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I looking to get a little more power out of my Nova for the least amount of money. Here's what I have so far.
1974 Nova
stock 350/TH350 out of a '75
Edlebrock 600cfm carb
Hei Dist.
weiand intake
flowtech headers
B&M stage 2 shift kit
3.08 gears (I think)
What are my options?
The smogger heads need to be replaced.....
Yes, by all means get better heads, and slip in a cam and lifter kit. If you want to drag, you're going to need gears too. Hank
What should I look for in a set of heads and how much will they cost?
As for gears I was thinking 4:11's
I don't care as much about top end speed.
didn't we just do this thread?
If you try 4:11's you better consider frame connectors.
What is "for the least amount of money"?
Good heads and a hot cam will get you a good step towards having more fun. 4.11 gears will cost serious money, IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEM (with frame cons, harder shocks, fatter springs...) You see, there's no point in going 4.11 (or bigger), if you don't want to roast the road. A Nova is certainly a cool car and you can do a heck of different things to it but everything costs money. If you just want a tad more smoke from your hind legs, then go for engine and trans stuff only.
Check out things like these, they ought to turn up on Ebay or swap meets quite often:
- closed chamber 64cc heads with under 200 cc intake runner volume (if you go too big on the intake, your engine will have to turn high RPMs, and high RPMs break bottom ends), for example look for these stock GM parts: 186, 041, 492, 461, 462 or ones similar
- get a cam with not too much overlap, and be "conservative" with the duration. High duration cams with a lot of overlap again need high RPMs to produce power.
Headers are a good idea, so is the shift kit. The B&M shifties are easy to install (have one myself) and give you better shifts and certainly your clutchpacks will survive for longer.
The heads shouldn't cost more than $200 (including thorough cleaning, stripping down, lapping the seats and assembling), don't be fooled into paying too much for heads that have bigger valves, in the RPMs you'll be turning with these heads the bigger valves won't gain any measurable power, but they often cost a lot more.
Best thing is: Shop around for heads and when you get a good offer, call back here and someone here can tell you to buy or not to buy. When you have heads check out the big cam manufacturers and give them your engine specs and driving needs and they'll spec a cam for you. Then check out good old ebay to find one as close to those specs as possible.
Sould cost about another 200 bucks including lifters.
Then you'll want a full gasket set and that'll stretch your expenses to about 500 all together.
Rebuild your engine with care, cleanliness and if you can afford them, go for flat-top pistons to bring you compression up a bit. That'll cost you another 200 (with pressing in/out the pins).
Just some loud thinking,
Mad
Thanks Max. Thats a big help. I'll let you know how it goes.