Saturday, February 28, 2009

Firehawk Mods Update

I've been sneaking in a little time here and there this week on the Firehawk. Man, I love having a lift in the shop! Sure beats lying under the car and pulling a tranny on a floor jack.

I got a good bit of time in on it today and the new clutch is in, the tranny is re-installed and the headers are bolted in as well. But I ran out of time and didn't quite get it all finished up. I still need to re-route a couple plug wires to clear the headers and weld up the y-pipe to the front of the converter.

While the alternator is off, I'll probably go ahead and throw the LT4 rockers on it, even though I'd rather drive it with the headers only to see what difference they made.

I also noticed that the rear of the torque arm had started to crack, so I degreased that and welded it up. Might save up for a tubular torque arm at some point, but we'll see how the stocker holds up for now.

Beech Bend opens up next weekend, so maybe I'll get some runs in on the new setup before long. But I really need to stop playing with the street car and get the Nova ready for race season. Hopefully I'll be out testing in it on the 28th at I-40 Dragway.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

This is my dad's '57 Chevy. We're about to finish a very long, frame-off restification. Pretty much everything was gone through. Only the tranny and rearend didn't come apart. The bottom is as slick as the top, if I may say so myself. It has a fairly mild 355 with dual 4bbls, Comp XE268 cam, double hump 327 heads, JetHot coated headers, TH350, 3.08 gears and 2.5" stainless exhaust with Flowmasters.

Our first show with it is in May, so we should have it done in plenty of time. I think it'll do well.

Look for a full webpage on 2QuickNovas outlining the entire build. I have a lot of pictures from various phases and will be sharing those with the world soon.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Death Nova blisters Vette


Here's an old one, but still a favorite. This was
shot at Lake Cumberland Dragway, which is
slated to reopen under new management come
April. WooHoo!

Death Nova Burnout Video

Firehawk Modifications Begin

I haven't added much of anything to the website about my other car.  Its a '95 Pontiac Firehawk.  Most of you will recognize this as a limited edition Firebird.  Mine is a LT1, 6-speed, "two on the left" SLP exhaust, black exterior, graphite interior and all stock when I bought it.
 
Its ready for a new clutch, so I've bought a F1 Stage 3 clutch and pressure plate.  While its up on my new lift, its getting SLP stainless headers and rear lower control arm relocation brackets.
 
I've also got LT4 full roller rockers, LT4 knock sensor and I may fab up a custom torque arm mount to get the load off the tranny. 
 
In stock form on 245 Nitto drag radials, it ran 13.65@101 with a pretty bad 60'.  If I can hook it without tearing out the rearend, I'm hoping to get it to run a 12.999 in good weather. 
 
Stay tuned and find out if I'm successful.

Saturday, February 21, 2009


Here's a good shot that Angella took (Craig's wife and proprietor of Angella's Originals Photography) at the 10th Annual Nova Listserv Gathering last summer.

Death Nova Winter Upgrades

I'm making a few changes this winter due to rules revisions in Outlaw 8.5 at Ohio Valley Dragway (that's where I'll be running for points this year). The nitrous jet is being severely limited, so I've got to find some power elsewhere.

So the Nova is getting new headers, a vacuum pump, a new cam and I may test a couple different nitrous plates to see if one will make more power than my old school Big Shot plate.

I'm also getting a little weight out of the car with a rack-n-pinion setup and mini-Nippondenso alternator.

Hey look, they've added a blog

Yep, I've added a blog. What the heck, might as well try it. Could be fun.

Look for racing updates here, as well as anything else I decide to blab about.