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This is the plug. I had a few 375 HP 70s, and was just curious...
https://i.postimg.cc/LX4zTMXw/heater-core-plugs-001.jpg |
Ah, ya beat me to it..Thanks.
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1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
9 Attachment(s)
Now some fun stuff... Engine assembly.
You saw the dirty photos... This took some effort to get the block this clean for assembly. Attachment 235681 Attachment 235682 My buddy Dereck Glesby the "muscle' for the job... and the brains... he is an aircraft field service mechanic by trade. He also has all of the trick engine assy and measuring tools to check clearances (rather than using plastigage). No surprises aside from a little extra effort to set the thrust bearing clearance. Attachment 235684 So... after we both misunderstood the Cloyes keyway instructions, I had to build a puller for the crank sprocket which we had installed incorrectly (couldn't wait the couple days to borrow one). Attachment 235685 And the pistons are in! Attachment 235683 Attachment 235686 Attachment 235687 Very light green hue on the cylinder walls is from the Total Seal "Quick Seat" powder for seating in the rings. I thought it couldn't hurt with this block only having been deglazed. Attachment 235688 Attachment 235689 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
3 Attachment(s)
Dereck Degreed the Cam.
I always use Cloyes "Hex Adjust" chains in my engines. You can dial the cam in exactly. This is a Crane solid 396 425HP spec cam (I think its exactly the same specs as the 375HP). I Reused the cam that was in the engine as it all inspected perfectly and I had marked the original position for each of the lifters. Plus no break in drama or worry about a bad core. Some of Dereck's fancy tools ! Attachment 235690 Attachment 235691 Attachment 235692 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
7 Attachment(s)
The oil Pan was replaced with a stock style Moroso as the original was beaten beyond repair from bottoming out on gravel roads :haha:
A little clearancing was required on the Moroso baffling to clear the factory windage tray studs. I also used a Moroso standard volume pump and pickup. Attachment 235693 Attachment 235694 Attachment 235695 Attachment 235696 Attachment 235697 Attachment 235698 Attachment 235699 |
Are those 30 over 402? I took all three 854 blocks and punched them out to 427, years back you couldn't get 402 pistons (oversize).
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1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
8 Attachment(s)
On go the heads... rebuild with New guides, Seals, and fresh Valve job.
Attachment 235708 Attachment 235709 The paint shop :rolleyes2: Is it wrong that I spent hours degreasing every nook and cranny with solvent and a toothbrush Attachment 235710 Attachment 235711 Using the tall intake just because I prefer the looks (I do have the original pancake manifold). Manifolds are ceramic coated. I went with non-smog, really not sure what was correct. For as long as I have known the car it did not have smog but... I've been told ALL L-78's were delivered with smog.:dunno: Attachment 235712 Attachment 235713 Attachment 235714 Big D buttoning things up. Attachment 235715 |
Saweeeeet!
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----Like this build a lot. It's your engine, and it's your car. Build it your way or no way! I have never liked the low intakes. I have always heard that fuel puddled up down in the low spots of these intakes!.....Bill S
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L78 Build...
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Many of the 854 blocks can go to 427 specs...we owned one and it ran awesome. Checking cylinder wall thickness is the first step...the 427 cubes are sweet :worship: |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
6 Attachment(s)
Big D's been a lot a help on the BIG PUSH to finish the car for the March 2023 local World of Wheels show. Here we are putting in the engine, trans.
Note we had also done the windshield.. I had previously picked all the dents, filed, sanded out and polished the reveal moldings. I was still waiting on the back glass... fingers crossed. Attachment 235740 Attachment 235741 Attachment 235742 Attachment 235743 Attachment 235744 Attachment 235745 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
10 Attachment(s)
Ooooooooo Gardner Stuff is SOOO NICE!!
I had an NOS heat riser (spot tigged in open position). Attachment 235746 Attachment 235747 Attachment 235748 Attachment 235749 Attachment 235750 Attachment 235751 Attachment 235752 Attachment 235753 Attachment 235754 Attachment 235755 |
Why is this build just so damn good?
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Great work and awesome car!
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Beautiful! Derek is a really nice guy, too! I had the pleasure of meeting him at Pavilions a few years ago :headbang:
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Those Gardner Exhaust systems sure do fit nice, don't they. Don't forget to install your inspection cover. Car is looking great, nice job.
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1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
9 Attachment(s)
Assembling the door panels.
