Corn Nova
10-07-2008, 01:17 PM
I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m a newbie out of Michigan. I have a 1971 Nova SS that has been off the road for 14 years waiting for a complete overhaul and face lift. It has a 23 year old poorly prepped paint job and some cancer in the floors. Other than that, it’s a nice car and a great starting point for a pro-touring ride. It looks pretty raggedy from sitting (the storage area had a bird perched above it) but all-in –all not bad. The outside sheet metal is good, it currently has a mild built small block, Muncie 4-speed and a 12-bolt with 3.73’s which will have to do for now. It will be a slow project as funds allow, but this is sort of what I have in store for it:
Project “Corn-Fed” 1971 Chevy Nova
The purpose of this build is to create a vehicle that follows the “Pro-Touring” & “G-Machine” theme that can be driven daily to work, hold it’s own at the road race course and still tear up the quarter-mile. I understand that not everyone has an unlimited budget, access to a dedicated shop with all the latest and greatest tools or superior fabrication skills to be able to build a six-figure, award-winning work of art. This car is going to be something the “Average Joe” could both afford and build in his own garage. In fact, this car will mostly be built in a 1-1/2 car garage with minimal fabrication and mostly bolt-on parts. About the only major fabrication required for this car will be new floors, mini-tub & taking out the factory frame rails and replacing them with 2x3 formed rails. This is not needed for most cars, but this car had the front of a rear leaf spring come thru the floor and kinked the driver side frame rail. We aren’t fabricating one-off control arms, brake caliper brackets, cage kits, motor mounts, etc.
I am going for a classic, yet original non-trendy look. Grays, silvers and blacks are timeless and I feel will always be in style. The car is an “SS”, but I have always liked the “Yenko Deuce” stripe on the ’70 Yenko Novas. I’m leaning towards a dark grey body color with a charcoal Yenko Deuce painted stripe package and leave on the “SS” trim. This should give it a subtle look since the Deuce stripes are pretty big and bold. I’m going “Nostalgic” on the wheels and more than likely using American Racing’s grey painted Cobra 427 wheels (without the knock off caps) in 17” diameter. I think that will keep the whole look modern with a classic touch.
I want an engine that can put out big power (in a usable street RPM range), be low maintenance and street friendly. I have decided to build a simple 12.5:1 compression, tried and trued 383 stroked Small Block Chevy that will run off of E-85 Ethanol fuel. With E-85’s 105 octane, it will easily support the high compression, plus the added benefit of having “inexpensive, high-octane” fuel available at the pump for less money than premium gasoline.
Engine
Displacement: 383 C.I.
Estimated Power: 575HP @ 6,000 RPM / 580TQ @ 4,500 RPM
Compression ratio:12.5:1
Fuel: E-85 Ethanol
Block: Stock GM 2-bolt converted to 4-bolt billet main caps
Crank: K1 3.750” stroke forged 4340 steel
Rods: K1 6.000” forged 4340 steel H-beam w/ ARP 2000 bolt upgrade
Pistons: Mahle or Wiseco forged aluminum 4.030” bore, 6cc or 8cc dome, 1.125” C/H
Heads: Brodix or Edelbrock aluminum 64cc combustion chambers, 180 or 200cc runners
Intake: Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap
Carburetor: Quick Fuel E85 750CFM
Carburetor Spacer: HVH Street Sweeper 1”
Camshaft: Competition Cams XE276HR
Front Suspension & Brakes
Control Arms: Upper & lower tubular control arms with Del-A-Lum bushings
Shocks & Springs: QA1 #GMP1350-1 single adjustable coil-over kit w/ #350 springs
Body Mounts: Global West #801, ½” drop aluminum
Sway Bar: Hotchkis
Tubular Tie Rod Adjusters: Hotchkis
Brake Kit: 13” Baer Track Plus, 2-pc drilled & slotted rotors
Proportioning Valve: Allstar Performance
Rear Suspension & Brakes
Frame Rails: Competition Engineering #C3016 2”x3” formed frame rails
Frame Connectors: Competition Engineering #3016 weld-in frame connectors
Mini-Tub: Either modify DSE or modify stock housings
Rear End: 12 bolt narrowed, 3.73, Detroit Tru-Trac
Watts Link: Fays 2
Shocks: QA1 #TC1661’s
Springs: Drop leaf springs with Del-A-Lum spring and shackle bushings and Watts Link
Brake Kit: 13” Baer Track Plus, 2-pc drilled & slotted rotors
Wheels & Tires
Front: 17x9.5, 275/40/17
Rear: 17x11, 315/35/17
Exhaust
Headers: Dynatech coated long tube, 1-3/4” to 1-7/8” stepped with 3” collector
Exhaust: Magnaflow stainless steel 3” diameter with “X” pipe
Cut-Outs: Race Ready Performance 3” diameter electric cut-outs
Interior
Gauges: Stewart Warner silver faced full gauge set: Speedo, Tach, oil pressure, water temp, oil temp, fuel pressure in the dash. Fuel level, volt, wide band air/fuel ratio & D-PIC in console.
