Restarting My '70 Nova Project

[BleedingOrange]

Great to see you have got your beautiful car to this no more leaks point. Was the anti-freeze leak coming from the head area ? If so, any chance some of it got mixed in with your engine oil ? I would love to hear that beautiful engine idle. If you get a chance, could you please post a short video, with the audio turned on.

 

[dodge man]

Sounds like progress!

 

[BravoXray]

Great to see you have got your beautiful car to this no more leaks point. Was the anti-freeze leak coming from the head area ? If so, any chance some of it got mixed in with your engine oil ? I would love to hear that beautiful engine idle. If you get a chance, could you please post a short video, with the audio turned on.

The coolant was seeping out of the area below the #8 cylinder exhaust port, around the two rear outside head studs. Then it was running along the outside edge of the block, then down onto the starter, eventually dripping off the starter bolt or flywheel cover bolt. As a note, I think I mentioned that I did apply sealant to the studs when I installed them, so the leak shouldn't be from that area. I was tempted to give the head gaskets a coat of copper gasket sealer, but decided not to. That might have cured the problem, hard to say. There is no sign of coolant in the oil, so I believe to leak is only external.
Yes, I've been meaning to post a video of the engine running, I'll do it soon.

The trip to the Thursday cruise-in is on hold, as I forgot I have an appointment on Thursday afternoon with a doctor to check out my left shoulder, as it's been pretty unhappy lately. Hopefully I'll be able to go next week.

Just talked to the alignment shop, and it's scheduled to go in on the 18th.

 

[Alan46]

The coolant was seeping out of the area below the #8 cylinder exhaust port, around the two rear outside head studs. Then is was running along the outside edge of the block, then down onto the starter, eventually dripping off the starter bolt or flywheel cover bolt. As a note, I think I mentioned that I did apply sealant to the studs when I installed them, so the leak shouldn't be from that area. I was tempted to give the head gaskets a coat of copper gasket sealer, but decided not to. That might have cured the problem, hard to say. There is no sign of coolant in the oil, so I believe to leak is only external.
Yes, I've been meaning to post a video of the engine running, I'll do it soon.

The trip to the Thursday cruise-in is on hold, as I forgot I have an appointment on Thursday afternoon with a doctor to check out my left shoulder, as it's been pretty unhappy lately. Hopefully I'll be able to go next week.

Just talked to the alignment shop, and it's scheduled to go in on the 18th.

It’s getting there!

 

[BravoXray]

So this week I've put about 90 miles on the Nova, with no problems. The oil leak is gone, and the coolant leak is gone too, finally.
I took Brian for a ride on Thursday, and Ed, my old boss from the 80's came over on Friday and went for a ride.
The engine is running really well, I've been adjusting the Air/Fuel ratios in the EFI to get it leaned out enough that it doesn't soot the plugs up so badly. I had talked to MSD's tech support about it when I first got it running and it was sloppy rich despite what the AFR targets showed for idle, cruise and WOT, and he said it would take 50 miles or so of road mileage to get the system to learn where the ratios should be. I may pull the plugs, clean them and run it for another 50 miles or so and check them again.
When Brian was with me, I had turned onto a county road and leaned into the throttle in first gear, and it broke the tires loose instantly. Plenty of power under the hood.
This afternoon I went to anther friend's place, picked him up and went for a 20 mile or so cruise and he really enjoyed it, as he's also an old muscle car guy. Over the years he had a Road Runner, Corvette, Chevelle and Charger at one time or another.
When I dropped him off, he even took a picture as I was leaving his place.
Tomorrow morning, I'm going to take it to town for my Sunday morning breakfast as long as it's not raining.

Been a long time coming.

 

[kf4uda]

Congratulations and enjoy! You have certainly earned it.

 

[goeduck]

YAY !!!!! Lookin' GOOD !!

 

[BleedingOrange]

Awesome. Your perseverance has produced a beautiful car, that hopefully you and many others that see it can enjoy for a very long time. Once things settle down a bit for you, and you find some time, I would love to see and hear a video of it idling, and possibly a drive by if someone could give you a hand with that. Every time I start up my 347 stroker in my miata I get a big smile on my face. I,m sure it will be the same for you. Hope you enjoy it every nice weather day you can. We aren,t getting any younger.

 

[nforktractor]

Totally awesome! Amazing rebuild.

 

[dodge man]

It might be worth finding someone in your area that can tune your car. They put a wide band O2 sensor in your tailpipe and can get the air fuel ratio more or less perfect. I’m not sure what your car has in terms of sensors to self adjust.