Thread: My lil rat motor Nova

wtf............................................... .......................

Originally Posted by Executioner

Hey fartblossom, I wanna ride in that slug-Nova when I get back! Oh yeah no seats...........guess I'll just have to drive it then,it's all good

One seat, and that is it.. kinda empty in there..

I am still workin on it, after getting the formula back up and running I think I might just got alittle bigger in the Nova, and take my time, and make it better than where it is rightnow.. I am not impressed with it, after driving it back to back with the Bird, its not enough ... I want more!!!! Even on a good sized shot, I think my money would be better spent on a Carb'd 6.0L LS motor...

We will see.. first things first, I am working out the Formula, and getting it dialed in right, I dont want to just win, I want to make you rebuild your car!!!!

So, I was cleaning out one of the rubbermaid tubs that I keep new/old parts that I hang onto, and I found this cool little spacer/button deal!! Its the damn cam button for the Nova!!! Which would kinda tell me why this things timing has been jumping all over the place!!! I am a dummy.. So I am going to get it back into the garage, and fix that.. I couldnt for the life of me, figure out why the timing was jumping all over.. I could set it, to TDC, then the next day, find that it wouldnt start, and I would check the Rotor, on the Dist, and be off by ALOT.. really had me guessing..

Live and learn..

Man, that lil button would have made things a lot easier. You set timing on that thing like 20 times.

yeah, that little button would of kept the cam pushed back enough to "keep" timing too.. basicly it was just moving forward enough to slip a few teeth between the dist shaft gear, and the cam.. I guess you live and learn.. I have alot more living to do.. so I hope the learning comes along too.. on Comps site it shows that a normal end-play would of been .005 ... I never even looked at it.. just slid it in, and bolted it back up, made sure it was degreed correctly, and ran it.. might even kinda explain the lifter and push rod on the Exh of #8 getting pushed out the hole.. IDK.. but just glad I didnt learn this lesson the hard way, and break this motor.. She does still build alot of crank-case pressure.. so I am going to get this fixed, and go from there...

does it have a roller camshaft?A cam button isnt required in alot of instants,I would say u have other issues.

Hyd roller.. yes, and the deal on comps site, said it is required.. they also note that a slim stamped timing cover will not do the trick... I am going to take it apart, and start over.. check everything over, and see what the deal is.. but as of now, I do know that button is not installed, and could of caused my timing to "slip" like it did.. a number of times..

hell.. might wait, and see what I cant stuff this one with.. but really I would rather just swap in a LQ block, and go from there..

Cam thrust with a thrust washer should be .010-.012 with a thrust bearing it should be 0-.005. I agree with Nate...I think you may have other issues. Just my humble opnion.

Glen

Thanks, I trust you guys 100%, I just am goin to take it apart to figure out what the deal is.. The only reason I am so stuck on this, is that I have replaced the Dist. Re-checked the cam degree, had the heads off to verify tdc, and I can't come up with anything else... Either way, I should know what's up next week, when I tear into it.

Thanks again

you touched it its doomed!!!

just my .02 cents