The Nova is back for 2020
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 814
From: Portland, OR
The Nova is back for 2020 I built the setup in 2013, chronicled here. With the exception of a few, all the folks I chatted with and got help from are long gone.
Round 1 was SBE, ran 9.20
Round 2 was forged Rods, Pistons, LJMS kit, ran my first 8. Lost the thrust bearing...….was fine SBE.
Round 3 forged crank, better rods, got metal in the oil, my bad, but ran 8.76.
So here we are at round 4. Stewed over this **** for a whole year while I tuned and built other folks cars.
So new coated King main bearings, more clearance, new rod bearings, same Clevites, HV/HP Melling pump and a Moroso race 7+ qt pan.
No other changes.
It's done and running. Beat on it hard in the garage......boost on the 2 step, fans off temp to 220 etc. Filter is clean.
I'm done way too early as race season here in Oregon is a ways off. Cage needs recertified, belts replaced etc.
So fingers crossed, (I chronicled all my issues and errors in the 3rd gen internals area, no one cared.....ha!) I'll finally have a good season.
Goal will be 8.50 and 160 mph. Drive to and from.
Ron
Round 1 was SBE, ran 9.20
Round 2 was forged Rods, Pistons, LJMS kit, ran my first 8. Lost the thrust bearing...….was fine SBE.
Round 3 forged crank, better rods, got metal in the oil, my bad, but ran 8.76.
So here we are at round 4. Stewed over this **** for a whole year while I tuned and built other folks cars.
So new coated King main bearings, more clearance, new rod bearings, same Clevites, HV/HP Melling pump and a Moroso race 7+ qt pan.
No other changes.
It's done and running. Beat on it hard in the garage......boost on the 2 step, fans off temp to 220 etc. Filter is clean.
I'm done way too early as race season here in Oregon is a ways off. Cage needs recertified, belts replaced etc.
So fingers crossed, (I chronicled all my issues and errors in the 3rd gen internals area, no one cared.....ha!) I'll finally have a good season.
Goal will be 8.50 and 160 mph. Drive to and from.
Ron
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 993
Likes: 119
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
You got that goal in the bag. I wondered where the thread about your trials and tribulations was at. Caught a little on YB. I'll have to look into your thread here. Followed your build/s and learned a lot along the way. Appreciate it greatly! Coincidentally our goals are the same. Max out the chassis cert. No desire to drive in a funny car hoop.
Good deal, I was wondering what was happening after the last problem. Were you running
a turbo 400 when you lost the thrust bearing? I lost one in my old Buicks 6.0, I was running
a 400 at the time, later did the converter dump. Sup a 4L80E has an internal bypass. The
Buick was the only LS I ran a 400 in.
a turbo 400 when you lost the thrust bearing? I lost one in my old Buicks 6.0, I was running
a 400 at the time, later did the converter dump. Sup a 4L80E has an internal bypass. The
Buick was the only LS I ran a 400 in.
Hey Ron glad to hear your back at it. Been awhile since we talked about your car, but I believe it has a stock ecm on it??? I will say since we have talked, I have solid data that shows a melling HV/HP pump will literally suck the pan dry and cavitate under a full pass. This happened on my friends Chevelle. Car is setup to log just about everything with the Holley Dominator. I would definitely run it over a extra qt even with the 7qt pan. JMO Can't wait till racing season.
glad to here it is back. im sure it will get you there with some tweeking. im in the same boat. all new car to dial back in .. can't believe I sold my blue car and built another nova. but it has better parts and I can only hope it runs as fast as the old car. lol
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 814
From: Portland, OR
Th400. It’s been in the car since my big block days. All was good with the stock bottom end. But something went amiss with the Clevite bearings when I put in the forged rods and pistons and my guy set it up.
Hasn't been an issue since switching to a forged crank and King bearings.
The front pump was modified when I put the LS in.
I added a mod to the rear of the thrust to feed oil to that surface.
Hasn't been an issue since switching to a forged crank and King bearings.
The front pump was modified when I put the LS in.
I added a mod to the rear of the thrust to feed oil to that surface.
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