Project 66 Nova - Page 17

Paul Merolla · 07-21-2013, 02:12 AM

$17 worth of Hobby Lobby vinyl, and we're looking official. I wanted to keep it "old school."

mcink · 09-15-2013, 11:06 PM

Thunder Valley Dragways
Marion, SD
9/14/13

was great meeting you guys!

mcink · 09-16-2013, 07:54 AM

Alan Nyhus · 09-16-2013, 08:09 AM

Paul, it was nice to see your car at TVD this weekend and meet you (if only briefly). Your car is well thought out and nicely done....you should be very proud of it! -Al

Paul Merolla · 09-17-2013, 01:10 PM

Tim, thanks for the awesome pics - I enjoyed BSing with you.
Al, it was great to meet you, also. Can't wait til Kearney!

LIGOOMBA · 09-17-2013, 01:45 PM

Your thread is very inspirational ! I wanna got,stocker racing myself,but wet behind the ears.Nice build! Good luck with the car !

Paul Merolla · 10-29-2013, 06:09 PM

I thought I would do another post on this thread as a sort of "wrap-up" of the first season out with the car, so here goes:
I don't have my logbook in front of me, but I made around 60 passes with the car this year. Ran a best of 11.53 @ 114 in the quarter, and 7.25 @ 93 in the eighth...under the indexes, which was great at first, but we have a ways to go before I'm satisfied.
I managed to win some rounds, which is way more fun than losing.
I learned a lot about driving a racecar, mainly driving the finish line. Number one lesson: If it spins a little, DO NOT whomp it at the stripe or you will lose.
Number two lesson: If you see a sign that says "FINISH LINE," and it seems way too soon, it means you're only halfway there. (The quick 32 Ignite Series runs to the eighth, so the sign is for them) DO NOT let off the gas or you will lose.
All in all I had a great time and can't wait for next season. Engine came out last night and will get some upgrades over the winter...

Due to the pivot ball in the Quick Time bellhousing being too tall, I fought a geometry issue all year that resulted in this:

And this:

So the clutch will get sent off for a freshen, also.

My hope is to at least be in the running for class at the Class Nationals in May. I'm looking forward to that race like a six year old waiting for Christmas!

JHeath · 10-29-2013, 06:35 PM

Paul, I saw your car on the sportsman spotlight, with Alan Reinhart from Kearney, it was shown on ESPN3 during the Las Vegas national event, maybe it is on the NHRA website, maybe on the sportsman show from Vegas.

Paul Merolla · 10-29-2013, 06:48 PM

Awesome, Jerry - I was already planning to watch the ESPN3 show tonight, so I'll keep my eye out.

tj310 · 10-29-2013, 08:02 PM

Looks like the disc is touching the hat ? 10.5 disc too big ?---Trevor

07-21-2013, 02:12 AM	#161
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 611 Likes: 242 Liked 293 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova $17 worth of Hobby Lobby vinyl, and we're looking official. I wanted to keep it "old school." Attached Thumbnails

09-15-2013, 11:06 PM	#162
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Project 66 Nova Thunder Valley Dragways Marion, SD 9/14/13 was great meeting you guys!

09-16-2013, 07:54 AM	#163
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Project 66 Nova

09-16-2013, 08:09 AM	#164
Alan Nyhus VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lower Dakota territory Posts: 1,180 Likes: 1,074 Liked 799 Times in 236 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Paul, it was nice to see your car at TVD this weekend and meet you (if only briefly). Your car is well thought out and nicely done....you should be very proud of it! -Al

09-17-2013, 01:10 PM	#165
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 611 Likes: 242 Liked 293 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Tim, thanks for the awesome pics - I enjoyed BSing with you. Al, it was great to meet you, also. Can't wait til Kearney!

09-17-2013, 01:45 PM	#166
LIGOOMBA Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 12 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Your thread is very inspirational ! I wanna got,stocker racing myself,but wet behind the ears.Nice build! Good luck with the car !

10-29-2013, 06:09 PM	#167
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 611 Likes: 242 Liked 293 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova I thought I would do another post on this thread as a sort of "wrap-up" of the first season out with the car, so here goes: I don't have my logbook in front of me, but I made around 60 passes with the car this year. Ran a best of 11.53 @ 114 in the quarter, and 7.25 @ 93 in the eighth...under the indexes, which was great at first, but we have a ways to go before I'm satisfied. I managed to win some rounds, which is way more fun than losing. I learned a lot about driving a racecar, mainly driving the finish line. Number one lesson: If it spins a little, DO NOT whomp it at the stripe or you will lose. Number two lesson: If you see a sign that says "FINISH LINE," and it seems way too soon, it means you're only halfway there. (The quick 32 Ignite Series runs to the eighth, so the sign is for them) DO NOT let off the gas or you will lose. All in all I had a great time and can't wait for next season. Engine came out last night and will get some upgrades over the winter... Due to the pivot ball in the Quick Time bellhousing being too tall, I fought a geometry issue all year that resulted in this: And this: So the clutch will get sent off for a freshen, also. My hope is to at least be in the running for class at the Class Nationals in May. I'm looking forward to that race like a six year old waiting for Christmas!

10-29-2013, 06:35 PM	#168
JHeath Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 786 Likes: 2,876 Liked 370 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Paul, I saw your car on the sportsman spotlight, with Alan Reinhart from Kearney, it was shown on ESPN3 during the Las Vegas national event, maybe it is on the NHRA website, maybe on the sportsman show from Vegas. __________________ Jerry Heath I/S '93 Cobra FS/J 2010 Mustang "Ebay CJ"

10-29-2013, 06:48 PM	#169
Paul Merolla Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 611 Likes: 242 Liked 293 Times in 65 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Awesome, Jerry - I was already planning to watch the ESPN3 show tonight, so I'll keep my eye out.

10-29-2013, 08:02 PM	#170
tj310 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dresden On. Canada Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Project 66 Nova Looks like the disc is touching the hat ? 10.5 disc too big ?---Trevor

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