L-79 '66 Novas... Viable?

[bill dedman]

Since NHRA knocked fifty horsepower off the factored number for 327/350 HP '66 Novas, I thought they might become at least somewhat popular in D Stock, but so far, I haven't seen any racing.

I have been told that the 560cfm Holley is the bottleneck in their breathing, since the heads are good, the cam has considerable lift, and the intake manifold is an aluminum hi-rise.

These cars would seem to be a "natural" with the HP reduction.

I believe Stocker racer James Schaechter may have run this motor in a '65 Chevelle, with success, back before they knocked the horsepower off it. That was one reason it seemed like a good engine, potentially.

What am I missing here? Is the 275 HP engine that much better, with the 750 Q-jet? It lacks the compression ratio and valve lift (and bigger valves) of the L-79 motor.

Any comments, particularly from Mr. Schaechter, would be very much appreciated.

Bill