Fine Lines: 1968-74 Chevy Nova...

The Nova was introduced in 1962 as an economy car to compete with the Plymouth Valiant and the Ford Falcon. Initially they were only available with a 6-cylinder engine. The 283 V8 was optional until '65. My cousin had a hot-rodded 283 powered '63 Nova that was a dragstrip terror; because of their light weight and short wheelbase they made good drag racers. In '66-67 the bodystyle was changed and the mighty 327 was optional. However, Novas really bloomed in 1968. They were completely restyled and shared the underpinnings with the Camaro that was introduced the year before. The 327 and 350 V8s were available and for the first time-a big-block was optional. The 396 that was in the vaunted SS396 Chevelle was optional in the Nova SS. Their were two versions-the hydraulic cammed,10.25:1 compression, "Station Wagon" engine that had oval-port heads and a Quadrajet on an Iron manifold. These were rated at 325 hp, and in a light Nova hauled ass. The upgrade was the L78 396 that had 11:1 compression, a hot solid-lifter cam, rectangular port heads and a 780 Holley on an aluminum manifold. Basically all the components of the 425 hp 427 Corvette motor on a 396 block. They were grossly under-rated at 375 hp. Weighing roughly 600 lbs less than the average Chevelle or GTO yet packing the same amount of power-a 396 Nova was a fearsome street fighter. Even B-body Mopars that had 426 Hemis and 440s under their long hoods-weighed 500-600 lbs more, so any power advantage was negated by the weight difference. If you optioned it right-there wasn't much that was going to outrun a 396 Nova in a drag race!  1969 and 1970 models were basically unchanged. However, Chevrolet brass made a decision that all us gearheads wish they hadn't. Initially the mighty LS6 450 hp 454 was slated to be optional in the Camaro SS and the Nova SS as well as the Chevelle. Since the 396 was already an option-it would have been a bolt-in. How badass would that have been? Remember the average Chevelle weighs 3,800-4,000 lbs. The average Nova weighs 3,200-3,400 lbs. A 600 lb weight advantage!  Take 600 lbs off an LS6 Chevelle-can you say 12s off the showroom floor?  Alas, the brass decided for some unknown reason to cut down on "model prol;iferation" and the LS6 was only offered in the Chevelle line. That's why there were no LS6 1970 Corvettes. Zora-Arkus Duntov-chief Corvette engineer-fully expected the much more radical LS7 to make production as the 'Vette's top engine option, so the LS6 wasn;t offered.The 360 hp "station wagon" LS5 454 was optional in the Corvette, making the 370 hp LT-1 small-block the most powerful 'Vette engine that year. The LS6-with 9.0:1 compression instead of 11:1 and a 425 hp rating instead of 450-was offered in 1971 Corvettes. Anyhow-a 396 was the biggest engine you could get in a 1970 Nova. For some reason-maybe pressure from the safety Nazis and insurance companies-in 1971 the 396 was dropped. The largest engine available in a Nova SS was a 350 with 270 hp. 1972 was basically unchanged. This was the year that automakers switched from gross to net hp ratings so it looks on paper like power really dropped off. In reality the '71 and '72 engines are identical.  In 1973 a hatchback version was introduced. Hot Rod magazine tested a '73 Nova SS that Nickey Chevrolet-a Chicago dealer-had swapped an L88 427 into. It ran something like 11.88 in the 1/4. 1974 was basically unchanged-the workhorse L48 350 that made about 180 hp was the top engine option.  In 1975 they were completely restyled, catalytic converters ruined performance, and Chevrolet let it revert to a price leader compact. The standard engine was a 250 inch six that wheezed out 120 hp,the optional ones were a 130 hp 262 V8, a 145hp 305 or a 160 hp 350. The "SS" package was basically a tape stripe package. The line soldiered on until 1979-but the '75 and later models are ugly with emasculated engines, salt-flats gearing and 5-mph bumpers. Everyone wants the '68-74 models. Any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro will fit the Nova-so you can build a drag racer or a corner carving "G" machine. The engine bay will accept any small or big block Chevy-so they make a great base for a hot rod. I'd also consider '71-74 Pontiac Venturas. They were Pontiac's version of the Nova-and the 350 Pontiac models run great- and a 400 or 455 is a bolt-in. If they have a Chevy six or V8 in them-some of them did-no problem-a 350 or 383 Chevy would be a bolt-in. A Nova might be a good alternative to the cookie-cutter Camaros and Firebirds out there. Mastermind