Update on alot of things/New Nova problem/Small kill

[Robs71Nova]

Allright kiddies. This may be a long post, but its a good "up to date" on what I have been doing. EDIT: After writing it, it IS a long post, but I think it has alot of "updating" meterial in it.

As some people know I have been doing a big block swap into my 71 Nova. Well as of around 6 days ago it was complete and I have been driving the car ever since. The car had a totally rebuilt 454 with lots of horserpower making goodies included, a new tranny with all new borg warner internals and hardened race sprags, along with a b&M shift kit, a new aluminum driveshaft, new aluminum radiator, new B&M rachet shifter and alot of other smaller things I dont want to name.

Well anyway the swap is done and as of now I have around 100 miles on the motor. The buddy of mine that did the swap knows me VERY well, and to insure that I dont get stupid during the break in period he rigged my gas pedal up where it will LITERALLY only go down like 1/4 of an inch. Even with my pedal stomped the most the car will tach is around 3000 RPMS. Considering my redline is in the 6500 range, and my square port heads dont start making power until around that 3000 RPM number I havent truly felt the power of the motor yet, but what little I have felt is awsome.

As to the "new problem" its no shocker really: TRACTION. When I first got the car I took it around the block by my house. I dropped the car into first and while doing around a 10mph roll I stomped the pedal (as much as it could be stomped anyway) and I was horrified to feel the car didn't have as much ass as I thought it would. I was running open headers and the car got louder, but it wasn't going anywhere and I couldn't hear anything but the engine. It wasn't until I went back around the block that I understood why I actually hadn't "went" anywhere.. dual black marks 20 feet long. I immediately went home and threw my slicks on the back and took it for another ride around the block. This time I started at a slightly higher roll.. around 20 and stomped it again. To put it bluntly the car hauls serious ass. From a 20 MPH roll I was still lighting the slicks up. My next project may have to be a more narrow rear end and wider tires, but thats in the future. I am gonna try to get some pics of everything up as soon as I get time to wash the car.

And now onto the "slight" kill.

Me and my girlfriend has just finished watching "Christmas with the Kranks" (not recommended by me BTW) at the movie theatre when it was time to go home. Our movie theatre is set up in a shopping complex, and there is an Autozone right to the side of it. Well as I was leaving I caught the attention of a 99 model mustang (the only reason I knew was because of the "35th anniversary" badges on the fender). It was a pretty sweet car with the dual exhaust, a higher then stock cowl hood, and a small body kit all the way around the car (not "riceish", but nice).

The best things about my Nova that gives it kind of a "sleeper" feel, is that we were able to fit the big block under the stock hood, and it sounds almost exactly the same as my small block Nova, until I give it the gas.

Anyway as I passed him in the parking lot he threw a slight rev which I didn't return. He then proceeded to get on the highway and follow behind me about half a mile. He then got on the side of me and gave me a "I know something you dont" look. I returned the look because the guy really had no idea as to what was about to happen. Anyway he kept goosing it, running past me then slowing down to pace me. He did this 3-4 times trying to entice me to a race and I was trying my damndest to ignore him, me having a new motor and all, but I couldn't resist the temptation. He went to goose it again and I matched his pace at around 30 mph.

He was a standard and I'm an automatic, in 3rd and no detent cable(passing gear) hooked up (basically if the cars in 3rd, its not going to downshift automatically). Well I was tachin around 1700 at 30 Mph and as the guy saw me matching his speed he looked over and smiled at me. I told him to go, gave him a slight jump then proceeded to pass him/put a couple bus lengths on him by around 75 where my pedal wouldn't go anymore. Then I slowed down for him and he didn't have the slighest look of humor on his face. He then asked me what I had under the hood when I pointed at the "307" emblems around my turn signal bezel, smiled, waved, then turned off. I think I left the guy kinda pissed off, but HE picked the race with ME. As soon as I'm able to I will make the 80 or so mile trek to my "local" dragstrip and try to get you guys some times.

That may be my longest post ever..

Rob

[GritMaster]

Sheesh that sounds nice
Wow...

Damn....
hehe I'm actually speechless.
to toast a car being able to only use 1/4 throttle....
haha.... Jeez
That's insane And cool!
Hurry up and get it broken in I want some times and a dyno sheet... heheh

[jonnyboy9012]

Wow, i want to see a dyno sheet on this car. It is still amazing, you have to have an A$$ load of torque to be able to roast um at 1/4 th throttle. Well once those breakin miles are done i need to see some vids.

[Robs71Nova]

Tomorrow I plan on taking alot of pics, and I can show you what I mean where the pedal will only go down 1/4 of the way. By Christmas I should have a digital camera, then I will start taking videos.

Rob

[clawhammer]

How many miles does it usually take to break in an engine?

[-Josh-]

Depends on the engine...and depends on how your going to be driving it... Some would say wait until after your first basic maintenance(3K) Some say 20k miles, I personally think you should wait at least 6K miles to break it in, but then there are also people who say 500 miles....

[chevydrummer76]

haha he probably went home and cried because he thought he had lost to a 307.

[76455Firebird]

"He then asked me what I had under the hood when I pointed at the "307" emblems around my turn signal bezel, smiled, waved, then turned off." That guy's probably thinking, why didn't I go with a cobra? I just got my butt kicked by a nova with a 307?

[i3o2Matt]

lol damn thats awesome...i would have loved to see the nova do that first burnout...hahaha

but anyway...one guy i kno says when he puts a new engine in, he changes the oil at 500 miles, 1000 miles, 1500, 2000, 3000, then normal from there, and the engine lasts forever...

[Hypsi87]

do you have a turbo 350-400 tranny or an overdrive transmission? (700-r4,200-r4))

[Igovert500]

Judging by that description...I CAN'T wait for these upcoming vids.

[tha_new_guy]

Originally Posted by Igovert500

Judging by that description...I CAN'T wait for these upcoming vids.

Agreed. Once the engine is broken in, I say rolling burnouts while racing a Mustang...