1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

The 396/375 alum. head engine for this car in these two yrs. places it as a natural "A" car. The iron head version is a natural "B" car. Has anyone ever run "AA" stock with this setup? Only the alum. head engine can go "AA". I've seen these cars run quick in "B" and don't know if they were nat. "A" cars or nat. "B" cars. I know the engines are quick and fast in other cars, but how are they (alum. head) in a Nova, in "AA"? Body shape is so different and wheel base is 111" compared to the camaros 108. My guess is they are slower, but I'd appreciate any input. Thanks.

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

The biggest problem anyone has with a 396 in AA is getting the weight out and getting the car to hook after they get the weight out. Some 396 cars just can't get enough weight out, and even if they can, they cannot hook the car. In order to get light enough, it will need to be a purpose built car, with absolutely strict attention to weight.

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

I do remember the Lynch car and it was very fast, but if it was a 402 engine it had to be a 1970 car only and factors as a natural "B" car and cannot go to "AA". As I said I knew there were some fast cars in "B", but wondered if they were "A" cars with weight or natural "B" cars. Alan, I didn't know these cars don't hook up real well. Since I have the car (1971) I am thinking out plans for it. I would enjoy building a natural "A" car and will decide what class and purpose build. I have all the castings needed for the 350/255, 350/295 or 300, and the 327/275 and would change the cars yr. accordingly. Having said that I still prefer an "A" car even though I don't have any big block parts. Thank you both for the replies.

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

If no one has run "AA" stock with this combo, or even it someone has tried it, has any 68 or 69 Nova gone a 9 second pass? Sounds like a hard goal to achieve.

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

Jesse,
The two fastest 68/69/70 Novas I've seen belong to the Koppien family and Clark Holroyd. For more and better information on this, you should really talk to Steve and Mike Koppien, Keith Lynch, and Clark Holroyd. All are great people, and friendly, helpful racers. And besides, if you want to go fast with a 396/375 Nova, or a 396/375 anything for that matter, you're going to need to talk to Clark about his carburetors and his rocker system, we use both.

You can find Keith and the Koppiens here on this board. And you can get Clark's contact information on the board, or from Keith or the Koppiens. I think Clark has been as fast as a 10.15 or so in A, and I'd bet the Koppiens car has been close to that, or maybe better. I do not recall seeing an unfactored 9 second pass in a Stock legal Nova. That does not mean it cannot be done, it just means I have not seen one posted anywhere.

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

Jesse,

Checking my end-of-year stats from Nitro Joe, there is one Nova shown in AA/SA. It is the '68 Nova of Luke Bogacki. it shows him with a 10.749 (-0.151) on the 10.90 index @ last years SpringNats.

in A/SA, Clark Holroyd shows with the best Nova run with his '69 @ the WinterNats, a -1.174 run against the 11.30 index.

Hope this helps,

Unk

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

Thank you Bob. I was thinking Clark's 10.126 against the Sorensons was the fastest pass I'd seen in a Nova.

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

When I bought the Nova from Keith Lynch in 2005 it had a 402 with iron heads. Aaron Koppien, (God's speed, Aaron) took that Nova to RU in Las Vegas. That when I decided to buy that car. Right now I´m racing this Nova on the third season with a iron head 396/375 hp from Steve Koppien. I can really recommend to get in contact with the Koppiens, even if there is a Atlantic ocean in between, they will not let you down.
Pelle Andersson, Sweden

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

Keith had it "bumbed up" to an natural A car for awhile he then put the stuff in a Camaro to get away from the hp..after a couple of yeasr the hp was taken back -10 on the Nova again...for some reason...maybe it's time to treat the Hemi E body the same way..

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

I think you should track down the parts for a 255/ 350. That would be good !




Are you reading tonite buddy boy......??? he he he he !!!

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

Sorry I haven't responded to this thread as of late, but I had/have a family medical emergency going just now. I do enjoy the good info, though. I do know of the Holroyd rockers, had one in my hand to examine. They are beefy. I also remember someone's Nova going a 10.15 and thought it was the Lynch car, but wasn't sure and didn't know the combination involved. Bob, thanks for that info. I had a subscription to Nitro's stuff when I had the superstocker, but don't have any stats as of late. Actually I wasn't really looking for a Nova to build, it kinda just fell into my lap type of situation. Sounds to me like very few of these cars work well with the 375 engine. As I said I have all the proper castings for the smallblock combos. and with these cars traction problems that 350/300 engine sounds like the way to go. That would be an F natural car and I thought of bumping it to E, providing weight is not a problem. I don't know, since the rule change, if someone has tried E with the F natural car. I would bet all the E cars are 396/350 combos. Thanks all for the interest shown. It's interesting and enjoyable to me as well.

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

Jesse, my comment was just bustin on a buddy, who lurks in here..... Tryin to get his rile up !! Why, because I havent in a while !!

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

Kenny,

Who were you trying to bust on?
I still think the 71' 350 is still a good combo for the Nova's.

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

I'm thinking Painter.....

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

Ding ding !! Todd's the winner !

Re: 1968/69 Chevy Nova (stock eliminator)
 

The fact is that the Nova is very competitive, it is just less popular than the Camaro. The guys who are really trying to go fast with a Nova are quite successful, there just aren't nearly as many of them. The Nova would make a good 396 car, no doubt.

Having had a big block car and a small block car, I'd rather run the big block car. The 255/350 has been beaten to death, you have to work twice as hard to make it competitive. There are a lot of them around, too. So unless you are fast, you're likely to face more heads up runs you can't win.

There were several 255/350 cars at the track this weekend, almost all in F or G, mostly Novas and Camaros, and there were some even faster Mopars. I think I counted about 8 or 10 255/350 cars.

You could have run A, B, or C and faced less competition. The only time you'll have real traction issues with a 396 Nova is when the track is marginal and you're trying to run AA. With the overhang on the Nova, it should be better than the Camaro, not worse. But neither will hook easy with a 396 in AA.