Don't give up yet! Pull the plugs drain the oil and see if you can turn it over with the plugs out. Sometimes they get locked due to all the water. When the fire happened they may have used a garden hose to put it out
I’m not gonna give up on it yet. I’ve got some ideas to try and free it up and see if it can at least get it to fire. Still not gonna keep it long term but I’d love to see it run one time.
@@hatchsrecreationalengineer1997. If it won't run don't throw that 307 away! Unless the bores are so rusty they won't clean up at a .040" overbore of course.
@@hatchsrecreationalengineer1997 That's a good idea to try to save that 307 block. Not many people know this about the sbc 307s is that they have the thickest cylinder walls out of all the factory sbc blocks ever made. They are thick enough if the coolant passages don't have excessive rust or it doesn't have excessive core shift to bore out to 4.00" or maybe a bit more? I think all they did with this block when they made them is change the casting number on a sbc 350 block and finished the bore an 1/8" smaller? A great candidate for a building a boost engine with all forged internals and splayed caps installed. It won't be as big as other blocks that have bigger bores but those don't have the thick cylinders that the sbc 307 has to handle cranking up the boost. I have a '68 sbc 307 out of a '68 Chevelle that is .060" over bored in a K5 Blazer that needs half of the radiator blocked off so it can warm up enough to make heat! I'm a new sub, John sent me from Shop 209.
Ooof this sounds like a lot of money and work lol. My wife wants to go this route. Honestly if I was gonna do a full resto I’d probably start with a better car. But maybe I’ll be persuaded to clean it up.
I kinda like the ls turbo route idea but this is second or third comment mentioning budget big block. I kinda like the sound of some motor home big block goodness.
I'd keep the stroke the same for a revver. However going even with the 400 cranks 3.75" stroke doesn't mean it can't rev. A .030" 307 with a 400 crank ended up at 359 cu inch (not sure of rod length), came in 3rd place in a horsepower challenge. Somewhere around 560hp around 6,300 rpm.
I actually have a 307 block (the free one from the subscriber in an earlier video) I’ve been holding on to with plans to build a little high hp 307 engine. I actually really like the idea of trying to draw some power out of one of these smaller overlooked sbc engines.
@@mikewillett5076 Popular Hotrodding magazine featured a guy ~15-20years ago that punched one out to 365cu. inches and got similar power numbers if I remember right.
@@michaelmauter2251 I think that's the one. However I saw an article on a recent build of a 307 that made a little over 500 hp with stock 3.25" stroke(!), and at a similar RPM most 350s would make that power (7,000ish).
@@mikewillett5076 Ever since I read that article I’ve wanted to build my Ventura’s 307 in a similar fashion but life hasn’t allowed for it. So I continue to drive it instead.
Guys at the junkyard I got the car from told me that the car wound up there at least 30 years ago due to a carburetor fire. The primary burn damage is on the hood so it was definitely an engine fire. Interior/dash is 100% unmolested (still has factory radio) but did suffer from some fire damage for sure.
Idk we're your from but I have factory gauges and front and rear bumpers that came of my 69 nova I'm building I went with Dakota digital for mine if you need them let me know
Don't give up yet! Pull the plugs drain the oil and see if you can turn it over with the plugs out. Sometimes they get locked due to all the water. When the fire happened they may have used a garden hose to put it out
I’m not gonna give up on it yet. I’ve got some ideas to try and free it up and see if it can at least get it to fire. Still not gonna keep it long term but I’d love to see it run one time.
@@hatchsrecreationalengineer1997. If it won't run don't throw that 307 away! Unless the bores are so rusty they won't clean up at a .040" overbore of course.
I’m gonna take a deeper look at this one and see if I can get her to run once more. I promise I won’t throw it away unless it really is done for.
@@hatchsrecreationalengineer1997 . That's cool. Probably not a whole lot of those left because they were thrown away, considered junk.
@@hatchsrecreationalengineer1997
That's a good idea to try to save that 307 block. Not many people know this about the sbc 307s is that they have the thickest cylinder walls out of all the factory sbc blocks ever made. They are thick enough if the coolant passages don't have excessive rust or it doesn't have excessive core shift to bore out to 4.00" or maybe a bit more? I think all they did with this block when they made them is change the casting number on a sbc 350 block and finished the bore an 1/8" smaller?
