We could have gone to an 8-inch booster or a hydraulic brake assist system, but we pulled the motor out and clearance dinged the valve cover. Before dinging, we pulled the cover off to be sure it wouldn't interfere with the valvetrain components. Other concerns of foreseen header clearance issues prompted us to move on.We could have gone to an 8-inch booster or a hydraulic brake assist system, but we pulled Here with the motor back in place, it is noticeable the valve cover was modified for just enough clearance (1/8 to 1/4 inch). Looking at the previous caption, you'll notice the booster lost it tabs-we ground them off for more clearance (1/8 inch). Obviously, if you're doing a swap similar to ours, we recommend going to a smaller booster.Here with the motor back in place, it is noticeable the valve cover was modified for just Next, the driver-side header (2 1/8-inch tubes, 3 1/2-inch collectors, with Hooker's Ceramic Thermal Barrier coating (Summit PN HOK-2285-1HKR) was bolted on and we noticed the number one tube was rubbing against the steering column shaft...Next, the driver-side header (2 1/8-inch tubes, 3 1/2-inch collectors, with Hooker's Ceram ...The header was removed and clearanced for nice fitment and easy steering. On to the passenger side. If we tried to clearance the number six header tube, there wouldn't be any flow going through it. For this picture the motor is sitting up an inch to show the header clearance issue. We couldn't lower it into position. Not wanting to cut, bend, shorten, and weld the ceramic-coated header, we ended up cutting the TCI frame tube. (Note: TCI now has 2-inch headers available that fit nicely and offer more ground clearance than the Hooker 2-inch units). Since the car was at our friend's shop (Charlie's Auto Collision, Tuckerton, New Jersey), certified frame specialist Bill Muehleisen took care of business.On to the passenger side. If we tried to clearance the number six header tube, there would Bill cut the tube in three sections with a 1-inch V-cut at the rear, close to the firewall. Then the tube was turned (1/4-turn) away from where the header was interfering. The 1-inch V-cut section filled in at the front cut section. The three tubes were welded together, making it as strong as before.Bill cut the tube in three sections with a 1-inch V-cut at the rear, close to the firewall After smoothing out the welds and painting the frame tube with Eastwood Chassis Black, it's hard to tell anything was done. Now there was plenty of header clearance (1/2 inch) with the motor sitting in place.After smoothing out the welds and painting the frame tube with Eastwood Chassis Black, it' Even though we have a Performance Automatic TH400, Transmission Specialties 10-inch converter and a Currie 9-inch rear, we wanted shakedown time ASAP so we bolted in the TH350, driveshaft and exhaust (included in the Nova's purchase) to quickly get it running. Notice the small exhaust cutouts (eyebrows) in the transmission crossmember-they would cause problems trying to bolt up the large 3-inch exhaust.Even though we have a Performance Automatic TH400, Transmission Specialties 10-inch conver A Summit Protorque mini starter (3.1 hp, 342 ft-lbs torque, PN SUM-820323-M) features multi-adjustable positions and was able to fit with ample clearance between the headers and block. It has plenty of power and torque to easily turn over the big-bad 509.A Summit Protorque mini starter (3.1 hp, 342 ft-lbs torque, PN SUM-820323-M) features mult For easy plug and play, we ordered an MSD Pro-Billet distributor (Summit PN MSD-85551). It's the same type of distributor that ran in the 396 that previously resided in the Nova. It'll plug right into the MSD 6AL ignition box that came with the car.For easy plug and play, we ordered an MSD Pro-Billet distributor (Summit PN MSD-85551). It The MSD distributor comes with heavy advance springs which won't allow full timing advance until over 4,000 rpm.The MSD distributor comes with heavy advance springs which won't allow full timing advance We swapped to the lightest springs included in box so there would be full advance before 2,500 rpm. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book for quicker throttle response and lower e.t.'s.We swapped to the lightest springs included in box so there would be full advance before 2 Once the MSD distributor was dropped in, we neatly ran the MSD 8.5 Super Conductor wires (Summit PN MSD-31183) through the R&M billet wire looms (RNM-1102P)...Once the MSD distributor was dropped in, we neatly ran the MSD 8.5 Super Conductor wires ( ...We used our 15-year-old MSD Pro-Crimp tool (MSD-3505) to cut the wires to length and install the terminal ends for the distributor....We used our 15-year-old MSD Pro-Crimp tool (MSD-3505) to cut the wires to length and in First we installed the water-pump pulley, fan and belts for the alternator and power-steering pump. Then the radiator and shroud was dropped in-that's when we found out the motor sat roughly 1 1/2-inches to the left and a 1/2-inch higher than the stock location. We just moved the radiator and shroud (included with purchase of Nova-yes, the car was a great value) that much so the fan and shroud lined up and the underhood area was beginning to look nice.First we installed the water-pump pulley, fan and belts for the alternator and power-steer « | 1 | 2 | 3 | » | View Full Article By Dan Foley Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
