406 Update

[markss327]

I worked on the fuel line a bit. Found a location where it was reeeeeeal close to the manifold. I relocated it, and put it inside some insulating tubing.

Also added 5deg of advance.....

The plan is to hit Thompson this Wed, the 29th.

[Fred32v]

Wish I could be there. Hope it gets cooler and doesn't rain. I'm waiting for the results.

[markss327]

This Wednesday, is a wash..... I double booked over a Scouting event. Duh. The plan now, is to hit 42 this Friday. As I look a 42s calendar, this weekend is a major event. Probably gona be a ton of cars. They still call for test n tune, and a gamblers for Friday.

[markss327]

The fuel issue still exist......

Run 1
R/T .0540
60 footer 1.8429
ET 13.4112
MPH 99.05

Run 2
R/T -.0290 (foul)
60 footer 1.8368
ET 17.6931
MPH 46.01 She just starved out.....

Run 3
R/T -.0319 (foul)
60 footer 2.0449 ? No idea...
ET 14.0749
MPH 99.35 starved out again, but stayed in it

Run 4
R/T -.0101 (foul)
60 footer 1.8170
ET 13.2801
MPH 100.42

Run 5
R/T .0810
60 footer 1.7809
ET 13.1791
MPH 101.05

Run 6
R/T .0430
60 footer 1.8430
ET 13.2809
MPH 100.90

Run 7
R/T .0148
60 footer 1.910
ET 13.7861
MPH 99.52 starved out again, but stayed in it

[Fred32v]

OOOKKKK!!!! Certainly worth the work, money, and percious time you invested in the new motor.
Loved run number 5, 1.7 60's. 13.1 @ 101. Super! For sure there is two tenths hidden there somewhere.
When it's 40 degrees some October Sunday, with lots of traction compound down, you should be in the 12's,
if you don't get there before then. That last reaction time was pretty good too. Great job Mark!

[Basement Paul]

Time for bigger fuel lines, and maybe a bigger carb (or more jetting). Have you checked the fuel pump or maybe the float level?

-BP

Oh, by the way, GREAT TIMES! Looks like you get the fuel issue worked out and you'll be knocking on the door of TireSmoker and MostMint. Heck, I bet if you open up the exhaust and you'll be right there!

[TireSmoker]

That's great that you're so close to the 12s on your *second* time out. And not that I'm taking pleasure in your fuel difficulties, I'm just glad that fuel supply issues are not just limited to EFI ..

1.7 60-foot is killer.

-Dave

[markss327]

I believe the root problem is the aluminum fuel line. (3/8in)
We all know the heat transfer properties of aluminum. Well, this is not a desirable trait with a fuel line. There are several places along the route from the tank, to the pump, that the line is real close to the exhaust.

In a previous post,

I think what's happening, is fuel, in the line, is boiling. The suspect location, is about 18in before the pump (mechanical), and comes within an inch (actually closer) of the exhaust manifold. My bad. My theory - once that spot moves to the pump, it takes some time to pass thru. Then the carb sees a big chunk of air, hence, a momentary loss of fuel psi. To correct the problem, will be an exhaust disconnect on the pass side, possibly starter removal -just to gain access to the fuel line, and secure to new location.

I felt I had an issue, where the pass exhaust manifold, and the fuel line, were less than an inch away from each other. Since that post, I've re-routed the line, and put that section inside a fiberglass/silicone sleave. However, further back, by the tank, and in front of the axle, there is anoter area where the line is too close to the exhaust.

The short term cure will be to insuluate the fuel line, where needed.
The long term solution... will be headers and new exhaust.

[markss327]

Last evening I took my son out for a spin in the Nova. He's 8. More of a PS2 kid than anything. Although he's in Basketball.

Anyway, while just putting around, the opportunity arose to let her rip, and so I did. Rt 84 west bound, just west of 615. Without warning my son, I 'ratchited' into low, and punched it. Dam near instantaneously, I'm on the rev limiter, and on into second. I'm feathering the wheel, to keep her straight, and before I know it, I'm on the rev limiter again. Into third and lift. Well, Dan looks at me, and says - "WOW Dad, can ya do that again????"

Kids are cool.

-PS The MSD 6AL has a 5800 pill.

[ttamrettus]

Awesome.

Hook'em and reel'em in. The more car guys, I mean kids, the better.

[MostMint]

Really cool. When mine were 3 and 4 I took them out in my Camaro. With the stick and the Z28 exhaust it is a little loud. After leaning on it one time one of them asked if we were racing - probably from hearing the sounds watching NASCAR. Now they think Rhonda's car is slow and the Camaro is fast, even though there is probably .5 second between them in the 1/4. Maybe driving style is affecting their judgement.

Gotta get him wrenching on it next. It requires some patience but I think it's worth it. If there is no actual sutiable wrenching on a task, learning where all the tools are and putting them away is a good start, also holding the light. I can remember holding the light when I was little.

http://upload8.postimage.org/697182/IM003256.jpg

I have another pic with both of them working on it. Maybe his sister is "me too", though she is not afraid to crawl under there and turn wrenches.

I already have a small block set aside for my son's first "project", should he stay interested in cars.

[markss327]

Well, Santa was nice to me this year, as he's left a monitory donation, in my stocking.

Headers were ordered yesterday. Nothing fancy, a place called Chevy2Only.com has a set for a 1st gen Nova with the SBC. $119 + $25 shipping. Fit has been an issue in the past, even the $450 Hookers, had starter and idler arm clearance issues. Then, Summit will be providing 2.5in, mandrel bent, 'X' pipe system (#642125). The 3in seems like over kill. Com'on 12.90s.

Also from Summit will be a Perma-Cool, (#185) 'sandwich adapter' to allow an engine oil cooler to be plumed. Note- the 327 ran with an oil temp around 200-220. Even on 90deg days. The 400, will hit 260. The gage goes to 300. As far as what's too hot... all I've read is that the oil needs to hit 212 to boil off any condensation that's accumulated. FYI, the coolant runs at 180, pretty much all the time. Summit will also supply an insulated carb spacer. This should alleviate my percolation issues.
... and who says 400s don't run hot....

Another project slated for our snow bound months, is to re-locate the rear axle back an inch, maybe an inch and a quarter. This will locate the wheel in the center of the opening, and allow for a 28in tire. I've designed an 'adapter plate' that will locate on the spring perch via a pin, and have a hole (offset the desired distance) to be part of the spring, via the center bolt. It looks like a short leaf, 12in long, 2.5in wide, and 3/8in thick, with a pin, and a hole.

[Fred32v]

The old Funny Car guys would move the rear axle forward. Do you need to worry about driveshaft length? It will be interesting to see how the larger tires make up for the reduced weight transfer when the axle is moved backward. All those Santa upgrades will surely add to the fun. Looks like 12's before Easter.

[markss327]

The old exhaust is gone. Everything. Hey BP, how many is this.... 4 or 5 I believe.... The headers are JR. Jackson Racing, I believe. 1 5/8, 16gage, 3in collector. Not equal length. I can't find any info on the net. A Google returns nothing of value. They gota go in from the bottom, so getting the car three feet in the air is the next procidure. I'm anxious to see the fit - oil filter\starter\idler and pitman arm.

[Basement Paul]

You go through exhausts like I go through cars...

If you haven't already bought the exhaust, can I recommend the 3" system? Just seems that if you're not planning to open the headers at the track, the bigger the exhaust, the better. Especially with all those cubes. I would think the collectors are 3" too.

-BP