pitting a bbc and a th400 in my 71 nova that came with a 6cy

[racnrog]

does any one know if you have to modify the firewall if a nova came with a 6cyl and glide i have a gen 6 454 and a older th400 im going to build a 496 one day and want to get the chassis ready to handle the power just got an 8.5 been running the 8.2 dont think the 8.2 will handle the power i ran 11.09 @ 120 w 1.52 60ft. with stock axles luck id say its a 3300lb nova full body all steel and full interior with mufflers and 29x11.50 hoosier quick time pro and the suspension is almost stock just got drag shocks and slide a links and trick front springs and just put wilwood front discs and master cyl mew ss brake lines and tubular a arms upp n lower thanks for any insight this is my first big block been running 327 and 350s

[bbc68nova]

no you dont have to do anything to the firewall.
but you will need a small diameter distributer like a msd

the heaterbox
if you have one will be the only thing that will intrude in the installation

[racnrog]

thanks for the reply

[drummondracing]

If you have a non A/C car the heater box wont be an intrusion. you will have to run a msd or mallory distributor. If you have factory power brakes you cant run tall valve covers. this is all from experience hope it helps

[racnrog]

thanks it helps out greatly ill be good i got manual brakes and got rid of the heater awhile ago it just looks tight to the firewall with a sbc putting the bell bolts in and it looks impossible if a bbc was in there i was thinking of gioing with an alum. firewall but dont know if you need a blow proof bell so im not sure what im going to do id like to put the alum firewall in to clean it up and i got an msd dist. i had an hei n its a very tight fit thanks for all the replys

[bert]

(want to get the chassis ready to handle the power just got an 8.5 been running the 8.2 dont think the 8.2 will handle the power i ran 11.09 @ 120 w 1.52 60ft. with stock axles luck id say its a 3300lb nova full body all steel and full interior with mufflers and 29x11.50 hoosier quick time pro and the suspension is almost stock just got drag shocks and slide a links and trick front springs) If your going to big block power, and your going to drag race, 2 things to consider also; You will need a drive shaft with 1350 u joints ( not conversion joints ) peferably solid no greese zerts and you should probably change your rear end to a 9" or a 12 bolt preferably after market housings. If you chose to go with the 12 bolt rear (stock) have the DOM tubes welded to the housing and if using stock 12 bolt multi leaf perches you may want to plate the front and rear of the perches so they can not crush. The slide a links may help control spring rap up some but it wouldn't be a bad idea to re enforce them. JMO as I've done some major changes in my nova also.

[racnrog]

thanks for the insight i got a stock driveshaft for now and im prob. going to move the shocks inside and look at how hard it will be to put aftermarket wheel tubs in and i have stock mono leaf springs prob. going to go with the 8.5 im going to build a moderate 496 only trying to run 10.0 my chassis wont cert. without a new cage and all the other stuff you would need i have a mark 6 block 454 4 bolt to start with just want to do the little things to styrengthen it up i have bolt in frame connectors and my front subframe body mount holes need sum work also a local speed shop wants $2000 to fix my front subframe its going to be a long road to get it dun but all i got is time just need the money to make it happen ive owned and raced my nova for over 10yrs it was my high 11 sec. daily driver at 1 time till the need for speed got me

[427belair]

Just my experence, but I broke two 31 spline axles and a stock 9" 3rd member in my nova running 10 flat. Also twisted a driveshaft, but that was from the 3rd member puking the pinion out.

[racnrog]

thanks ill take that in consideration im a long way off from getting the car running i just want to get my ducks in a row its deff. sumthing to consider i got alot of chassis work to do before i start on the motor, trans, and rear end i want to redo the wheel tubs and put stock quarters back on and narrow the rear so my tires can tuck i got weld alumastars 15x8 4" bs and i moved the opening up and used front fender lips to fix the wheel opening my cars never had quarters put on it its in great shape i want to move the shocks inboard also so ill have my work cut out for me it wil take a few years at least to get it complete and race ready so i hope itl be worth the wait