Project: Hot rodding a 69 Nova

[Bill Rose]

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 "factory correct"....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.

[WILMASBOYL78]

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

wilma

[Salvatore]

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

[Bill Rose]

<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.