Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

you have a nice rear end LOL

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

Thats a killer clean car to start out with,very nice.Will be watching for updates and pictures.

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

Do I get to drive it &quot;once&quot; when it's done? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]


wilma [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

will be waaay to stout for you Wilma.....old boy!

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

Hey Bill,
I came by this picture from along time ago. One of the best built cars I ever owned. I sold it because I wanted a numbers cars. 20/20 hindsight, it was not one of my better moves.

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

Yea, 20 20 hindsight, I shouldn't have sold it. That was my 1st modern day restoration. I got that car in boxes. I had a lot of fun in that noisy hot rod. Thanks for the memories Mark...

I got into the numbers too. Built 2 numbers/trailer queens, and now I'm back to building this Nova. Lots of progress/not much that I can show with pictures. Spent the past several weeks building a motor. I have the big block all assembled, and ready for a coat of Chevy orange/maybe tomorrow...

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

I haven't done an update for a while. Not much to post pictures about, but I got a lot done in the past month or so. I pretty much got the whole motor built. It just needs a few external parts, like the smog system, fan, plugs/wires, etc. All easy stuff.

I have to send out a huge thanks to Bill Waters, who took me thru the whole engine build. He made the mistake of answering my 1st email about building the 454 I'd just picked up. From there Bill had great advise every step of the way, from the crank, rods, pistons, to building the heads, and everything else that went into this build. We have probably a hundred emails between us, from early morning, to late at night, every day since day 1 of this engine build. Bill also had to deal with my very stubborn demand that this engine look very &quot;factory correct&quot;....so no headers, aftermarket anything.....not easy to do when someone wants to go fast, but look stock!!

Some engine details: Steel Scat crank, H-beam rods, forged low dome pistons, block and heads both decked, Chris Straub hyd roller, with Morel roller lifters, Cloyes true roller chain, and a Hays steel flywheel.

Heads: 781 open chamber heads, were completely redone, with bigger valves 1.88/2.19...pocket ported, Scorpion rockers, custom length push rods.....long story in itself. Bill was very patient as I learned the process for correctly measuring rods.

Then topped off with a 163 GM intake, and 780 Holley. Factory exhaust manifolds, but a free breathing ex system, to be determined at a later date.

Here's a few shots of the almost finished engine. It should make the little Nova move a bit better than the 155hp, 6cyl thats in the car now.

The M22 and rear are ready to go too. Not sure when the new drivetrain will go into the car, but it may be sooner than originally planned.


http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/e...psd708a78e.jpg

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps5ebe50cf.jpg

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/e...psa7eaa97c.jpg

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

It won't be a &quot;Granny&quot; anymore [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

wilma

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

This engine is going to get the smog set-up Bill?

Re: Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This engine is going to get the smog set-up Bill? </div></div>
Yes, it's getting the factory cast iron ex manifolds with smog. It will look like an L-78/COPO engine comp. Sort of a COPO Nova thing, with no engine size emblems on the body. Plain jane, big power plant/4 speed, 12 bolt.