00ZNewb

iTrader: (2)

Good God thats pretty. Now stick it in my f body.

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

I thrashed on it the past 2 nights and actually fired it up at 10 this morning. Without more than pulling it out into the driveway, I loaded up my daughter and drove it - open downpipes, the 5 miles to the middle school car show. It wasn't a spectacular maiden voyage but I drove there and back without assistance. Currently it's running open loop and I still had the stock MAP sensor so I didn't push it any. It was running hot, which I think is because the fans are reversed. Still a ton of things to get it where I can lean on some power, but I am re-invigorated by hearing it run. Even with open exhaust you can hear the turbos. I can only guess what they will sound like at WOT.
Proof that it left the basement:


I went back and looked at my original build thread post on our local car forum - it was August 15, 2009. Almost exactly 3 years - not exactly setting any records for fast builds but that wasn't necessarily my goal. But really, 3 years?

Bama99z

iTrader: (7)

Mr. C, congrats on the maiden voyage. I have a sneeky feeling that buisness will pick up a lot now. There is nothing more invegorating than hearing your own fire breathing dragon, for the first time to speed things up.

Pound away pal.

crosstraining

iTrader: (1)

Great work!! your are so close & I can't wait for some video so I can hear the turbos too!!

tsnow678

iTrader: (3)

"Work of art"!!! A true craftsman!
How much boost are you going to throw at it once its all dialed in? Power output expected?

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

To be honest, I don't really know what to expect out of it. I guess I'll just run it off the wastegate springs for now, and I don't even know what boost they will give me. Eventually I'll have to add a good boost controller so I can get the most out of my 275-60 drag radials. I would like to see 750 to 800 rwhp with pumpgas.

I swapped in a 3-bar MAP sensor later this weekend. Still trying to sort out the 3-bar enhanced OS. Seems like I don't have the correct offset for my sensor. I'll finish up the exhaust pipes and plumb up the wastegates and blowoff before I get it out again. But like Eric said, it really helps to at least hear it and see the compressor wheels spinning.

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

Over the past week I have manged to run a reference tube in ¼" stainless to my blowoff valve; corrected some problems in my 3-bar tune enough to get it running; re-wired my fans to draw through the radiator; and connected the passenger downpipe to the exhaust. Still have to finish the driver's side downpipe and connect reference tubing to the wastegates. Might be ready for another drive next weekend.

racerrit

iTrader: (13)

Awesome build! Wish i had a nice ol chevy to put my motor in but it will just have to live in a fox for now!lol

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

Finished up muffler & tailpipe supports last night. Finally cut off the visable part of my tailpipes under the rear bumper. I've been meaning to clean that up for a couple years now.
Reference vacuum/boost tubing to wastegates and blow-off are finished in ¼" stainless hard lines. Installed the IAT in the charge line. Going to install inlet air filters tonight, add my LM-1 wideband and ready to start tuning this weekend. My short term to do list is nearly complete. Still have to modify the driver's side inner fender. But I also have several long term changes like rear gear ratio (drop down to 3.08 or 3.23), methanol injection, and boost control. Might have some video to add soon.

hookemdevils22

iTrader: (12)

man, I'm going to be at the anniston army depot on business next week. I might just have to swing by and take a gander if you're free.

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

Absolutely. Huntsville is maybe just a couple hours north of Anniston.

Got the air filters fit up last night. Also ran it in the basement long enough to verify Fan #1 kicks on at 180° and Fan #2 on at 195°. With both running it dropped back down to 190° and Fan #2 turned back off. I'm cautiously hopeful that the cooling system will be adequate. I'll try to get the driver's side inner fender modified/installed this weekend and also plan some street driving/logging/tuning.

-TheBandit-

iTrader: (1)

Work of art man, I love it!

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

I need to find a good way to polish the aluminum tubes and top of the intercooler. I started on the intercooler with 3M pads followed by 400 grit flapper wheel, and Mothers polish but it all really needs a lot more work to look nice.

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

After working on the VE table with it idling in the basement, I figured it was time to build a little boost on the street. Oh my.... 10 psi comes on like a light switch. Street BFG Radial T/As won't hold in third gear @ 70 mph. I have to fix an alternator charging problem before I can test again, but I'll be fixing that with a quickness. Absolutely love the way this thing comes alive.

frojoe

iTrader: (10)

Congrats on building boost on the street!!

Bama99z

iTrader: (7)

Mr. C it was nice seeing you today. For all of you that have been following this thread let me just tell you that the pictures in the thread does not do this car justice. I was at his house today getting a friends car tuned and had the oppertunity to see the car in person. It is an amazing work of art. Congrats Mr.C, also thanks for taking the time to tune Tim's car as well. As soon as we left your house we passed a trooper coming out of your subdivision. Ya'll must of really been getting on the SS and pissed off the neighbors. He was able to really get on it later on and the tune that you put in it really woke it up alot.

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

This is my idea of a relaxing Saturday afternoon:


My tubing scrap box after the build:


Finally ready to hit the street:

Chevy406

iTrader: (12)

Spent a weekend without lifting a wrench for once. I took the Nova to a local car meet and got to catch up with a lot of friends. Then I spent the rest of Saturday afternoon driving, logging data, changing fuel & spark tables, and enjoying the drive. Ran 1½ tanks of gas through it without a hick-up. There are some things to change though. My well used PTC 10" converter is flashing to 5,900 rpm. That doesn't give the street tires much of a chance in any gear. I'll probably go ahead and make a few track passes as-is, but the converter will be coming out pretty soon to get tightened up. Fortunately I work close enough to PTC that I can drop it off at their shop. Also my thermostat must be 195°. I didn't have any over-temp problems in this nice cool air, but I would like to drop the operating temp down to 180°. Overall though it was a successful street debut.

Here's a couple fresh pictures out in the sunlight:







A little old-meets-new: Laptop computer & HP Tuners riding shotgun in a 1969 Nova.

Petraszewsky

iTrader: (28)

That aluminum will polish up nicely with 400, 800, 1000, 2000, 3000 grit wet sanding then some polish. Wenol Red and Blue are good polishes to hit it with at the end

hallofcars

I know most difficult weekends... U can be proud of U, sunlight sublimes your Nova!