69 Nova LS1 mini-makeover, T56 conversion and season prep

[NOPANTS68]

Hello all- I've been nusy getting the Nova ready for the coming season. My gang is heading down to Del Mar again and after last year's fiasco (loose converter and a bunch of gear meant 55 mph freeway speeds for 44 miles) I sprung for the T56 swap. My tunnel was already cut for a TKO600 so it was an easy deal for the most part. I'm trying to get it in the 10s this year N/A. Other changes I made:

-ported and milled heads and ARP hardware
-notched the pistons for PTV clearance
-Katech rod bolts
-7.375 pushrods
-LS7 lifters and trays
-Monster stage 3 clutch system
-ATS firewall bracket
-ATS hyd system
-Quicktime scattershield
-Strange Eng. 3rd memeber with 4.33s
-custom shifter assy.

Notching tool installed:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/notcher.jpg

In process:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/notches2.jpg

cleaned up and ready for heads:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/notches.jpg

head porting by PRC- they flowed just over 300cfm at .600
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/portwork.jpg

LS7 lifter on the right:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/lifters.jpg

scattershield:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/qtscatter.jpg

notching the edge-a couple LSX guys recommended I do this as the bleeder hole is pretty tight. I'm sure glad I did. It made getting the tools up in there during the bleeding process much easier:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/notchscat.jpg

ATS bracket (super nice people at Speedtech BTW):
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/atsbracket.jpg

ATS hyd stuff welded up and ready to install:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/atshyd.jpg

Monster stage 3 clutch all set up:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/monster.jpg

A buddy at 3Am prepping for install (for no good reason other than killing a case of beer and some Guns and Roses CDs):
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/almostreaddy.jpg

In the car with all the gingerbread on it:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/Nova%20for%20sale/ls1rtsde.jpg

I'm so stoked and ready to see what it'll do. The swap should also make the Del Mar trip a blast. Hopefully I don't get into too much trouble at the autocross for the drag radials again. Thanks for looking, Dave

[67 LS1 Vert]

Nice set up. Looks a lot like mine. What brand catch can are you using?

[NOPANTS68]

Thanks, I think it's a Steff's.

[waynieZ]

Sweet ! It looks great in there.

[KPC67]

wow nice clean install:thumbsup:
is that a 5.0 shifter?

[NOPANTS68]

Yeah it's the Pro 5.0 power tower deal. Have not driven with it yet but it feels pretty good.

[Cris@JCG]

Very nice!! Intrested in cover that you used for wiring harness on the firewall..

[Ricochet]

Looks great Dave!! I think for the first time - I will be making it down there this year!

[osdmike]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/Nova%20for%20sale/ls1rtsde.jpg



Sweeet!!!:drool:


--

[NOPANTS68]

Very nice!! Intrested in cover that you used for wiring harness on the firewall..

that's a little bulkhead a buddy machined for me that has a snout that holds the harness through the firewall. It's a two piece design that clamshells around the harness.

Looks great Dave!! I think for the first time - I will be making it down there this year!

Good times Brent. We'll have to kill a beer together. Del Mar was one of my favorite events I attended last year.

[Rybar]

Very nice clean install. :yes: Got any pics of the entire car??

[KPC67]

Let me know how you like the shifter.:cheers:

[NOPANTS68]

Very nice clean install. :yes: Got any pics of the entire car??

Thanks for the kind words- here you go:
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/Nova%20for%20sale/front3qtr1.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/Nova%20for%20sale/rear3qtr1.jpg

Let me know how you like the shifter.:cheers:

will do- I'm doing a wierd pistol grip deal in billet so it might be funky but we'll see.

[Rybar]

Wow, that Nova looks awesome. Well done, really like everything you've done on it. :thumbsup:

[Flash68]

Sweet motor! :thumbsup:

[NOPANTS68]

Wow, that Nova looks awesome. Well done, really like everything you've done on it. :thumbsup:

thanks dude. I'm trying to get my RW close to yours. I think you have PRC heads as well?

