Bigbore's Chevelle - a resurrection

[69hondo]

Get it going!

Just open your wallet let the $$$ fly

LOL to many hobbies that are life styles!!! We go from River to sand/dirt. No time for street.

It runs and drives but just needs to be torn apart and gone through. Rear deck lid needs replaced. Needs body work. its one of those "good from far, but far from good" looking cars. LOL I am Big block guy but the simplicity and power the "L" series engines make has me thinking about a swap in its future.

I got the C10 half together. once that is back on the road I will take chevelle apart.

 

[Bigbore500r]

LOL to many hobbies that are life styles!!! We go from River to sand/dirt. No time for street.

It runs and drives but just needs to be torn apart and gone through. Rear deck lid needs replaced. Needs body work. its one of those "good from far, but far from good" looking cars. LOL I am Big block guy but the simplicity and power the "L" series engines make has me thinking about a swap in its future.

I got the C10 half together. once that is back on the road I will take chevelle apart.

My situation and car is the same.....

River bleeds into Desert and then before you know it, it's river time again!

 

[Bigbore500r]

Getting ready to seal the motor up 100%. Had my son take the accessories off and bag up all the fasteners.

Peek under the intake - The ports on these factory 781 castings have been worked pretty good, intake is also ported to match.
These were done by Dr J's performance back when they were in business.

The roller lifters are the new Comp Evolution line, with removable cartidge assemblies. They only take a 1/4 turn of preload.

Rockers are 1.72 with roller tip only, to allow stock valve covers to fit.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Little progress.....

Flywheel and clutch arrived. Decided to have a "transfer balance" done since the BBC was originally built for an automatic, and the flexplate that came with the motor showed signs of being balanced with the rotating assemly - there were drill marks on the counterweight. Glad I did......they had to do quite a bit of balancing to get the new flywheel to match the external balance of the original flexplate.

Had the pressure plate balanced with the flywheel so it all plays nice together....

Here's where they removed material to get the imbalance matched to the original flexplate -

Budget Hack -

Scored an Aluminum driveshaft out of a 2011 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor - These are the right length to run in any 68-72 chevelle, behind a TH350 or Muncie. Originally made by Alcoa, out of T6 6061 seamless aluminum.

Just need to equip it with a 27 spline 5.4" Slip yoke and some fresh u-joints.
The later model "police" driveshafts have beefy 1350 U-joints at each end, so I'll need to get a 1350 slip yoke at the trans end, and pinion yoke for the 12 bolt. Original Chevelle stuff is 1310 or 3R.

Still looking for a decent pair of 68-72 factory A-body buckets, if anybody knows of a set.

 

[SoCalDave]

Lookin good Jerry!

 

[coolchange]

Little progress.....

Flywheel and clutch arrived. Decided to have a "transfer balance" done since the BBC was originally built for an automatic, and the flexplate that came with the motor showed signs of being balanced with the rotating assemly - there were drill marks on the counterweight. Glad I did......they had to do quite a bit of balancing to get the new flywheel to match the external balance of the original flexplate.

Had the pressure plate balanced with the flywheel so it all plays nice together....

View attachment 1276535

Here's where they removed material to get the imbalance matched to the original flexplate -

View attachment 1276540

Budget Hack -

Scored an Aluminum driveshaft out of a 2011 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor - These are the right length to run in any 68-72 chevelle, behind a TH350 or Muncie. Originally made by Alcoa, out of T6 6061 seamless aluminum.

Just need to equip it with a 27 spline 5.4" Slip yoke and some fresh u-joints.
The later model "police" driveshafts have beefy 1350 U-joints at each end, so I'll need to get a 1350 slip yoke at the trans end, and pinion yoke for the 12 bolt. Original Chevelle stuff is 1310 or 3R.

View attachment 1276542

View attachment 1276543

View attachment 1276544

View attachment 1276545



Still looking for a decent pair of 68-72 factory A-body buckets, if anybody knows of a set.

Don’t want to run a 1350/1310 conversion joint? 5000rpm launches?
Good luck on those seats!