Stripped off the old steel panel tops. Straightened out all the "teeth" of the panel joiners. Pre fit the inner window sweeps to ensure the staple holes were all ready to go. Some spray adhesive and lightly hammered the new panels onto the tops, then peened the claws with a small round headed punch. Attachment 235924 Attachment 235925 Spray adhesive and pull the top vinyl over, then install the sweeps. Staples were painted black after installation. Attachment 235926 Attachment 235927 spray adhesive, trim and wrap remaining edges. Attachment 235928 Attachment 235929 Attachment 235930 Align and install front panel retaining clips Attachment 235931 Attachment 235932 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
4 Attachment(s)
Rears, Repro pinch welds went directly into the trash and I used the best I could find from my used stash, resprayed of course.
Attachment 235933 Attachment 235934 Attachment 235935 Attachment 235936 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
1 Attachment(s)
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1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
5 Attachment(s)
Fender installation !!
I had measured and saved the fasteners and shim packs from final blocking for re-assembly. I also made some notes regarding exactly how I had assembled and final adjusted. After a small adjustment to measure and square up the cradle, they pretty much dropped right back into place. No drama... Oh wait... I had been storing parts in the basement (garage is attached to house). Upon carrying the left fender up the stairs for the last of many times... I tripped on the last stair and literally Body Slammed into the ground fender and all. Well I could not even believe it but there was only one very small scuff which I'm almost certain will polish out and one chipped corner which hides under the windshield molding. Luckiest day of my life ! Attachment 236075 Attachment 236076 Attachment 236077 Attachment 236078 Attachment 236079 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
3 Attachment(s)
And the right side
Attachment 236081 Attachment 236082 Attachment 236083 We're now getting very close to real time with the project... three weeks to the car show... lots to go |
Awesome so far~~!!!:worship:
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This restoration is incredible!!!
Keep the hits coming!!! Ryan W31 Body slammed a fender :-) |
Man, this car is coming along beautifully!
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1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
6 Attachment(s)
Some ugly jobs just get pushed out until the end.
Front inner tubs... scraping out undercoating. Attachment 236293 Attachment 236294 Attachment 236295 Attachment 236296 Attachment 236297 Attachment 236298 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
3 Attachment(s)
Somewhere along the way the inner splash shields were replaced with inner tube rubber installed with machine screws. Welding up those holes and a few others. Being careful to leave the original staple holes.
Attachment 236300 Attachment 236301 Attachment 236302 Then off to powder coat. |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
4 Attachment(s)
Back from powder, installing the splash shields. Making SST staples from lock wire.
Attachment 236304 Attachment 236305 Attachment 236306 Attachment 236308 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
9 Attachment(s)
The lock wire. I used the original holes for the new staples.
Attachment 236312 Attachment 236313 New Drivers side mud flap Attachment 236314 Attachment 236315 Attachment 236316 Attachment 236317 Cleaned up and re-used the old frame seal. Attachment 236318 Attachment 236319 Attachment 236320 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
7 Attachment(s)
Rear bumper seal. Wasn't happy with the repro piece so some heavy cleaning of the original was in order...
Attachment 236321 Attachment 236322 Using the original staple holes Attachment 236323 Attachment 236324 Attachment 236325 Attachment 236326 Had to slide this in for a peek Attachment 236327 |
----I used the same wire for several resto's, but I cut them a bit longer so it was easier for me to direct them thru the hole. Shortened them after partially folding them and then flattened them.....Bill S
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I have seen staples put in tabs bent wheel side and engine side. Which is the correct way or is there one?
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I have always wanted to know the answer to this question.
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1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
1 Attachment(s)
OK fixed those... upon closer inspection you can actually tell which direction the metal was pierced by the staple. Good to go
Attachment 236626 |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
4 Attachment(s)
After hours of cleaning and painting... Grill assembly!
NOS filler panel, Argent Silver, low gloss. Attachment 236627 Attachment 236628 NOS hood latch... Dereck Approves !! Attachment 236629 And it's in. Attachment 236630 |
Absolutely amazing restoration, but I Gotta say this,
put something over those heads... I was amazed your friend installed the engine without the valve covers, but seeing them still open to airborne dirt and dust is driving me nuts...:eek2: |
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Valve covers will be goin on shortly... did not want to take a chance scratching the Crane covers $$. |
1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard
3 Attachment(s)
Picking away at underhood wiring and further assembly
Attachment 236799 Attachment 236800 Attachment 236801 |
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