Hi, new from CA

[71 Nova]

Hi guys. New guy from the CA central coast. I stumbled on the site yesterday. It looks very interesting, I'm sure I'll be spending a lot of time here.

I have a 71 Nova I drag race. I recently bought a 408 SBC from a renowned engine builder who frequents this site (I won't name names, but his initials are Awesome Bill, oops did I say that?). The 408 has a Dart Little M Sportsman block, Dart Iron Eagle 230cc heads, a big Lunati cam, 13.5:1 compression, 4340 crank, H beam rods, etc. It makes 650 hp and has a real nice flat torque curve. Should be fun! Got it running last week and hope to finish it up this weekend. Then plan an outing to the local drag strip. Hope to run mid 10's with this combo in a 3200 lb car.
Now where is that nitrous bottle??? :D

[lun40119]

Looks like a nice mill, new guy, nice to meet you and welcome. At 3200lbs, and 650 HP, that thing should (when you get the car tuned up) run 10.0's to a possible 9.9x. Good luck.

[71 Nova]

Thanks! Low 10's would be very nice!
The name's Ken, BTW. Sorry 'bout that! :o

[lun40119]

NP Ken, great to have you around.......

[Awesome Bill]

Hey Ken, hope you got the dyno video, I know he sent it. You did get the mid plate in the car? Looks good, when you know what color that car will be, let me know, I can have a real nice set of my v/covers made up the color of the car, then powder coated. They are killer. Let me know when you go to the track. 10.00's-10.50's depending on the car, gear, converter, driver etc is where you should be!

[Awesome Bill]

Ken, what is that little pcv looking line coming off the driver side of the engine for, both sides should evac into the header, with out mufflers, to evactuate the engine correctly. You could run 2 push in breathers but that only gives the engine 1" of evac, not enough. Vacuum pump or header evac is what you should have!

[Dart Vader]

Hey Ken, welcome to the forums!
Looks like Bill put together a nice engine for you. Let us know how things go at the track once it's ready to roll.

[lun40119]

What cam is in that motor???? Can you share some detail, or are you not allowed?

[71 Nova]

What cam is in that motor???? Can you share some detail, or are you not allowed?

Sure can, I don't think Bill would mind.

Awesome Engines 408ci Small Block Chevy
• Dart Little M Sportsman Block Prepped to 4.030″ Bore & 4.000″ Stroke
• 4.000″ Stroke 4340 Internally Balanced Steel Crankshaft
• 6.0″ Stroker H Beam 4340 Connecting Rods w/ARP 8740 Bolts
• Wiseco 13.5/1 Compression Pro Tru Series 2618 Nitrous Pistons
• Total Seal Plasma Moly Rings
• Dart Iron Eagle 230cc Heads w/49cc Combustion Chambers
• Head Stud Kit
• 2.080″ x 1.600″ S/Duty Stainless Steel Valves
• Rolled Radiused Valve-job w/ Bowl & Port Clean Up
• Manley 10° Titanium Retainers with Comp Cams Lash Cap 10° Locks
• Cometic Nitrous MLS Head Gaskets
• Lunati .669″ Lift / 309/317 deg duration / 114 deg LSA 4/7 Swap Roller Cam
• Comp Cams Extreme Duty Vertical Bar Roller Lifters
• Comp Cams Magmun Belt Drive
• Manley .080″ Wall Chrome Molly Push Rods
• 7/16″ Stud Harland Sharpe Aluminum 1.5 Roller Rockers
• AERC Professional Series 4150 Match Ported Aluminum Intake
• 850cfm Holley Pro Series Carb w/2″ Spacer
• Moroso 7qt. Oil Pan
• Mallory Comp 9000 Distributor w/Large Red Cap
• MSD Crank Trigger Assembly

Here’s the setup for my 1971 Nova:

Weight = 3120 lbs, with driver 3330 lbs.
14 point roll cage
TH 350 Trans w/ heavy duty hardened internal parts
4000 stall rpm 10" converter
10 bolt corporate 8.5" rear end w/ Auburn Posi and 4.10 Richmond gears
Moroso Drag Springs in front (214 lb/in)
Stock Multi-leaf rear springs
Competition Engineering 3 way adjustable drag shocks in front
Rancho 9000RS 10 way adjustable drag shocks in rear
Hoosier QuickTime Pro 27-10.50-15LT DOT legal drag slicks on 15x8" rims
Competition Engineering Slide-a-Link traction bars
---> Best time with my old 400HP 355 SBC, 150HP shot of N2O and a 2500 stall B&M converter: 11.41 @ 118 MPH, 1.669 60 ft.

Attached is the HP/Torque Chart from the Dyno Runs. :cool:

[71 Nova]

You did get the mid plate in the car?

I don't have a mid plate. Just solid mounts on the engine and a polyurethane mount at the trans.

[71 Nova]

Ken, what is that little pcv looking line coming off the driver side of the engine for, both sides should evac into the header, with out mufflers, to evactuate the engine correctly. You could run 2 push in breathers but that only gives the engine 1" of evac, not enough. Vacuum pump or header evac is what you should have!

It's just vent to a breather tank I had on the old engine. I have a PCV setup also.
I'll have to put an pan evac system on the list...

[71 Nova]

Hey Ken, welcome to the forums!
Looks like Bill put together a nice engine for you. Let us know how things go at the track once it's ready to roll.

Thanks!
Yes he did, I'm quite happy. Just a few loose ends to tidy up, then plan a trip to the track. Probably in Sept.

[car32]

hello. welcome to the dart board. glad to have you here.