One Guy's Garage 71 Nova TT 5.3, The Quest for 7's.
08-03-2015, 05:11 PM
#402
On The Tree
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Waukee, IA./Naperville, IL.
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Nate, any updates on your rig? DO you have a good pic of the front seats you used from Cipher? My brother in law needs a set for his 64 GTO and since you liked yours I told him to check them out.
08-20-2015, 06:43 AM
#403
I guess I'm overdue for an update.
Over the winter I pulled the engine/trans out. I wanted to take some weight off the front and decided to go back to an aluminum block. Built up another 5.3 (no funds for LSX) and used a Gen4 due to the siamese cylinders. LilJohn Wiseco pistons and Compstar rods. I had a LilJohn stage 2 cam in it but was just tired of the mild exhaust note and decided to try something myself. Ended up with a 239/242 on a 112 with .650 (yikes) lift. It sounds better and so far seems to work really well.
I had been having trouble with the 4L80E that was in it keeping the intermediate clutches alive. It was a newer core and they have a flat pressure plate instead of the more robust design found in the TH400 and older core 80E's. I tried a CK billet plate but it just warped again. I found a 96 model core and built one up with all the good stuff, super drum, billet input, etc. No transbrake for now as it just needs to stay alive until I swap to a 2.10 gear TH400.
Also in need of attention was the converter. The Yank PY3600 I had in it launched well but slipped a minimum of 15% up top. I had talked with Dusty Bradford on YB and he explained to me the inefficiencies of the bigger lockup converters once you get to a certain power level. They had just started building 9.5 core units (PTC) for the 80E. The same converter they use in all the 6-9 second TH400 and PG cars. It has to be non lock up but I don't care. I want performance. So far testing this year I love it. Spools 15psi on the footbrake with ease and I haven't been able to accurately test the top end slip yet but seat of the pants up top feels really really good.
Another thing I wanted to get done this year was to be 100% legal. The first two outings with the car were to acquire the runs needed to get my NHRA competition license. I want to try Drag Week at some point and have organized my own event call Drag Weekend this year. Also gave the car a little attention to make it legal. Trans shield and Stroud spring launcher chute were installed. Also working on a little Drag Weekend trailer.
We have a big event coming up next weekend Aug 29th with Grudge Inc taking over Cedar Falls Motorsports Park. They have a 28/29" tire shootout and also a street car shootout. I'll be running the street car shootout but actually just want to see what the car will do on what is supposed to be the best prep the track has ever seen. We'll see....goal is 5.40's, which will translate to 8.50's.
Over the winter I pulled the engine/trans out. I wanted to take some weight off the front and decided to go back to an aluminum block. Built up another 5.3 (no funds for LSX) and used a Gen4 due to the siamese cylinders. LilJohn Wiseco pistons and Compstar rods. I had a LilJohn stage 2 cam in it but was just tired of the mild exhaust note and decided to try something myself. Ended up with a 239/242 on a 112 with .650 (yikes) lift. It sounds better and so far seems to work really well.
I had been having trouble with the 4L80E that was in it keeping the intermediate clutches alive. It was a newer core and they have a flat pressure plate instead of the more robust design found in the TH400 and older core 80E's. I tried a CK billet plate but it just warped again. I found a 96 model core and built one up with all the good stuff, super drum, billet input, etc. No transbrake for now as it just needs to stay alive until I swap to a 2.10 gear TH400.
Also in need of attention was the converter. The Yank PY3600 I had in it launched well but slipped a minimum of 15% up top. I had talked with Dusty Bradford on YB and he explained to me the inefficiencies of the bigger lockup converters once you get to a certain power level. They had just started building 9.5 core units (PTC) for the 80E. The same converter they use in all the 6-9 second TH400 and PG cars. It has to be non lock up but I don't care. I want performance. So far testing this year I love it. Spools 15psi on the footbrake with ease and I haven't been able to accurately test the top end slip yet but seat of the pants up top feels really really good.
Another thing I wanted to get done this year was to be 100% legal. The first two outings with the car were to acquire the runs needed to get my NHRA competition license. I want to try Drag Week at some point and have organized my own event call Drag Weekend this year. Also gave the car a little attention to make it legal. Trans shield and Stroud spring launcher chute were installed. Also working on a little Drag Weekend trailer.
