Suspension Modification - Throwdown Thrash - Project Novakane Build

Wednesday, May 25: Day 6
(two days until THROWDOWN)

35. 3:01 a.m. Working late but getting a ton accomplished, Louie Silva poured in the Be Cool coolant after he mounted the Be Cool radiator and Air Concepts overflow bottle. After 5 gallons of 100-octane race fuel was poured into the fuel cell, fingers were crossed as the engine was fired to life for the first time. It started right up but started smoking after a few minutes. We were exhausted and decided to tackle that problem in the morning.
35. 3:01 a.m. Working late but getting a ton accomplished, Louie Silva poured in the Be Co
36. We were suppose to be at a chassis dyno appointment at 8 a.m. and we obviously didn't make that appointment, so Aaron called in a last-minute favor. Smoke coming from a new engine isn't ideal, and we found the culprit to be a RAM hydraulic release bearing. The trans was removed and the bearing pulled off the input shaft. We bought this new unit from McLeod (left) and it installed without hassle.
36. We were suppose to be at a chassis dyno appointment at 8 a.m. and we obviously didn't
37. 6:02 p.m. Thankfully, the favor Aaron called in was to the pros at HMS Performance, in Whittier, California. Aaron had a custom H1 that was scheduled for some dyno time and he asked Harvey and Joe if I could take his spot. They kindly obliged, and Novakane was driven onto the DynoJet rollers for a custom laptop tune. We reused the factory 4.8L ECU, which meant Harvey had to completely rebuild the ECU and start with a fresh program. It took a while, but Harvey squeezed 616 rwhp and 620 lb-ft of torque out of the blown LSX beast. I owe you one guys.
37. 6:02 p.m. Thankfully, the favor Aaron called in was to the pros at HMS Performance, in

Project Novakane Throwdown Thrash Qa1 Coilover Suspension

38. 10.28 a.m. QA1 was another company that delivered what they promised. UPS dropped off a package containing our front and rear double-adjustable coilovers exactly when we needed them. We wanted this truck to handle like a sports car, and thanks to QA1, Novakane should really be impressive. In case you’re wondering, the truck didn’t have a suspension in it for the dyno run. The guys simply hard-mounted steel blocks to make it drivable.

38. 10.28 a.m. QA1 was another company that delivered what they promised. UPS dropped off

Thursday, May 26: Day 7
(one day until THROWDOWN)

39. 11:12 a.m. While the other guys were working on other projects, I went ahead and assembled the front and rear QA1 shocks. With compression and rebound adjustability, we should be able to dial in the perfect performance setting for the suspension.
39. 11:12 a.m. While the other guys were working on other projects, I went ahead and assem
40. 2:58 p.m. Aaron decided to build a new exhaust rather than try to modify the existing tubing. Using stainless exhaust tubing, the 3-inch ARH header collector flows into 3-inch tubing that snakes around the four-link crossmember, over the axle, and exits the body through a trick exhaust tip we picked up from Stylin’ Trucks. Here, Aaron is TIG welding a flex union to the exhaust tip to compensate for the movement of the exhaust tubing and the exhaust tip.
40. 2:58 p.m. Aaron decided to build a new exhaust rather than try to modify the existing
41. 3:09 p.m. To give the truck a wider look, the decision was made to flare the rear bedsides 13⁄8 inches. Using a hydraulic ram, Chris and Louie slowly but surely flexed the sheetmetal until the desired look was achieved.
41. 3:09 p.m. To give the truck a wider look, the decision was made to flare the rear beds

42. 4:13 p.m. Once the bedsides were punched out, Louie measured the Aeromotive fuel cell and cut out the bed floor to make room for the cell. The braces shown in caption 30 will center the fuel cell in the bed so that it doesn’t stick too low under the truck and doesn’t sit too high, which may compromise weight bias when making sharp turns.
42. 4:13 p.m. Once the bedsides were punched out, Louie measured the Aeromotive fuel cell
43. 5:02 p.m. With several of us picking up the bed, it was carefully set down over the rear subframe and fuel cell. It fit like a glove and there is plenty of room for Aaron to build a sheetmetal cover for the excess.
43. 5:02 p.m. With several of us picking up the bed, it was carefully set down over the re
44. 6:48 p.m. After securing the Optima batteries and connecting the XScorpion cables, the bed was ready to rock and roll. Down the road, we’ll build wheeltubs and coat the bed floor, but for now, the truck was drivable. Or so we thought. Come to find out, there was a bug in the tune and it was throwing the truck into limp mode. Incredibly, the team at HMS drove out to the shop at midnight and dialed in the truck. A true testament to the kind of guys they are and their commitment to excellence. By 4:00 a.m., I was on the freeway heading to the track.
44. 6:48 p.m. After securing the Optima batteries and connecting the XScorpion cables, the

Friday, May 27: THROWDOWN

Project Novakane Throwdown Thrash Front Angle

45. 9:02 a.m. Through sheer determination and skill, Novakane was running at THROWDOWN and setting the fastest time through the slalom just hours after the final tune was edited. That was absolutely amazing when you look back and see how the truck was less than a week ago. Special thanks to Aaron Iha, Ben Dodd, Dale Thomas, Chris Hernandez, Eddie Orozco, Louis Silva, Harvey and Joe at HMS Performance, Brandan Gillogly, Bob Ryder, Harley Camilleri, and our wives for being understanding while not seeing us for a week.

SOURCE
Earls by Holley 1801 Russellville Road Bowling Green KY 42101 1-270-782-2900 http://holley.com/Index.asp?divi sion=Earls	Pro Precision Billet 11944 Regentview Avenue P.O. Box 39220 Downey CA 90239 562-904-2644 www.ppbillet.com
Optima Batteries, Inc. 5757 N. Green Bay Ave. Milwaukee WI 53209 8-88/-867-8462 www.optimabatteries.com	Chassis By Aaron Iha 583 North Citrus Ave. Covina CA 91723 626-967-0045 www.chassisbyaaroniha.com
QA1 Motorsports 21730 Hanover Avenue Lakeville MN 55044 800-721-7761 www.qa1.net	McLeod Racing 1600 Sierra Madre Circle Placentia CA 92870 714-630-2764 www.mcleodracing.com/
Dutchman Axles PO Box 20517 Portland OR 97294 1-503-257-6604 http://www.dutchmanaxles.com	XScorpion http://www.xscorpion.com
HMS Performance 562-907-7834	Be Cool 310 Woodside Avenue Essexville MI 48732 800-691-2667 www.becool.com
Aeromotive, Inc 7805 Barton Street Lenexa KS 66214 913-647-7300 www.aeromotiveinc.com	Air Concepts 615 Kansas Ave Suite E Modesto CA 95351 1-209-537-7643 http://www.airconcepts.com