A great candidate for a building a boost engine with all forged internals and splayed caps installed. It won't be as big as other blocks that have bigger bores but those don't have the thick cylinders that the sbc 307 has to handle cranking up the boost.
I have a '68 sbc 307 out of a '68 Chevelle that is .060" over bored in a K5 Blazer that needs half of the radiator blocked off so it can warm up enough to make heat!
I'm a new sub, John sent me from Shop 209.
Really like these old Novas. New Sub, I'll check out your older videos.
Thanks you! Glad you enjoyed the video and hope you find the other ones enjoyable as well!
Pushed it into a lake!! Lol. Great video!!
Thanks John! Glad you enjoyed it!
Just started watching ur videos and enjoying every min of it. I have a few novas myself and teaching myself to do the work like u did. Awesome work.
Thanks! Glad you enjoy the videos! I will keep the content rolling and hopefully some of my shenanigans helps you with your own projects!
Lol definitely
You’ve got plants, fire, and water, if your car gets wind it will become Captain Planet.
Still has the radio wow
Yea I was surprised too. My other two novas both were missing the radios
@@hatchsrecreationalengineer1997 i bought a digital replica radio out of classic industries. We tried to find a original tho
Make it a nice driver with an LS , nice paint, go all
The way with it
Ooof this sounds like a lot of money and work lol. My wife wants to go this route. Honestly if I was gonna do a full resto I’d probably start with a better car. But maybe I’ll be persuaded to clean it up.
pull the heads and inspect further. the water may have only bin there a month or two it takes only an hour to pull the heads
At price point, ls swap with turbo.
If u can get ahold of a big block (even a motor home 454) go for it.
I kinda like the ls turbo route idea but this is second or third comment mentioning budget big block. I kinda like the sound of some motor home big block goodness.
Build an over the top water drinking 307!!!
Bore, stroke, heads, cam, turbos, etc. etc. etc.
I'd keep the stroke the same for a revver. However going even with the 400 cranks 3.75" stroke doesn't mean it can't rev. A .030" 307 with a 400 crank ended up at 359 cu inch (not sure of rod length), came in 3rd place in a horsepower challenge. Somewhere around 560hp around 6,300 rpm.
I actually have a 307 block (the free one from the subscriber in an earlier video) I’ve been holding on to with plans to build a little high hp 307 engine. I actually really like the idea of trying to draw some power out of one of these smaller overlooked sbc engines.
@@mikewillett5076 Popular Hotrodding magazine featured a guy ~15-20years ago that punched one out to 365cu. inches and got similar power numbers if I remember right.
@@michaelmauter2251 I think that's the one. However I saw an article on a recent build of a 307 that made a little over 500 hp with stock 3.25" stroke(!), and at a similar RPM most 350s would make that power (7,000ish).
@@mikewillett5076 Ever since I read that article I’ve wanted to build my Ventura’s 307 in a similar fashion but life hasn’t allowed for it. So I continue to drive it instead.
What was the reason for the car originally catching fire? Botched DIY stereo install wiring under the dash by previous owner?
Guys at the junkyard I got the car from told me that the car wound up there at least 30 years ago due to a carburetor fire. The primary burn damage is on the hood so it was definitely an engine fire. Interior/dash is 100% unmolested (still has factory radio) but did suffer from some fire damage for sure.
Idk we're your from but I have factory gauges and front and rear bumpers that came of my 69 nova I'm building I went with Dakota digital for mine if you need them let me know
I’m located in NJ. I’d be interested in the rear bumper if your not to far
Pull the small block out and put big block!
I am definitely not opposed to this plan!
Where did you score that car from?
Came out of a junk yard in eastern pa.
Bucket seat car?
Yes sir
drop in another SBC, make it run and drive as is...
This definitely would be the easy way out…….I like your thinking
the engines an orange block also its early 70s or 60s
why not a diesel engine in it like 6.2 no ecm and probably the tranny will fit! thunder torque monster.
I don’t know a whole lot about goin fast with diesel motors but I’m not opposed to giving it a shot. May be an option for this project!
@@hatchsrecreationalengineer1997 imagine 30psi of boost no sweat.
I like this idea too!