Back before Covid was all anyone could talk about, we had the opportunity to follow along as Top-Fuel drag racer, Larry Dixon, updated his ’66 Nova to be a true street and strip terror. The project started with the plan of installing a modern LT4 engine and a 4L75 automatic transmission. You can read all about the upgrades he incorporated by clicking here. The car was a raging success.
Like any true hot rodder, after the new LT4 was installed and race-ready, Larry understood the next issue he would need to overcome would be the somewhat-less-than-adequate 10-bolt rear under the Nova. Sure, the 8.5-inch rearend is a decent unit. That is until you start throwing serious horsepower at it. The modern, supercharged LT4 is definitely throwing more power to the 10-bolt than it can handle. For that reason, he immediately started planning an upgrade to a stronger rearend.
When you order a Muscle Pak rear, you get everything you need to stab it in place and drive. Since Larry added Wilwood brakes to his Muscle Pak, he decided to upgrade the fronts as well.
Well, the pandemic hit, and the car got put on the back burner for a while. That is until May 2021. That’s when planning for another iteration of the car was put into motion. His latest upgrade is by way of a new Chevrolet Performance Connect & Cruise LT5 engine. If you are interested in reading about the new mill, click here. The original rear was out of its depth with the LT4, and with the LT5 on the horizon, he was wise to contact the folks at Moser Engineering for a serious upgrade. Not only is Moser a trusted name in drag racing, but the rearend company is also located only a short drive from Larry’s shop.
Thought Process
Choosing a rearend to handle serious abuse is a decision many enthusiasts need to make. For Chevrolet fans, the 12-bolt is usually the rearend of choice. However, the 9-inch is a very stout unit as well. I know what you’re thinking, “a Ford rear does not belong in a Chevy.” To that I…
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