Chevrolet Nova Internet Source
Bert




Year 1976
Make Chevrolet
Model Nova
Body Style 2-door sedan

Engine 350
Pistons stock (dished)
Heads stock (882)
Carburetor Quadrajet
1976 Chevrolet Nova
March 24, 1997: My car is a 1976 Nova SS that I run in NHRA Stock Eliminator (drag racing). The car runs either J/SA or K/SA (means J or K stock automatic trans) - the entire class is based on factory power to weight ratios - the old big power muscle cars fit into the lower classes (A, B, C, etc.). The car originally had a 305 2-barrel, but now sports a 350, with stock cylinder heads, intake manifold, carburator etc - as per NHRA rules. The best performance of the car is -.820 second under the national K/SA index of 12.95 seconds.
1976 Chevrolet Nova rear

I purchased the car back in 1983, it had a 305 2 barrel. In 1984 I rebuilt the 305, got bored with the low power and in 87 I built a 383 stroker for it. The car ran well with the 383 (13.0@106mph) and was driven daily in summer. I grenaded that engine and built another 383 - that one ran 12.0@111 mph (and saw limited street use). I built another 383 and ran 11.50@117 with that one (vehicle weight was 3600 lbs - real torquey engines). I sold the last 383 and turned the car into an NHRA "Stocker". Lots of rules, but a whole lotta fun too. We have to use the engine components the way they came in that year - stock pistons (dished), cylinder heads (882)- no porting, stock intake manifold (249), stock carburator (quadrajet), and stock lift on the camshaft (.390 intake, and .410 exhaust). We can use headers, any gear ratio (has to have a GM diffy), any torque convertor, same number of forward speeds in the transmission (turbo 350 with 2.75 low gear and aluminum high gear drum). I use a 12 bolt differential with a strange spool and axles and 5.13 gears. The car has run a best of -.820 second under the national K/SA index of 12.95 seconds. That was at an altitude corrected track (Saskatchewan International Raceway - 1600 ft) - the corrected index for S.I.R is 13.18 (ran 12.36) - at 3685 lbs. The car will run J/SA as well - same thing but 135 lbs lighter (should be approx. .15 second quicker in J). I hope this information is useful for anyone that is interested. This "OOOEEE BABY pic was taken at Bandimere Speedway in Denver - 1994, the car's appearance hasn't changed since then.

Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 Chevrolet Nova Internet Source.