We have a big event coming up next weekend Aug 29th with Grudge Inc taking over Cedar Falls Motorsports Park. They have a 28/29" tire shootout and also a street car shootout. I'll be running the street car shootout but actually just want to see what the car will do on what is supposed to be the best prep the track has ever seen. We'll see....goal is 5.40's, which will translate to 8.50's.
09-03-2015, 03:44 PM
#411
4L80E and a new PTC 9.5 non lock that they just started doing. Dusty Bradford set it up and it is awwwesssommme!
I'll be there for Midnight Mania. Andy Fangman is a special guest doing a charity event so Im hoping they will prep good to get his 7 second ride down the track.
I'll be there for Midnight Mania. Andy Fangman is a special guest doing a charity event so Im hoping they will prep good to get his 7 second ride down the track.
09-03-2015, 09:06 PM
#412
4L80E and a new PTC 9.5 non lock that they just started doing. Dusty Bradford set it up and it is awwwesssommme!
I'll be there for Midnight Mania. Andy Fangman is a special guest doing a charity event so Im hoping they will prep good to get his 7 second ride down the track.
I'll be there for Midnight Mania. Andy Fangman is a special guest doing a charity event so Im hoping they will prep good to get his 7 second ride down the track.
09-29-2015, 08:18 AM
#415
Just going to copy and paste from my FB page as Im lazy this morning.
Just returned from One Guy's Garage Drag Weekend 15'. I did not compete but drove the Nova along with the gang and had a personal goal to run 8's at all three tracks. Cedar Falls was a quick stop as we had a couple hundred miles to go that night. I had expected Byron Dragway to be the best stop for me as they run a really nice operation down there. We had a little trouble getting it to hook at first but one of the other Drag Weekend competitors Erik Lawson went out of his way to teach my wife Stacy and I a few things about getting it into the groove! Byron staff also went above and beyond with track prep and gave me the best track surface I've been on. New personal best 8.63 at 157.9 with a 1.28 60ft. 260 miles north to the next track Rock Falls Raceway. I'm not much of a "No Prep" racer but that is about as close as it gets. I almost gave up after the second run with a loss of traction at the 8th mile but gave it one more run and got an 8.93 at 156. Three tracks, three days, three 8's!!
We made it back to Lakeville under its own power (800 miles total). I was prepared to fix anything with head gaskets, trans clutches, etc but needed only a phillips screwdriver to tighten the drivers mirror and a tire pressure gauge. So thankful for that. Big thanks to my wife Stacy Lammers Shaw for riding shotgun and supporting me, TPIS and Jakson Stevens for some last minute machine work, John at Master Transmission for working with me to get a 4L80E to live (2200 rpm is so nice on the freeway), and the whole Drag Weekend crew that made the trek and gave us so many laughs!
A little video James Hrovat put together for me from Byron. Check out his youtube channel, some other interesting stuff on there.
Just returned from One Guy's Garage Drag Weekend 15'. I did not compete but drove the Nova along with the gang and had a personal goal to run 8's at all three tracks. Cedar Falls was a quick stop as we had a couple hundred miles to go that night. I had expected Byron Dragway to be the best stop for me as they run a really nice operation down there. We had a little trouble getting it to hook at first but one of the other Drag Weekend competitors Erik Lawson went out of his way to teach my wife Stacy and I a few things about getting it into the groove! Byron staff also went above and beyond with track prep and gave me the best track surface I've been on. New personal best 8.63 at 157.9 with a 1.28 60ft. 260 miles north to the next track Rock Falls Raceway. I'm not much of a "No Prep" racer but that is about as close as it gets. I almost gave up after the second run with a loss of traction at the 8th mile but gave it one more run and got an 8.93 at 156. Three tracks, three days, three 8's!!
We made it back to Lakeville under its own power (800 miles total). I was prepared to fix anything with head gaskets, trans clutches, etc but needed only a phillips screwdriver to tighten the drivers mirror and a tire pressure gauge. So thankful for that. Big thanks to my wife Stacy Lammers Shaw for riding shotgun and supporting me, TPIS and Jakson Stevens for some last minute machine work, John at Master Transmission for working with me to get a 4L80E to live (2200 rpm is so nice on the freeway), and the whole Drag Weekend crew that made the trek and gave us so many laughs!
A little video James Hrovat put together for me from Byron. Check out his youtube channel, some other interesting stuff on there.
09-29-2015, 02:30 PM
#419
Thanks.Im going to have to switch out to manual brakes cant draw enough vacuum for this booster set up and dont want to add anotjer sysytem to car (Electric system).
