring setup and started putting rings on the pistons.
https://i.imgur.com/5atjPPB.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Cleaned parts, finished rings and bearings on all but one piston, ran out of spirolox. Back to it tomorrow.
https://i.imgur.com/dDYXLe9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NkTWLxp.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Filled some holes, fit the balancer hub and started working on the cam.
https://i.imgur.com/AhzGFxo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wizTzQ3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ta7pZLH.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I think the rebuild is more exciting than the first time we put this one together, we get to see things from a different pespective... the used parts perspective. I've learned a lot and one things for sure, this engine was faster when it was new by a fair bit, last couple races were 1/8 mile and we're a minimum .25 slower to the 1/8 than our best. I'm going to assume the culprit was that the engine wasn't sealed up well with a few cylinders leaking from the valves which cannot be ideal. Also, completely my fault because I didn't know any better but there was condensation in the engine and I guess it was because we really never got the car that hot so the oil never got hot enough I guess. After we would warm the car up better the condensation problem seemed to stop, unfortunately the cylinders and rings had evidence of rust so that didn't help seal it up either. I think we're going to get on a strict regimen of fogging the engine after races as well.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

These stocker motors we have built for the last 10 years or so sure resemble Super Stock motors more and more. As far as most of the trick parts any more, especially rods, it seems to enhance engine longevity more than about anything else. It's good to have a motor that you can lean on without worrying about it, however. One thing is for sure--technology marches on.Let's see it in another 10 or so!

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

Checking checking checking. Takes a while because I need to check, re-check, verify my re-check and then have someone else verify that :D LOL. Heads are finally together and going on the engine. Tomorrow we'll try to get the studs, guideplates, pushrods and rockers on.
https://i.imgur.com/Ihwe0Bm.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1PffjVx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FNL8XfH.jpg

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

During all the engine explosions we lost a nice set of rings I'm told, now I didn't know much about rings but I like to think I now know more, only a fraction, but more. And as the education continues I'm told that as much as 15% of total horsepower is lost to friction, which equates to a good bit. Now on to my comment, this engine had a set of speed pro rings that in the end I wasn't happy with but that's personal. I now have a set equivalent to the set we initially destroyed and I SO wish I had measured the engines resistance before it came apart because now it's way way easier to spin over with these rings.

Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.
 

I've heard some people say that they have assembled short blocks that will spin over on the engine stand and only need 3-4 foot pounds of torque to rotate the crank. Of course, this is without the heads on, but less torque to turn would equate more power left over at the other end of the crank.Best wishes with this latest incarnation and for a great season for you guys!!