1970 nova motor choices

[Joe DeMarzo]

Alan, good grab on the 396/375.. i think the 255 is rated 280 and the 300 is 286? Hell of a learning curve with a stick shift, lol

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Joe DeMarzo

Alan, good grab on the 396/375.. i think the 255 is rated 280 and the 300 is 286? Hell of a learning curve with a stick shift, lol

The 255 is at 284, the 300 is at 286. Honestly, with the right help, if he starts with a stick, it's not really worse than an automatic. It keeps him out of a lot of heads up races while he learns to go fast. All of the decent combinations put him in with the fast cars if he runs an automatic, so he has a lot greater chance of drawing a heads up he can't reasonably hope to win. With a 4 speed, he could go a couple of years and not draw a heads up.

[Mark Yacavone]

I don't think there's a lot of cars in L OR M/SA in Div 4, is there?

[Greg Barsamian]

I've got a "Woodrow" 350/300 "Spinning assembly" for $ale.... PM me if interested!

[Rich Biebel]

I raced a '69 Nova In G and H in 1996-1997.....I bought it from a well known racer who sadly passed away last year. It was a 350/255 with a p/g....Nice car well built but slower than you know what.......Ran 12.0's in H/SA

It was whipped when I got it....Had a wore out Venolia shortblock...

I rebuilt the short.....TRW pistons.....nothing trick in the rings....old cam....not trick lifters.....totally stock heads....nothing trick at all....

Ran 11.80's in G/SA Index was 12.30 back then....

With some more work it could have run around 11.60's back than.....so with todays cams. lifters.....valves....heads and 3 speed transmissions......Well it could run pretty decent with a mostly home built engine.....

The later year low compression engines look better so that would be a better way to go.....and buying a competetive used engine makes a lot of sense.....

A big block combo is going to really cost you a lot of money ...

I would not run the 350/300 hp combos as they were never as competitive as the low compression engines......Not when they were new and not today 40+ years later.....

I raced a 350/295 stick car in 1970 and when the low compression engines( 350/255's) started showing up......well they were almost as fast or even faster than our car back then....

[Joe DeMarzo]

Grant my memory is that you can use the open plenium manifold on the 70 (same as the 396) and the HP is less than the 396/375. I probably should verify that but long day.

[Adger Smith]

Joe,
Yes on Manifolds.
From NHRA Specs:
24 - Al Manifold 25 - Alt manifold - 3967474,3933163,19131359
Intake Manifold 3933163 with an open plenum (divider cut down) is acceptable as of June 6,2002

I think a couple of years ago, I haven't done it lately, but if you run the actual numbers the compression comes up a little more on the 402.
As for HP See below:

CHEVROLET II - 1970
Cont

402 402 402 402 402
* ** * * **
AUTO STICK
A A A
350 350 375 375 375

9.67 9.26 8.67 8.56
9.84 9.43 8.65 8.65


340 355 395 390 395
7.31.02 7.31.02 7.10.07 2.21.06
405 400 405
7.10.07
Sorry it didn't copy and past very neatly
I also think there might be an advantage in carb /hood clearance over the 70 mod camaro.