[Rybar]

thanks dude. I'm trying to get my RW close to yours. I think you have PRC heads as well?

Nope, ET Performance 215's. I'm sure you'll get there with the carb intake.

[tones2SS]

Nice car. Looks great.:thumbsup:

[NOPANTS68]

Well, first track outing with the T56 was interesting. I didn't know how much grip the track had so I tried a small burnout and staged. I softly let the clutch out at 2500 RPM, the tires dead hooked, it rolled out 10 feet and nearly shut the engine off. I managed to keep it running, threw it back into gear and ran out a 13.0 @ 118. After another short burnout to clean up the tires I staged again. This time I dumped the clutch at 4500 and the car didn't move. It made a hell of a racket out back and rolled a foot. Turns out the bearing support in my stock 9 inch case snapped off sending the pinion walking up the ring gear and ripped the housing apart. After disassembly, I found a broken case, chipped ring gear, bent splines on the axles (Currie 31 spline) , and all of the studs bent (Strange 1/2-20s). The housing, locker, and yoke were all fine.

So...I ordered all new Moser 35 spline axles, new locker, Strange Pro-G case, new 4.33s, 5/8 studs, and billet pinion support. It might be overkill, but I also braced the hell out of the housing yesterday so it'll be ready for the next bullet I put in the engine bay. Lesson learned- stock 9 inch Ford third members don't like big launches on big drag radials. Pics:

Calm before the carnage
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/novatrack.jpg

broken case
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/splitcase1.jpg

new vs old
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/strangevsstock.jpg

braced rear ready for hell
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/bracedrear.jpg

Should be back on the road next week.

[waynieZ]

Yep you sure did some damage. That new housing should handle the extra power. Tha car looks great.

[BBC71Nova]

Impressive carnage :) . Is that the Magnum T56 or an aftermarket build-up?

[NOPANTS68]

No just a stock T56 with 70k on it. So far so good. I've got a couple buddies in the 9s with stock T56s so I'll just plan on upgrading it when it gets grumpy.

[6D9]

Dang! Gonna be stout now bro! Can't wait to hook up sometime this year at Sacramento. Trying to finish my BBC swap right now.

[Ricochet]

Nice carnage Dave! I doubt you'll ever have that problem again!

[NOPANTS68]

Dang! Gonna be stout now bro! Can't wait to hook up sometime this year at Sacramento. Trying to finish my BBC swap right now.

Let's do it! I had so much fun at this last grudge even though my car sat on a trailer. I tuned a buddy's car and ended up shaving 7 tenths. Let me know when you go and I'll do my best to be there.

Nice carnage Dave! I doubt you'll ever have that problem again!

Thanks Brent! Wouldn't be the start of a season without a destroyed part to kick it off right.

[Steve68]

Along with everyone else!! Nice job Dave!!!

[NOPANTS68]

Hey all. After saving and saving I finally got the chunk assembled and the housing, brakes, and axles together. It's back on the road now and getting broken in. I safety wired all of the ARP hardware and used a Strange Pro-G case so this won't happen again. I did find it noteworthy though that the Moser axles while ordered the same length as my Currie units, are about 1/4 inch longer. It looks like the difference is in the collar area near the bearing. I had to raise the rear of the car a tiny bit to keep it from rubbing in and out of driveways.

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/safetyfirst.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/thechunk.jpg

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/silverback427/nova%20stuff/newdiff.jpg

[6D9]

Looks beefy!!!

[rocketrod]

Awesome! Can't wait to see what she does at the track!

[NOPANTS68]

Me too. Got a couple of little things to tidy up and it'll be ready to try again. Gotta change my whole launch style with the T56 so it's a steep learning curve. Thanks for looking.

[6D9]

Mine should be done in a couple of weeks. But man I dont wanna hit the track in the summer heat. Most likley wont go until the fall air.