Here are some of the latest pictures. I call this "project sub 12." I feel the need to drive my 1972 Chevy Nova down the quarter mile in less than 12 seconds. I hope to get a wheelie picture soon!!! The project has been a complete success at the expense of two turbo 350 transmissions.

8/16/07 It's only been a year since I added any updates. The floor was fixed at the end of July by Tom M. He did a great job as always. I spent some time installing a rear lights wiring harness Geoff picked up at the junk yard 6 years ago. I still don't have any brake lights. Maybe it's a bad switch. The starter was replaced last year and from time to time it grinds. I'm not sure if it is a shim issue or if the fly wheel bent. It's been so long I don't know if I replaced this last time or just the first time. 

8/14/06 I will be taking the rest of the seats out so I can remove the carpet. I will be calling Tom to see about fixing the floor and repairing the drive shaft loop.

7/29/06 Went to Big G Auto Service to have new gears installed. Geoff did most of the work and after a few hours it rolled a really nice pattern. Once I got the car home I started removing anything that holds the carpet in.

4/23/06 Installed repaired custom exhaust. I just need to check the adjustment on the shifter cable and fire up the car to check for exhaust leaks. I should be rolling around town this week. I need to fix the safety loop and get the car to Tom for floor board repair(s). 

3/13/06 The Nova went for a cruise around the block tonight. I don't have first gear but that may be because I'm low on transmission fluid. Because of the severe damage to the existing exhaust I had to remove the mufflers temporarily.  I have such hyper sensitive neighbors that I'm afraid to run the car long enough to heat up so it can be checked. I'm going to buy some exhaust hangers and see if I can't rig it long enough to check the fluid and possible cruise over to Tom's for some repair work. 

Denny's has delivered the goods! 

New pics (9/25/04) Shots of the Nova featuring the new Hoosier quick time pro 27x10.5x15 tires. These were taken minutes before the car was parked for the most recent transmission removal.

New pics (9/15/04)     Transmission rebuild/replacement #2

New Pics (10/26/03)

NEW PICTURES (10/23/03)

Old stuff. Buh bye!

(9/15/04) The transmission had to be rebuilt again after breaking another housing. The old motor mounts are giving way to solid motor mounts. The new trans was painted tonight and maybe installed by the Friday night.

(6/29/04) The Nova made it's second trip to the drag strip. all 4 passes were within .04 seconds of each other. On the fourth and final pass I broke the 11 year old turbo 350 tranny that Harley trans. formerly of St. Chas built. The housing is cracked. :( Lo siento Roberto.

(6/11/04) The Nova made it's first trip to the drag strip with my Ruppel built 454!!!!

Fastest 1/4 mile time: 12.103 @ 111.56 MPH

(5/23/04) Not much has changed. The car has over an hour of running time. All exhaust leaks have been fixed. The trans-cooler line was leaking fluid and it has since been replaced. The car still needs fine tuning.

(2/15/04) It has been three months since the Nova made noise. Ed and I took it around the block today. The car is in need on some fine tuning before the race season gets here.

(11/2/03) Today I started the break-in process. After football the car was driven around the neighborhood for 20 minutes.  There are a few final touches that need to be made. The hood needs to be put back on and the passenger side exhaust needs to be lengthened about 2-3 inches. The new header isn't as long as the old one for some reason.  To this point the marriage of my Gen V block and Mark IV heads has been successful.   

Breaking News: (11/1/03)

The Nova showed it's first sign of life. It ran for about a minute tonight. Angie said it sounds "Deeper" than the old motor. That made me smile in more than one way. :) Seriously though, I'd like to thank everyone that helped. Mad props to Ed. Geoff was a big help too. Matt, thanks for taking the pictures. Angie, thanks for putting up with me the last 3 months. The end is in sight.

(10/23) Things have happened that slowed project sub 12. The Hawk Racing SFI flexplate I ordered isn't drilled for turbo transmissions! This little nugget was costly as it wasn't discovered until the engine was bolted in! The Converter bolts didn't line up so Ed and I called it quits this past Sunday (10/19).  The motor will have to come out. I'd like to thank the folks at ARP as there was no mention that the new head bolts I bought interfere with the mounting flanges of the headers! I will have to grind away material when the motor is out.

The new headers are in so it'll be easy to get them in the engine compartment. This weekend should prove to be vital as new heads may be on the way. I'd like to have it running and know whether the 049 castings will work or leak.

(10/12) Another slow weekend. Very little progress was made this week. I had an infected root in #30. The resolution was apicoectomy on #30 this past Friday 10/10. 

I received my large order from Summit on Thursday. I have just about everything I need. Some wish list items appear to be ceramic headers and some chrome accessories for the new look Big Block. I was able to remove the Harmonic balancer on Thursday night with the help of Geoff D. We took it back to Geoff's house and sand blasted the paint off the crank snout section. The balancer is back on. The crank pulley has also been installed. I painted the block and water pump. The water pump should be installed tomorrow. the oil pan is looking like it won't fit. The next two major obstacles will be the heads and oil pan.   

Part of that Summit order was for my daily driver. I'm treating it to some under drive pulleys and exhaust. I order a Dynomax 2 1/4" catback kit. There is a hole in one of my mufflers! I hate that flatulating sound it makes. The kit will arrive tomorrow as it was shipped from Nevada vs. Ohio. 

(10/3) Things to ponder: Can the Gen V BBC 454 block mate with the Mark IV 049 casting heads? I was told by Fel Pro's tech support that some castings will work with gasket xxxx-xxx. I ordered the gaskets and on the box it says not for use with Gen V block with Mark IV heads! I called them back. They faxed me a way to figure it out on my own. Some Jerry rigging may be necessary. I purchased a book that claims Napa Auto Parts carries a special head gasket for this application. I forked out some $$ for a gasket that may not even work. This should be interesting.

(10/2) I made an attempt to remove the balancer and the motor wanted to tip over on the stand. That Balancer is going to be a pain to get off. I will call in the cavalry sometime this weekend.

(10/1) The motor has hit a slight delay. The SFI approved Harmonic balancer didn't glide onto the crankshaft resulting in tool failure. I'm going to pull in back off (God willing) and try again when the tool has been warranted for breaking. Kudos to Ed and I for having mad strength.