Tuning Notes
Many guys-our subject '69 Nova's owner included-don't retard their total timing when running relatively small shots of nitrous. We don't condone it, but we know it happens, and our before testing was done "as is." After our cam swap, our runs on the motor were made at 40 degrees, a figure that Westech's Mena retarded to 36 degrees when we hit the juice. At car owner pete Cervantes' request, we made one last motor-only pull with the timing left at 36 degrees...and equaled our best numbers of the day. iron heads can sometimes be relatively insensitive to timing changes, and this seems to be one of those cases. We note it here in the interest of full disclosure, but guys, if you're gonna squeeze, retard that timing!
| ON THE TRACK |
| | XE268H | XFI280 HR13 |
| 60-foot | 1.74 | 1.59 |
| Eighth-mile | 7.64 @ 93 mph | 7.21 @ 97 mph |
| Quarter-mile | 11.84 @ 117 mph | 11.31 @ 121 mph |
| PARTS LIST |
| PN | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 12-467-8 | Comp Cams XFI280 HR13 hydrualic roller camshaft | 260 |
| 885-16 | Pro Magnum hydraulic roller lifters | 510 |
| 7609-16 | Magnum pushrods, 7.300 inches | 120 |
| 1302-16 | Pro Magnum roller rocker arms, 1.6:1 | 280 |
| 26918-16 | Beehive valvesprings | 190 |
| 4705-16 | Valvespring id locator | 44 |
| 787-16 | Valvespring retainer | 64 |
| 601-16 | Locks | 9 |
| 2100 | Magnum double-roller timing set | 34 |
| 208 | Steel timing cover w/thrust plate | 141 |
| 1205 | Fel-Pro 1205 intake manifold gaskets | 16 |
| | TOTAL | $1,668 |