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DeuceCoupe · 09-16-2019, 10:32 PM

Cool find!

Were there any hints as to what class the barn car was running in?

In looking at all the 1961-71 NHRA wins/records as I find the sheets, I don't see any L79 wins/records in STOCK class. All I can figure is, the L79 was overrated, especially at 350hp and even at 325hp though that was closer.

The L79 REALLY wanted more cam and intake, so once it got that in SS/ classes, the wins started coming, for the 66 Holley version anyway.

The 68 Nova L79, rated at only 325hp so it wasn't overrated so badly, might have won more but:
1. I get a W/P=3069/325=9.44, which puts the car near the bottom of its class, not a good place to be. I don't follow how NHRA says that a 327/350 Nova weighs 3069 but a 350/295 Nova weighs 3106 since both intakes are iron. If the 68 Nova L79 was listed at 3106 lb, it would have W/P=3106/325=9.56, right at the top of the 9.50 class, making the car more competitive.
2. The 9.00 and 9.50 classes are where those pesky Z28 cars hung out so they were always tough ones.

I think the 68 Nova L48 350/295 did better, as it competed in the W/P=10.50 class with no Z28 cars, and its mild cam got more benefit from "legal cheater" or "rate of lift" cams since it was so tiny to begin with. That would be my bet anyway.

09-16-2019, 10:32 PM	#2
DeuceCoupe Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 267 Likes: 96 Liked 45 Times in 41 Posts	Re: 68 Nova l79 Stocker barnfind Cool find! Were there any hints as to what class the barn car was running in? In looking at all the 1961-71 NHRA wins/records as I find the sheets, I don't see any L79 wins/records in STOCK class. All I can figure is, the L79 was overrated, especially at 350hp and even at 325hp though that was closer. The L79 REALLY wanted more cam and intake, so once it got that in SS/ classes, the wins started coming, for the 66 Holley version anyway. The 68 Nova L79, rated at only 325hp so it wasn't overrated so badly, might have won more but: 1. I get a W/P=3069/325=9.44, which puts the car near the bottom of its class, not a good place to be. I don't follow how NHRA says that a 327/350 Nova weighs 3069 but a 350/295 Nova weighs 3106 since both intakes are iron. If the 68 Nova L79 was listed at 3106 lb, it would have W/P=3106/325=9.56, right at the top of the 9.50 class, making the car more competitive. 2. The 9.00 and 9.50 classes are where those pesky Z28 cars hung out so they were always tough ones. I think the 68 Nova L48 350/295 did better, as it competed in the W/P=10.50 class with no Z28 cars, and its mild cam got more benefit from "legal cheater" or "rate of lift" cams since it was so tiny to begin with. That would be my bet anyway.