Thread: SHOOTIN FOR 12s.

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HI ALL. IM JUST ABOUT READY TO TOP OFF MY ENGINE IN MY 78 NOVA.STILL NEED A CAM AND INTAKE.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BUGGY IN THE 12s,OR PRETTY CLOSE. HERE IS WHAT IVE GOT SO FAR....78 NOVA,383.SCAT CRANK AND RODS.BLACK HYPERS,FLAT TOPS GIVING ME 10.75:1 WITH MY HEADS AND HEAD GASKETS.THE HEADS ARE BRODIX 200cc INTAKE RUNNERS,2.02&1.60 VALVES,WHICH ARE UNDERCUT AND SWIRLED BUT THERE IS NO CNC WORK.I HAVE 2 SETS OF VALVE SPRINGS,JUST HAVE TO CHOOSE THE CAM SO I CAN USE THE SET THAT MATCHES.THE CARB IS A HOLLEY 750 VAC SEC DUAL FEED,AND ITS LIT BY AN AFTERMARKET HEI BILLET DISTRIBUTOR THROUGH TAYLOR WIRES INTO AUTOLITE PLUGS.IM ALSO USING ROLLER ROCKERS WITH A 1.50:1 RATIO ON BOTH SIDES.MY TRANS IS A REBUILT TH-350 WITH A 3500 STALL SPEED CONVERTER,B&M FLOOR SHIFTER AND OF COURSE A TRANS COOLER.THE REAR END IS THE GM 8.5 WITH 4.10 GEARS TURNING 28 INCH TALL TIRES.DO I HAVE ENOUGH TO GET WHERE I WANT TO BE?WHAT CAM WOULD BE THE BEST CHOICE AND AS FOR INTAKES SHOULD I GO DUAL PLANE ORHIGH RPM SINGLE? IF ANYBODY CAN ANSWER THIS,I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME READING THIS!!! P.S. I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS WITHOUT SPRAYING IT.

That sounds like a nice set up for your nova . I think that a good cam for your set up is . Comp cams Xtreme energy #CS XE274H-10 IT IS 230/236 AT .050 AND 487/490 LIFT . This cam is big enough . For the intake go with the Weiand stealth air strike #8501 its a high RPM dual plane intake that makes big power . Try the 750 V/S Holley you have for now . I do think a 750D/P Holley will work better . COOL

I don't want to get your hopes up, but with a decent size cam and good traction you will probably see 11's. Are you trying to run it on pump gas? If you are, it's going to need a big cam to drop the dynamic compression down some. Especially with the iron heads. This is a crane cam that would work pretty well with what you have. Not very street oriented but it doesn't sound like that is what you are going for. It's a hydraulic, a solid cam would be a better choice if you don't mind adjusting valves. This should definately get you in the 12's with good traction.

Part Number: 110741 Grind Number: H-244/3439-2S-6
Engine Identification:
Start Yr. End Yr. Make Cyl Description
1957 1987 CHEVROLET 8 PERFORMANCE USAGE, GOOD UPPER RPM TORQUE AND HP, BRACKET RACING; HEAVY, PRO ET, SUPER ET, ETC., AUTO TRANS W/3500+ CONVERTER, 10.5 TO 12.0 COMPRESSION RATIO ADVISED. BASIC RPM 3400-6800
Engine Size Configuration
262-400 C.I. V

Valve Setting: Intake .000 Exhaust .000 HOT

Lift: Intake @Cam 3439 @Valve 516 All Lifts are based
on zero lash and theoretical rocker arm ratios.
Exhaust @ Cam 3500 @Valve 525
Rocker Arm Ratio 1.50

Cam Timing: TAPPET @.0040
Lift: Opens Closes ADV Duration
Intake 44 BTDC 76 ABDC 300 °
Exhaust 80 BBDC 48 ATDC 308 °

Spring Requirements: Triple Dual Outer Inner
Part Number 96802
Loads Closed 107 LBS @ 1.800 or 1 13/16
Open 302 LBS @ 1.300
Recommended RPM range with matching components
Minimum RPM 3400
Maximum RPM 7000
Valve Float 7200

Cam Timing: TAPPET @.050
Lift: Opens Closes Max Lift Duration
Intake 20 BTDC 44 ABDC 102 244 °
Exhaust 56 BBDC 16 ATDC 110 252 °

Thanks For The Advice And Hopes!!!i Did Forget To Mention The Heads Are Aluminum,i Heard There Was A Difference In Performance,plus I Know I Saved A Few Pounds Bolting Them In.til I Get The Trailer I Have To Drive It To And From The Strip.thanks Again!!!

If it's going to be mostly a strip/weekend car then that cam will work good. Make sure your springs are suited for it though.

Originally Posted by 69elko

If it's going to be mostly a strip/weekend car then that cam will work good. Make sure your springs are suited for it though.

If you run the stock power brakes like Novas like yours had . the larger cam will not pull enough vacuum for the brakes to work ! Go with the smaller cam . I do think it will still out power the bigger cam to . COOL

The cheapest way is to make the car lighter. Take out the inner fenderwells, remove the back seat, carpet, and sound deadener. Replace the front seats with a pair of plastic or aluminum seats (make sure you mount and brace them correctly), move the battery to the trunk, remove the front sway bar, and get all the non-essential components out from under the hood.

Every hundred pounds you remove is good for 1/10th of a second lower ET!!!!

I like your advice. That front bumper on the 1978 Nova is also not to light . Gut that car out ! I really would like to see this car make a pass . It should run low 12s

Originally Posted by tango

I like your advice. That front bumper on the 1978 Nova is also not to light . Gut that car out ! I really would like to see this car make a pass . It should run low 12s

Never have figured out why the engine seems to be everyone's major concern when building a performance car. There are so many other things that go into it. I always figured the engine was the easy part....

I Totally Agree That The Engine Is Just A Part Of The Whole Puzzle.i Have Other Things Done To It,just Didnt Want To Drag This Out.the Front Bumper Intact Is Very Heavy,gonna Strip It Down Or Go Glass.the Battery Is In The Trunk.i Pulled The Bulky Front Bench In Favor Of Two Light Buckets.also Took Out The Carpet And Sound Deadener To Do Some Floor Repair And Build Mounts For The New Seats.i Dont Have To Worry About Vacuum Issues Because The Car Has Manual Brakes.i Gotta Good Way To Go,and Theres A Lot More I Can And Want To Do.i Have A Few More Questions Ill Post Later. Thanks To All Who Looked And Added Input!!i Really Appreciate It!! I Will Post Numbers When I Run It.