Seats: Either Scat Rally or Sparco Steel seats
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Project “Corn-Fed” 1971 Chevy Nova
The purpose of this build is to create a vehicle that follows the “Pro-Touring” & “G-Machine” theme that can be driven daily to work, hold it’s own at the road race course and still tear up the quarter-mile. I understand that not everyone has an unlimited budget, access to a dedicated shop with all the latest and greatest tools or superior fabrication skills to be able to build a six-figure, award-winning work of art. This car is going to be something the “Average Joe” could both afford and build in his own garage. In fact, this car will mostly be built in a 1-1/2 car garage with minimal fabrication and mostly bolt-on parts. About the only major fabrication required for this car will be new floors, mini-tub & taking out the factory frame rails and replacing them with 2x3 formed rails. This is not needed for most cars, but this car had the front of a rear leaf spring come thru the floor and kinked the driver side frame rail. We aren’t fabricating one-off control arms, brake caliper brackets, cage kits, motor mounts, etc.
I am going for a classic, yet original non-trendy look. Grays, silvers and blacks are timeless and I feel will always be in style. The car is an “SS”, but I have always liked the “Yenko Deuce” stripe on the ’70 Yenko Novas. I’m leaning towards a dark grey body color with a charcoal Yenko Deuce painted stripe package and leave on the “SS” trim. This should give it a subtle look since the Deuce stripes are pretty big and bold. I’m going “Nostalgic” on the wheels and more than likely using American Racing’s grey painted Cobra 427 wheels (without the knock off caps) in 17” diameter. I think that will keep the whole look modern with a classic touch.
I want an engine that can put out big power (in a usable street RPM range), be low maintenance and street friendly. I have decided to build a simple 12.5:1 compression, tried and trued 383 stroked Small Block Chevy that will run off of E-85 Ethanol fuel. With E-85’s 105 octane, it will easily support the high compression, plus the added benefit of having “inexpensive, high-octane” fuel available at the pump for less money than premium gasoline.
Engine
Displacement: 383 C.I.
Estimated Power: 575HP @ 6,000 RPM / 580TQ @ 4,500 RPM
Compression ratio:12.5:1
Fuel: E-85 Ethanol
Block: Stock GM 2-bolt converted to 4-bolt billet main caps
Crank: K1 3.750” stroke forged 4340 steel
Rods: K1 6.000” forged 4340 steel H-beam w/ ARP 2000 bolt upgrade
Pistons: Mahle or Wiseco forged aluminum 4.030” bore, 6cc or 8cc dome, 1.125” C/H
Heads: Brodix or Edelbrock aluminum 64cc combustion chambers, 180 or 200cc runners
Intake: Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap
Carburetor: Quick Fuel E85 750CFM
Carburetor Spacer: HVH Street Sweeper 1”
Camshaft: Competition Cams XE276HR
Front Suspension & Brakes
Control Arms: Upper & lower tubular control arms with Del-A-Lum bushings
Shocks & Springs: QA1 #GMP1350-1 single adjustable coil-over kit w/ #350 springs
Body Mounts: Global West #801, ½” drop aluminum
Sway Bar: Hotchkis
Tubular Tie Rod Adjusters: Hotchkis
Brake Kit: 13” Baer Track Plus, 2-pc drilled & slotted rotors
Proportioning Valve: Allstar Performance
Rear Suspension & Brakes
Frame Rails: Competition Engineering #C3016 2”x3” formed frame rails
Frame Connectors: Competition Engineering #3016 weld-in frame connectors
Mini-Tub: Either modify DSE or modify stock housings
Rear End: 12 bolt narrowed, 3.73, Detroit Tru-Trac
Watts Link: Fays 2
Shocks: QA1 #TC1661’s
Springs: Drop leaf springs with Del-A-Lum spring and shackle bushings and Watts Link
Brake Kit: 13” Baer Track Plus, 2-pc drilled & slotted rotors
Wheels & Tires
Front: 17x9.5, 275/40/17
Rear: 17x11, 315/35/17
Exhaust
Headers: Dynatech coated long tube, 1-3/4” to 1-7/8” stepped with 3” collector
Exhaust: Magnaflow stainless steel 3” diameter with “X” pipe
Cut-Outs: Race Ready Performance 3” diameter electric cut-outs
Interior
Gauges: Stewart Warner silver faced full gauge set: Speedo, Tach, oil pressure, water temp, oil temp, fuel pressure in the dash. Fuel level, volt, wide band air/fuel ratio & D-PIC in console.
Seats: Either Scat Rally or Sparco Steel seats
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