This afternoon around 2 o’clock I decided to take the nova out for a test drive with the new springs and gear. I heard my throwout bearing chirping a little bit at first, I guess it was due to sitting all winter and not disengaging the clutch just starting it up and let that run every month and a half or so. But the chirping went away soon and I used to drive on my road around 30 to 35 mile an hour in second gear, now it’s in third gear in about 2100 RPM. Obviously it takes off easier and you have to shift the little sooner but all in all I’m convinced that is the correct street gear. If I was going to make this just a long trip cruise it would probably have to have a smaller cam in it, and about a 3.00 gear in it. The 325 would probably work with a little bit taller tire though. But now I have to put the limiter (MSD) in it and get the antifreeze out of it because 21 March is THE HOT ROD REUNION in MOKAN
as of right now I plan on going and seeing what happens. All the cool guys down there and a lot of cool cars. It’s only three hours away and an easy drive. Probably get a hotel Saturday night and go back to the track Sunday. Fun drags are on sat. And I think a bracket race on Sunday. If I don’t get kicked out Saturday for not having a roll cage 
I should be good to go for Sunday.James is really ready to see me put the hammer down on this thing. Me too for that matter. I was speed shifting in a little bit today and the RPM didn’t seem to drop much at all as a matter fact my neighbor Zach said as I was rolling into it and it started spinning and I speed shift into second gear he said the left front tire came off the ground a little.
It was actually hooking up pretty good on the concrete. I could feel it pulling pretty hard to my garage door opener came off my visor and hit me in the face when I hit second gear. I guess that was my wake up call when I hit third gear I shut it down. He rode with me and I did the same thing with him in the car. He said he could not believe how nice it Road now and how much fun it was to drive. I agree! He was kicking himself for not shooting a video when I left. I know his neighbor up the road Ricky Ray was standing in front of his shop when I came by wave at me. I know he heard me coming so did Danny Miller. Here it is March and I’m already terrorizing the neighborhood. What a wonderful day never did get over 190° on the temperature gage. And oil pressure was good. All went well and hopefully it’ll do the same if I get to make it to the track. Thanks James for helping me change the springs.
And yes,I did burn a tire!
as of right now I plan on going and seeing what happens. All the cool guys down there and a lot of cool cars. It’s only three hours away and an easy drive. Probably get a hotel Saturday night and go back to the track Sunday. Fun drags are on sat. And I think a bracket race on Sunday. If I don’t get kicked out Saturday for not having a roll cage I should be good to go for Sunday.James is really ready to see me put the hammer down on this thing. Me too for that matter. I was speed shifting in a little bit today and the RPM didn’t seem to drop much at all as a matter fact my neighbor Zach said as I was rolling into it and it started spinning and I speed shift into second gear he said the left front tire came off the ground a little. It was actually hooking up pretty good on the concrete. I could feel it pulling pretty hard to my garage door opener came off my visor and hit me in the face when I hit second gear. I guess that was my wake up call when I hit third gear I shut it down. He rode with me and I did the same thing with him in the car. He said he could not believe how nice it Road now and how much fun it was to drive. I agree! He was kicking himself for not shooting a video when I left. I know his neighbor up the road Ricky Ray was standing in front of his shop when I came by wave at me. I know he heard me coming so did Danny Miller. Here it is March and I’m already terrorizing the neighborhood. What a wonderful day never did get over 190° on the temperature gage. And oil pressure was good. All went well and hopefully it’ll do the same if I get to make it to the track. Thanks James for helping me change the springs. And yes,I did burn a tire!
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I’ve got it set at 7000 RPM and my shift light comes on at 6800 RPM. James is kind of handy to have around if you know what I mean. I always try and return the favors back to him whenever possible at any cost. Hopefully everything will work OK and we can get The antifreeze out of it and water put back in it. Other than that it’s only bolt on the HOOSIERS! 
So tomorrow night is going to be the test fire up to make sure the box works. 
Man that thing sure has gotten dirty under the hood the last time I’ve taken it out for a couple of runs. I guess a good hose down will test the ignition too.
I'd really like to keep those seats in the car but if I can't figure out a way to keep it from folding backwards then it'll be time to replace it and I hope that the car will leave harder now so that may become more of an issue.
and James told me I should drive it like it was stolen this next weekend, And if something catastrophic happens well you know what my next steps going to be! I got a passenger car 1965 feb 28 409 standard bore block sitting on the shelf in the shop. My truck block is down at the machine shop. I’m not going to try and destroy my big block Chevy on purpose, but if something should happen to it I could definitely see a transplant for its future. Besides when I drove it to a cruise or a car show or someone wanted to see what was under the hood they would be baffled and confused. I think that would be worth the price itself!
