I have been looking into building one of these for a 3200# street- strip nova.
I’ve found some interesting things, and I wonder if some one can explaine them too me. Here are some of the posts I have found.


“I have got a steel headed496 last pass out car went 10'05 14-1/2 srps eagls rods/crank 748/748 comp roller merlin steel heads 456gears I also have a set of slid-a-links on the rear. 28x11.50 et sts. I shift the car @ 7000 goes thur the traps @7200 Hope this helps”

“454, 70 over with a quarter stroke. Eagle rods and Crank, SRP pistons, Merlin alum. heads. Chet Herbert Cam about a .780 lift. 1050 dominator, Powerglide, Currie Racing 9 inch rearend with 4:56 gears. My car is a '66 Nova SS that weighs 2830 with me in it. Best time 9:74 at 135 mph.”

I was under the impression that this can be achieved with less compression and gear?
I thought this combo was a tork monster, that’s why I don’t understand the 4:56 gear.

I would like to build a 489/496 using:
10.25:1 compression
DART Iron eagle heads (308)
3.70 rear gear
28” tall tires

What’s the best possible ET I could expect in a 3200# car with a combo matched around those parameters.
I am hoping for 11’s, am I totally off base here? Do I need the 13:1 compression and the 4.56 gears?

I’m confused

Aaron

10.05 and 9.74 is ALOT faster than 11.50.... Assuming your fuel system is up to snuff and you have a cam that is in the ballpark you should be easily into the 11's IF you can get traction. I'm not only hoping, but EXPECTING solid 11's with the "mild" 496 I'm sticking in my 3700.lbs chevelle with 3.73's graemlins/beers.gif

gears would help to get in the power band more.

I guess I should have been more clear.

In the past I thought I wanted to build a hi compression 427 (.060 over) and run 4.30 gears with 28"tall tires shifting about 7k+ and dipping into the 10's

I figured with the bigger cubic inches, I would not have to turn 7k+rpms. So I would be able to run 3.70 or 3.90 gears and spin 6K+

I guess that's what i was thinking.
it just seems that one could use a stock stroke 454 and build it to turn 7k+ and run the same numbers- then the longer stroke would be a waste of money? does that make sense?

Originally posted by 71 NOVA:


What’s the best possible ET I could expect in a 3200# car with a combo matched around those parameters.
I am hoping for 11’s, am I totally off base here? It depends on the final combo!

Originally posted by 71 NOVA:
Do I need the 13:1 compression and the 4.56 gears?NO! graemlins/hurray.gif


Originally posted by 71 NOVA:
I’m confused

Aaron I believe you're confused because there are many ways to accomplish the same thing and when you saw those posts you lost track of your goals, ie: 10.25:1 CR and the 3.70 gears. If you watch the posts from people like mc71454 for example, with his 3.55 gears running in the 10's with his fat Monte, it will get you back on track. ;)

You should be able to get into the 11's with a 496 in your relatively lightweight Nova standing on your head. tongue.gif

Rod

From a fellow Nova owner,
I have a 69 Nova. With an oval port (Edel Heads) 468, 9:1 CR, Ultradyne solid cam, I went 10.9 @ 122. Gears were 4.10, 29x10 slicks and a 10" converter.
A drive it to the track pump gas deal.
I am nearing completion of a 496 tht I hope will tickle the 10.3 range....with a little tuning. I will start with the 4.10 gear, but it might like a 3.73 better.
My car BTW weighs 3500 or so with me in it. (I'm 200lbs my own bad self)
I kind of doubt you can get a street/strip Nova to 3200 with you in it. Especially since it will need a roll bar/cage and since you will have iron heads.
Should be an easy high 10 second car. Leaf spring cars tend to be easy to hook up!
Have fun,
Ron

Originally posted by Ron454:
From a fellow Nova owner,
I have a 69 Nova. With an oval port (Edel Heads) 468, 9:1 CR, Ultradyne solid cam, I went 10.9 @ 122. Gears were 4.10, 29x10 slicks and a 10" converter.
A drive it to the track pump gas deal.
I am nearing completion of a 496 tht I hope will tickle the 10.3 range....with a little tuning. I will start with the 4.10 gear, but it might like a 3.73 better.
My car BTW weighs 3500 or so with me in it. (I'm 200lbs my own bad self)
I kind of doubt you can get a street/strip Nova to 3200 with you in it. Especially since it will need a roll bar/cage and since you will have iron heads.
Should be an easy high 10 second car. Leaf spring cars tend to be easy to hook up!
Have fun,
Ron Cool, that is what i had hoped to hear.
It's going to be interesting to see how much this car really weighs.

Wow! Your combo with 9:1 compression running 10.9! I'm impressed! Heavy car is gonna need lower gears to get it moving! Goodluck! :cool: