Custom Novi install done!!

**MarkA 91Formula** · 03-29-2003, 09:43 PM

Well after many months of cursing and throwing tools the Novi 2000 is in the Firebird.

Since Paxton decided to neglect us 3rd gen Camaro Firebird owners when they made the 2000, I decided to do this on my own. Motivated by the need to do this for far less than the cost of a kit, lusting after that rod stiffening whistle, sorry got alittel carried away, hehe.

Made an aluminum mounting bracket, got an FMU and crank pulley from an ATI kit. Automatic tensioner from an 18 wheeler. Certainly the most involved project I have ever undertaken to date. The biggest problem by far was getting the belt properly aligned.

Tonight was the big road test and she passed. Unfortunately since it was raining all day and I had no inspection sticker, I couldn't really give it a full run through. Did make about 6psi at just under 5000rpm. What a vast improvement over stock, even with a VERY conservative prom tune. Just gotta sort out a few small issues, and possibly a big one. The small ones are simple, oil leak on the drain, fmu not quite right.

The big one is a little disturbing. At idle 700rpm, I have an unidentified noise, kind of a metallc groaning, goes away completely by 1500 rpm, also goes away alot if I let out on the clutch and put some load on the engine. If I remove the blower belt it's gone, so it's defiantely blower related. Oil pressure is 40psi at idle so that aint it either. All that really leaves is the blower itself or one of the idler pullies. Anyone have any thoughts, or similar problems? recommendations?

**FoMoCo1** · 03-30-2003, 12:07 AM

show us some pictures! :)

**Doug** · 03-30-2003, 12:58 AM

Originally posted by MarkA 91Formula

The big one is a little disturbing. At idle 700rpm, I have an unidentified noise, kind of a metallc groaning, goes away completely by 1500 rpm, also goes away alot if I let out on the clutch and put some load on the engine. If I remove the blower belt it's gone, so it's defiantely blower related. Oil pressure is 40psi at idle so that aint it either. All that really leaves is the blower itself or one of the idler pullies. Anyone have any thoughts, or similar problems? recommendations?

Donor rejction from putting a Ford blower on a GM car:D . J/K :D :D . Have you tried spinning all of the pulleys by hand? You can feel a bad tensioner pulley by how "rough" it feels when your spining it.
Doug

**MarkA 91Formula** · 03-30-2003, 03:15 AM

Tomorrow I'll pull the belt and check all the pullies, hopefully it's just a pullie, I'll have plenty of time to check it all out this week since it's supposed to be rain or snow most of the week. I'll try to get some pics up as well.

**Paxtu22** · 03-30-2003, 12:45 PM

Make sure that the oil feed to the blower is clear. Pull the nozzel and start the car. It should spray oil all over the place!! At least mine did.
Congrats and lets see some pictures!!!!

Eric

P.S A friend of mine is putting a P1SC on his 96 T-56 equipped Impala SS:)

**93whitelightnin** · 03-31-2003, 08:21 AM

I installed a Novi 2k on my 1993 Lightning. I built a Bi-Plane type bracket from 1/2" 6061 aluminum. It's similar (in design) to the bracket that Paxton sells for it's renegade set-up.

Pics can be seen on the NLOC forum. Just do a search for 93whitelightning pics! :D

**JEFF-WHITE LX** · 03-31-2003, 05:01 PM

I have the same metallice, scratching kind of sound, but mine's present in the 2000 rpm range. Let us know if you find anything out.

**MarkA 91Formula** · 03-31-2003, 09:54 PM

Well I still dont know, got a stethescope and checked everything out, unfortunately it's all mounted to a large piece of aluminum which transfers vibration quite well, sounds the same everywhere I check just cant seem to pipoint the sound. It's getting oil, I know because it was leaking and is now fixed, one prob down 2 to go.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm kinda at a loss here, dont know how to isolate all the components to see whats making the noise. No real way to take out a component at a time, if only the noise were constant, hell anything over 1000rpm and it sounds just peachy, below that and the noise is alot louder than the whistle. I'll see if I can get a recording of the sound tomorrow

**Blown_Aod** · 03-31-2003, 10:04 PM

Depending on the size of the pulley, too big you may slow the blower down to the poing where it would make kind of a grinding noise, you might want to check the blower pulley to make sure the bolt for the pulley is tight, I was helping a buddy put a blower his chevelle one night, and we couldn't figure this noise out, almost like it was grinding, the pulley was going back and fourth on the blower input shaft... we wrenched down on the pulley a good turn and a half, and problem solved.
good luck.
k.

**MarkA 91Formula** · 04-01-2003, 10:17 PM

Well I really dug into it tonight, pulled everything apart, partially disassembled the blower, bearings were smooth as glass, everything looked perfect no signs of anything amiss. I'm leaning towards the problem being the tensioner pulley, it felt a little tight trying to spin the pulley by hand. Pulled the pulley off carefully put it bach together. So I guess we'll wait and see tomorrow, if it wasn't so late I'd roll her out of the garage, but the neighbors dont complain and I try not to give them a reason ;)

**The Highlander** · 04-04-2003, 10:11 AM

I would love to install one in a camaro lt1!!!

I guess that modifying the vortech plate works... it shouldn't be that hard..If I ever get my hands on a novi... I will install it...

**rbridges** · 04-05-2003, 02:29 PM

I'm surprised paxton doesn't make a s/c for your model car. I know there are more mustangs, but they're turning their backs on a lot of people.

good luck!

**MarkA 91Formula** · 04-05-2003, 07:03 PM

Woo Hoo! Fixed the mystery noise! turns out the piece of PVC pipe i was using to angle the air filter for clearance was pushed into the rubber connector too far so it would vibrate on the blower housing. :bonk: always the stupid things. Also verified the FMU is working as well. Next order of business will be the custom water/alky injection setup. I hope to have some pictures soon, need to borrow a camera as mine is dead. Also need some nice weather for a change, old man winter just wont let go, and inch of sleet freezing rain mix in the last 24 hours. :(

**MarkA 91Formula** · 04-14-2003, 09:02 PM

Well she's been road tested :santa: Goes like stink untill about 4500 rpm where it starts to backfire out the exhaust something fierce. FMU appears to not be functioning, fuel psi stops at 41, which is where it is stock. If I test it with the mity-vac she works just fine, looks like tomorrow I go over the vac lines with a fine tooth comb. I know it works so it must not be getting proper pressure from the intake. Good thing I modified the chip. All my other scan data reads just about right where it should be.

Will have some pics tomorrow for sure! Got a new digital camera tonight!