 

[Bigbore500r]

Don’t want to run a 1350/1310 conversion joint? 5000rpm launches?
Good luck on those seats!

All the 1350 /1310 conversion joints I can find are cast body, and hollow with zerk fittings. Not very strong

No brutal launches with the Muncie, but eventually it's getting a different trans and then it will be beat on like a red headed stepchild so I want to set it up with 1350's now. Can never be too safe with a stick car

 

[Willie B]

… I have seen a lot of flywheels drilled for balancing… But not quite to that degree..,

 

[mjc]

Little progress.....

Flywheel and clutch arrived. Decided to have a "transfer balance" done since the BBC was originally built for an automatic, and the flexplate that came with the motor showed signs of being balanced with the rotating assemly - there were drill marks on the counterweight. Glad I did......they had to do quite a bit of balancing to get the new flywheel to match the external balance of the original flexplate.

Had the pressure plate balanced with the flywheel so it all plays nice together....

View attachment 1276535

Here's where they removed material to get the imbalance matched to the original flexplate -

View attachment 1276540

Budget Hack -

Scored an Aluminum driveshaft out of a 2011 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor - These are the right length to run in any 68-72 chevelle, behind a TH350 or Muncie. Originally made by Alcoa, out of T6 6061 seamless aluminum.

Just need to equip it with a 27 spline 5.4" Slip yoke and some fresh u-joints.
The later model "police" driveshafts have beefy 1350 U-joints at each end, so I'll need to get a 1350 slip yoke at the trans end, and pinion yoke for the 12 bolt. Original Chevelle stuff is 1310 or 3R.

View attachment 1276542

View attachment 1276543

View attachment 1276544

View attachment 1276545



Still looking for a decent pair of 68-72 factory A-body buckets, if anybody knows of a set.

Look for a sonnax yoke. Best made from what I found d out.

 

[PlanB]

Bitchen!

 

[boat 569]

 

[Bigbore500r]

View attachment 1277293

I wish.....

Same scam photos posted everywhere. Those are $2800 seats for sure.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Look for a sonnax yoke. Best made from what I found d out.

I was looking at the Sonnax for the slip yoke, but may have to stay with an iron unit for the pinion yoke. All the steel / forged / billet pinion yokes I can find seem to extend almost an 1" further than the stocker, i'd have to shorten the driveshaft. At that point......I have to look at what im doing, i should have just had a new shaft built lol.

Decisions decisions......

 

[mjc]

I was looking at the Sonnax for the slip yoke, but may have to stay with an iron unit for the pinion yoke. All the steel / forged / billet pinion yokes I can find seem to extend almost an 1" further than the stocker, i'd have to shorten the driveshaft. At that point......I have to look at what im doing, i should have just had a new shaft built lol.

Decisions decisions......

I put a 9 inch in mine so none of that stuff fit anway.

 

[coolchange]

I was looking at the Sonnax for the slip yoke, but may have to stay with an iron unit for the pinion yoke. All the steel / forged / billet pinion yokes I can find seem to extend almost an 1" further than the stocker, i'd have to shorten the driveshaft. At that point......I have to look at what im doing, i should have just had a new shaft built lol.

Decisions decisions......

12bolt with a 310?

 

[Bigbore500r]

12bolt with a 310?

Stock chevelle drivelines were setup for 1310 joints, even 12 bolt. Stock pinion yoke is a cast 1310 unit

 

[coolchange]

Stock chevelle drivelines were setup for 1310 joints, even 12 bolt. Stock pinion yoke is a cast 1310 unit

Huh assumed they were 1350

 

[ChevelleSB406]

Stock chevelle drivelines were setup for 1310 joints, even 12 bolt. Stock pinion yoke is a cast 1310 unit

When I had my new 12 bolt built years ago, he was supposed to put a 1350 yoke on it, but didn't. I was racing the next day so decided to see what happens. My set up is nothing crazy for pump gas small block, but its deep in the 11's dead hooking on a drag radial and I haven't had any driveshaft problems yet. Of course I will upgrade later, but I have not had issues all these years. Not sure how much punishment you have scheduled for yours.

