AUGUST 2019 CARCRAFT.COM 9MAMMOTH HEAD FLOW
One of the main reasons Jones switched to the LS platform was that the
cylinder heads flow nearly 100 cfm more than even a traditional 18-degree
small-block Chevy head. Jones started with Mozez canted-valve cylinder
heads from Mast Motorsports, which were factory CNC-ported to flow
453 cfm on the intake side and 273 cfm on the exhaust side at 0.800-inch
lift. Turbo heat is hard on valves, so Jones selected 2.25-inch titanium
intake valves and 1.60-inch Inconel exhaust valves to handle the heat.
Jesel keyway lifters connect to the cam and Manton pushrods, but the
rocker-arm system is a little tricky. Jones found that for the engine to sur-
vive, he had to run shaft-mount Jesel rockers with aluminum on the intake
and steel on the exhaust side to handle the insane turbo drive pressures.
Yes, that is Ryan “Toaster” Jones’ small-tire Nova putting
the gap on the Street Outlaws Sonoma. He told us the
Nova has been 1.07 seconds to the 60-foot mark, but
past that he’s not talking.THE CAR
Ryan “Toaster” Jones has had shoebox Novas ever since
he was in high school, but it’s culminated in his current
’65, which features a 25.3 chassis that’s certified to 6.50,
along with an AJE chromoly front clip and Koni double-
adjustable shocks. A two-speed TH400 and Pro Torque
converter from Mike’s Transmissions in Lancaster, CA,
sends power back to a ladder-bar rear suspension and a
Strange 9-inch rearend with JRI four-way shocks. Jones
would like to give a big hand to Josh Deeds for helping
tune the car, Jamie at Fab-Tech Custom Fabrication &
Welding for the work on the car, DJ Safety for helping
keep him safe, and Wilwood for picking out brakes that
stop the car from warp speed.