1970 nova motor choices

[Todd Bailey]

Don't worry too much about the year. I'm having a '70 Nova built (South of Dallas, if interested) and will be claiming it as a '69 to run the 255/350 in G/SA. Luckily, I found a complete Woodrow Josey motor for less then five grand to get me started. Listen to the guys on this site because their experience is invaluable. I have a file from Classracer with inputs concerning most everything in building a car as to what works, what doesn't and what to buy and not buy. If the creek don't rise, I will be out there next year.

[Joe DeMarzo]

Todd is doing right (you must have a couple of good mentors) and everyone has given you great advise. Stay away from the BB if you are on a budget and just starting out. If you insist on a BB go 1970 402 combo. Buddy up with a local stock racer and be a sponge. It will speed up your learning curve.

The 350/255 ( 69) is easiest to make run fast, the 350/300 (70) is a good combo but you have to get a good engine builder to make it really fast. The 350/200 (72) is a great combo, hence Mr. Gray's motor (his Nova is a bad motor scooter). You will have HP and just have to work on the other stuff, converter, suspension, trans, carb, etc

Spend your money wisely, buy great parts and don't think short term. You will spend 3x the amount if you cut corners.

Good luck and I would be happy to share my BB & SB experiences if you would like privately.

[Alan Roehrich]

The one big block that would be good would be an iron head 396/375 4 speed, at 385HP, and being a 4 speed, it is a good combination.

They did drop the HP on the 350/300, it is now only 2 higher than the 350/255.

[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!

[Grant Eldridge]

Originally Posted by Joe DeMarzo

Todd is doing right (you must have a couple of good mentors) and everyone has given you great advise. Stay away from the BB if you are on a budget and just starting out. If you insist on a BB go 1970 402 combo. Buddy up with a local stock racer and be a sponge. It will speed up your learning curve.

The 350/255 ( 69) is easiest to make run fast, the 350/300 (70) is a good combo but you have to get a good engine builder to make it really fast. The 350/200 (72) is a great combo, hence Mr. Gray's motor (his Nova is a bad motor scooter). You will have HP and just have to work on the other stuff, converter, suspension, trans, carb, etc

Spend your money wisely, buy great parts and don't think short term. You will spend 3x the amount if you cut corners.

Good luck and I would be happy to share my BB & SB experiences if you would like privately.

Joe, what was the reason you preferred the '70 402 over the '69 396? We had also looked at that but were concerned about the "flat" 1970 intake manifold, decided to give up the six cubic inches. Maybe that manifold is better than we believed?
Grant

[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.