 

[Bigbore500r]

When I had my new 12 bolt built years ago, he was supposed to put a 1350 yoke on it, but didn't. I was racing the next day so decided to see what happens. My set up is nothing crazy for pump gas small block, but its deep in the 11's dead hooking on a drag radial and I haven't had any driveshaft problems yet. Of course I will upgrade later, but I have not had issues all these years. Not sure how much punishment you have scheduled for yours.

Id be comfortable running a 1350 - 1310 conversion joint, if somebody made one that's solid and not a hollow-cast body with a zerk fitting.
For some reason, they make a solid 1330 - 1310 conversion joint, but not a solid 1350 - 1310.

It's a stick shift car, so it makes me nervous - if it was an auto car I wouldn't be so finicky

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I was looking at the Sonnax for the slip yoke, but may have to stay with an iron unit for the pinion yoke. All the steel / forged / billet pinion yokes I can find seem to extend almost an 1" further than the stocker, i'd have to shorten the driveshaft. At that point......I have to look at what im doing, i should have just had a new shaft built lol.

Decisions decisions......

When I swapped my trans to a Magnum F from a T56 I had to get a forged yoke and had the same problem. Had the driveshaft shortened 1 1/8”.

We were looking for a 1310 to 1350 solid conversion joints 15 years ago and never could find them.

 

[v6toy4x]

I was looking at the Sonnax for the slip yoke, but may have to stay with an iron unit for the pinion yoke. All the steel / forged / billet pinion yokes I can find seem to extend almost an 1" further than the stocker, i'd have to shorten the driveshaft. At that point......I have to look at what im doing, i should have just had a new shaft built lol.

Decisions decisions......

Jesse at High angle driveline may be able to help??? He does a lot of cool 4x4 d shaft stuff

High Angle Drivline-Call Jesse at 530-877-2875

 

[bonesfab]

Just get the shaft done right. Small change in the big picture. Heavy foot, teen driver, clutch car, what could possibly go wrong? All serious though put the hollow joint in the back as a fusible link. Most stuff we do is 1350 just as overkill. Oh I forgot big block clutch car.

 

[Big B Hova]

LOL to many hobbies that are life styles!!! We go from River to sand/dirt. No time for street.

It runs and drives but just needs to be torn apart and gone through. Rear deck lid needs replaced. Needs body work. its one of those "good from far, but far from good" looking cars. LOL I am Big block guy but the simplicity and power the "L" series engines make has me thinking about a swap in its future.

I got the C10 half together. once that is back on the road I will take chevelle apart.

Sell me your Chevelle so you have less hobbies!

 

[bonesfab]

I will be getting to mine soon. Mullet now runs and the Chevelle is next up on that rack. whats a set of seats worth to you ? I am thinking of getting procars for it. I have another 69 in the shop now with a set and they are pretty nice and I like the height.

 

[SoCalDave]

@Bigbore500r ...yore move...

 

[Bigbore500r]

I will be getting to mine soon. Mullet now runs and the Chevelle is next up on that rack. whats a set of seats worth to you ? I am thinking of getting procars for it. I have another 69 in the shop now with a set and they are pretty nice and I like the height.

You gonna be around the shop Sat? I’d like to check them out

 

[69hondo]

Sell me your Chevelle so you have less hobbies!

Oh man I couldnt do that. I would hate to see the chevelle all "electric"

 

[Bigbore500r]

Oh man I couldnt do that. I would hate to see the chevelle all "electric"

 

[Big B Hova]

Oh man I couldnt do that. I would hate to see the chevelle all "electric"

Your too late anyways. Picked up this bad boy today. 5 spd and a cold air intake.

 

[bonesfab]

You gonna be around the shop Sat? I’d like to check them out

Yea I will be around most of the day and probably Sunday some to

 

[Blackmagic94]

With how cheap Al heads are nowdays. Why not

 

[motormonkey]

If you change out heads, let me know what you want for them.

