Oh....and just for a comparison basis...

the 72 nova SS stock ran a 15.5. That's with the crappy 200bhp v8 they stuck in there.

 

I would bank on the fact that he's probably got a small block...most likely a 350 or 327. It's not difficult to put one of those engines in any older chevy and mod it enough to hit 12's. If the guy is into racing and cars pretty much at all: unless you are in the low 12's range keep your money.

It's not difficult to get 350-400 horse power out of a 350. I had a dodge dart as my first car and put a small block mopar in it (a 360). I did intake manifold, 4 brl Holley, headers and 3" exhaust, a competition cams street/strip cam, and 3.91 gears in the diff...this all set me back about $1800 including the motor... the gear member was like $600 and the carb was $450. The car would run 12.6 all day at Sears Point.

 

https://www.i-club.com/forums/gruppe-s-510-783-5300-141/how-do-i-get-1000-whp-95256/

Read everything in that thread. If he has any of that stuff don't race him. You should also think about doing these mods if you really want to trash his V8. Inexpensive and very effective.

 

This post it funny

There is one very important and the most important of all factors, which is his tires. If he doesnt have drag radials or slicks, you will roast him from a dig (stop). If he has an el camino that isnt running the juice, he has no chance without good tires. Even if he puts down 400hp, his car wont grab traction until 3rd and the race is over.

I would say if he is running street tires in any size less than 275, definately go for it

Ben

 

haaa. el camino. My buddy had one back in the day putting down 420 and had HUGE meats on the back. I drove that thing...holy hell did it have traction issues. It would step out anytime you or it wanted to..haaa. Beast though.

those nova's have a pretty good weight distro...the 2 door was something like 48% rear which is incredible for that era muscle car. The 4 doors got to be even better. And that is with a 350 in it. But they still had traction issues..even with the lower power 70's motors.

 

Sure it has weight distribution. So does Rosanne but that doesn't say much since she weighs more that 400 pounds. I don't think Chevy's goal was weight dis. as most of their customers were probably not doing much autocross. I love muscle cars but not because of their speed, just because their classic. Comparing an STi and a Nova in weight would be about the same as comparing a 3000GT to a hatchback Civic. But anyway, more power to lead sled.

 

not true...for the era the nova was light and subaru's are actually no where near civic hatches..haaa.

WRX 3085 pounds. Nova 4 door sedan depending on package is between 2600-2750 pounds.

So ummm....wrong.

 

Yup those #s are for real - the car is owned by a guy named Milt who runs it at American Auto-X series.
~600HP with 17x11" wheels with Hoosier 315/35ZR17 tires on all 4 corners
the brakes are 13" rotors all around with (get this) 2 4-piston calipers per wheel.
That car will go into the ABS if you smash the brakes at any speed, its that good

 

That's bad ***. I'm serious when I say that is something to be proud off. The 0-100-0 test really determines how good a car is build and if you can get lower than 12 you're good. 11 and you're insane. Great work. I'd like to see it sometime...shoot I'd like to drive it. haaaa.

weren't you working on a camaro or something recently? Some insane quarter mile car?

 

Ive come to the conclusion that Nova's vary by a lot! From what im hearing it can run a 12 all the way to a 17. But ive gotten a taste of his car without his cams or 4speed and im pretty sure its running a 17 right now. this guy is really over confident about his car and i dont see how a cam and upgrade from 3spd to 4spd transmission can allow it to take even a mostly stock wrx. by the way i have a wrx not sti.

 

If he has the right setup for the cam his gains could be as much as 50-80 whp. Remember his airflow is relative to his displacement on a NA motor. His motor is most likely a LOT bigger than yours...more than twice as big. Also, his stock cam has probably worn a little flat over the years... new valve springs and cam, probably new 4 brl carb, exhaust (if he has headers), and new gearing will probably get you in trouble. Hopefully he can't hookup or drive that old 4spd...

And that's another question..was he talking 4spd manual or one of the newer 4 speed overdrive auto trannys that are a frequent swap?

 

I don't really do drag racing - I do have a really nasty 71 Camaro of my own, but that is a opentrack/Autocross car.
You are probably thinking of the '69 Camaro I was building at my old shop


Its a CP car