 

[Big B Hova]

Oh man I couldnt do that. I would hate to see the chevelle all "electric"

Just wait till I electrify my new to me Nova with a Tesla motor

 

[69hondo]

Just wait till I electrify my new to me Nova with a Tesla motor

View attachment 1279282

LOL, happy for you Brian, cant wait to see it. I bet the boys are excited.

 

[coolchange]

Just wait till I electrify my new to me Nova with a Tesla motor

View attachment 1279282

Now it all makes sense….

 

[Bigbore500r]

Just wait till I electrify my new to me Nova with a Tesla motor

View attachment 1279282

This will be a fun project, glad robert sold it to you.

Heres some pics of your car over the years, when I swapped the motor a few times and built the current 6.0

I'd put the factory EFI back on and tune it, and junk that Fitech in the long run. What it had on it was a better setup, will be way more reliable and it keeps the factory knock sensors active which is a huge plus with boost!

David with your Nova's first motor...2012 - It was a 5.3 with a 218 / 224, 2800 stall, 4L60E.

Here's your current 6.0, built it in 2015 and swapped the 5.3 out for it. Still factory bore, used OEM pistons.

Texas Speed 228R camshaft, 114LSA, PSI single beehives.

It has flat top pistons, at that time it had decked 799 heads and 11:1 compression. Robert changed those out for something else when he put the blower on.

Idle clip (cutouts open....)

Heres a pic of it in your old driveway....It was meant to be!

 

[Bigbore500r]

With how cheap Al heads are nowdays. Why not

Motor is fresh and came with the current heads, I wouldn't gain much other than weight savings with my current cam.
These have been worked pretty good, they move alot of air - especially mid-lift range. With a solid roller they've made 620hp, same bottom end and compression. I personally wouldn't spend the money to do what has been done to these factory Iron heads, but they are done already so i'm gonna roll with them

 

[Big B Hova]

I will be getting to mine soon. Mullet now runs and the Chevelle is next up on that rack. whats a set of seats worth to you ? I am thinking of getting procars for it. I have another 69 in the shop now with a set and they are pretty nice and I like the height.

What other seats you have sitting around? Need a bench or buckets for my 68 nova. Currently has Honda civic seats

 

[bonesfab]

What other seats you have sitting around? Need a bench or buckets for my 68 nova. Currently has Honda civic seats

A few. A pair of 69 Camaro seats. Might have access to a pair of 65 nova buckets.

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

 

[Big B Hova]

A few. A pair of 69 Camaro seats. Might have access to a pair of 65 nova buckets.

Would the 65 nova buckets require custom bracket?

 

[Bigbore500r]

Would the 65 nova buckets require custom bracket?

Completely different car from yours

 

[bonesfab]

Just wait till I electrify my new to me Nova with a Tesla motor

View attachment 1279282

Electrifying it would be better than that fitech.

 

[Big B Hova]

Completely different car from yours

That's why I was asking

 

[Bigbore500r]

That's why I was asking

i.e - no, they don't fit without modification

 

[mash on it]

@Bigbore500r
I'm pretty sure my brother has a set of Chevelle seats stashed away.
I'll ask him about them.

Dan'l

 

[Bigbore500r]

@Bigbore500r
I'm pretty sure my brother has a set of Chevelle seats stashed away.
I'll ask him about them.

Dan'l

Lemme know!

 

[Bowtiepower00]

69 Camaro seats should be the same or very similar to 68+ Nova seats, and should bolt right in (into the Nova, not Chevelle)

The 68 has that one year only dash, IIRC, which was $$$$ to find stuff for years ago when I had my 68. I remember the ashtray being unobtainable, but perhaps things are different in the 15+ years since I sold the car.

 

[Big B Hova]

Electrifying it would be better than that fitech.

Maybe I'll swap it to a good old fashioned quadra-jet? Love the sound of those secondaries!

 

[coolchange]

Maybe I'll swap it to a good old fashioned quadra-jet? Love the sound of those secondaries!

BooooWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA