If you pulled up next to this Nova at a traffic light, you might not give it a second look. After all, it has four doors, dog dish hub caps, and the paint is faded. But a closer look would reveal wider wheels in the back and a riser on the hood. Then the light changes and you quickly disappear into the Nova driver’s rearview mirror. Why? Because it has a balanced 408 cubic inch engine under the hood with all sorts of other goodies. This sleeper is in Thompsonville, Michigan, and available here on craigslist for $11,000. A nod of the hat to regular Barn Finder Pat L. for this tip!
Chevy built a ton of Nova’s in 1970, more than 307,000 of which 81,000 were 4-door sedans. The kind your schoolteacher drove or maybe the librarian. But none of the latter left the factory with anything bigger than a 2-barrel 350 V8. The SS option was reserved for the 2-door version of the automobile. The seller no doubt bought this car to build a street racer that wouldn’t attract a lot of attention. He says he’s invested $15,000 in the car and that doesn’t include any of the labor.
Pop the hood and you’ll find that big-block eight-cylinder, which the seller says has an all-new bottom end and main bearings. It also has a high-volume oil pump with a hardened shaft and a 700-R 4-speed manual transmission with just 200 miles on it. You could drive the Chevy every day if you wanted, or use it for a street racer as we’re told its best time in the 1/8-mile sprint was 7.86 seconds at 90 mph.
The light green paint faded away long ago on this Nova, but the chrome still looks good. There is no mention of rust, and we don’t see any other than a bit on the surface. The interior looks to have an aftermarket cover over the front bench seat and the dash pad is faded but not cracked. The odometer reads 40,000 miles, but we’re told it’s broken so the actual mileage on the car is an unknown. You could choose to leave the car the way it is and blend in with the crowd. The rest is up to your vision and budget. The seller says he may consider a partial trade but doesn’t say what might float his boat.
Thankful not to be 16 and have 11K in my pocket anymore. This looks like it could be a lot of fun with a few minor mods. After removing the decals, and with a stock hood, this car defines the word sleeper.
The ultimate Q-ship?
Looks like a stroker small block to me.
A .040 over 400 small block to be exact.
Yeah it is , those aren’t BBC valve covers probably a 400 block .030 over my son has built a few of those
I’ll pass. Hate it when someone drops an engine in a car that wasn’t originally available in that car. :(
I’d rather have fun than be stuck with a sick six that couldn’t get out of its own way
So, my leaning Tower of Power Viper is a no go?
All novas came with chevy engines.
All CHEVY’S came with Chevy engines too – which probably aggravated the other division car owners even more beyond possibly getting a Chevy engine under their cars’ hoods in the later ’70s & beyond.
Had turbo 350 transmission it couldn’t handle my high performance Buick 350 had use turbo 400 transmission
You’re gonna love my 41 New Yorker with a BBC 496 then, ha…..
I believe that Tony is right…
That’s not a big block….
Also, I don’t believe the 700-R is a manual transmission.
Correct. The 700-R4 is a 4 speed auto with an overdrive. I believe it, along with the 200-R4, were GM’s last mechanical tranny that wasn’t computer controlled. They had a long life in countless GM vehicles, so they’re popular with resto-mods since you can’t swing a dead cat in a junk yard without hitting one.
True! It says it is a manual shift transmission. Not a manual transmission.
Back in my H.S. days know how many guys wanted a Nova or for that matter, any other make in a 4 door? Zilch. Even after Gapp & Roush’s Maverick the idea of hot rodding Grandmas 4 door car never caught on.
With so many 4 doors made, i guess either most were driven into the ground – in bad weather & rusted away. &/or r many were cannibalized for body parts for the 2 doors.
There was a ton more 2 door the 4 door was the 81k number.
These Crew Cabs are an affordable way to get into Hot Rodding 11K Hinda Steep
Anybody with a 1st or 2nd gen f-body still with grandma’s strait 6 & powerglide, after buying this nova, would certainly consider swapping drivetrains & some interior parts, & finding a grandma who still likes to drive & go shopping. lol
My buddy had a 66 Valiant four door with a 340 6 pack and four spd out of a wrecked AAR Cuda back in 80-81. That car was some kinda fun, almost the ultimate sleeper. The ultimate sleeper was the lady whose husband put a hot 350 4spd in a non descript tan 77-80 (rear wheel drive) Toyota Corolla four door. If you didn’t see the duals under the bumper and the nice rumble you had no idea.
My buddy had a 66 Valiant with a 340 6 pack 4spd out of a AAR Cuda back in 80-81. It was almost the ultimate sleeper. The ultimate sleeper was the non descript tan 77-80 (rear wheel drive) Toyota Corolla four door with a hit 350 auto. If you didn’t see the dual pipes you never knew what hit you, the lady could drive it pretty well.
Had Nova Squad cars, were fast, good cars, thought they had 4 barrel carbs.
Back when Novas were a dime a dozen on the streets this would have made a hell of a getaway car.
I love it! In this day and age a 1970 daily driver is nonexistent, especially one that’ll beat any stock Corvette in the 1/8 or 1/4 mile. 400 SBC bored .40 is perfect! For me, any showroom condition vehicle with the exception of my month old, 5 hour MF 1840M loader tractor is just not doable on a farm on a gravel road. The only changes I’d make is fix/replace the broken speedometer and swap out the worst automatic transmission known to man with a 400 turbo. I have a not so good history with the ugh, 700r4 ‘strand you’ trans. BTW, my 2021 short wheelbase 4×4 tractor is NOT a good unit for travelling at 15 MPH, lol. Praying for lots of snow this winter!
I’m crazy enough to enjoy a build like this Nova, very cool…..a real street sweeper !! My 1969 Coronet 4 door tribute car with a 1969 440HP block, manual valve body 727 transmission, 3.91 SureGrip rear gears, fiberglass fenders…..it’s unruly !!!
The 440 in my 1969 Coronet, lots of power, I love it when I open the hood and people say what waste of a 440, but where is their 18 second car ???
My 1969 Coronet tribute 4 door ran a best of 12.30 in 2020. Not too bad for an old 4-door, racing on BFG Radal T/A’s. Car is a blast to drive, surprising ALOT of unsuspecting Mopar haters…..it’s just an old 4 – door, and yes, I am 68 years old ……an old school car guy !!!
Nothing wrong with that, Ray. 68 years young. We may have old-ish bodies, I just turned 64, but our minds are stuck on 18. MOPAR (more power) to ya!
In June 2020, I purchased a former class champion and ex-drag car that raced out of Phoenix, AZ. area for many years. It was a lowly 1965 Plymouth Valiant Signet stuffed with a built 440 that had been known to turn 10.30 et’s at a 126mph. I live in the Seattle area, found and purchased this car to turn it back into a nasty street car. It’s all caged, frame reinforced, well built race car, now just a crazy street car. I’m 68 years old and I refuse to be just another old man who drives a conservative modern car. Slowly turning it back to a street car…installing a dual reservoir master cylinder for safety and adding rear disc brakes.. I run race gas and don’t mind paying the prices. I know MOST people say I should stop this nonsense and act my age. Screw it, I own 11 driving / insured high powered Mopars, let’s spice it up and teach these young whips how it was !! All you guys & gals enjoy the hobby and…..have fun !!! Ray
Ray, if I ever “switch teams”, you’re the first one I’m gonna call, ha….stay young, guy….
Ray, I quote you, “I’m 68 years old and I refuse to be just another old man who drives a conservative modern car.” I totally agree! I don’t care for any newfangled vehicle newer than 1980. That said, it’s in my best interests to drive newer pickups, I own 4 and my favorite and only MOPAR is an ’01 Dodge 3500 dually, 2 whl drive, 11,000 # GVWR w/5 speed and gas guzzling 488 V10. I hate to say it but, my ’89 Chevy 1/2 ton 4×4 4 speed in 2 WD will outpull it. I’m giving the Chevy away soon so no more 4×4’s. The only car I own hasn’t been licensed since 1967. It’s a MOPAR! ’40 DeSoto S7 Deluxe 4 door. I want to sell it. The ‘hottest’ car I’ve ever owned was in high school, ’65 Olds Cutlass F85 2 dr hdtp 330 ci with 2 sp auto on the console. Hmm, maybe not entirely true. At one time I owned two ’63 Pontiac Catalina’s with 389’s. One had posi. A local guy has a couple cars for sale: ’68 Roadrunner w/beefed up 440 and a ’74 Challenger with ’71 340. He’s holding out for big bucks. His Dad has a building full of MOPARS.
Attached is the 440 stuffed into that small engine compartment. I’m currently replacing the master cylinder with a dual reservoir unit and installing rear disc brakes. Also changing out the 4:56 gears to 3:55…..I might add a 150 NOS nitrous shot just to blow my hair back !! To quote Alfred E. Newman, ” What – Me Worry ??”
Ray, why is the exhaust wrapped? Keep the high heat higher? When I see that done to motorcycles I cringe.
Hi NW Iowa Kevin !
Good question about wrapping my headers. Because I’m running fenderwell headers they generate ALOT of heat under the hood. Wrapping them reduces under the hood temperatures. The wrapping works by holding the heat within the header & that creates better exhaust flow. The main problem with my headers also is that they are very close to my master cylinder & lines which causes my brake fluid to boil – not good, so I’m relocating the master cylinder 2″ to the left. I purchased a shorter, in length, master cylinder & fabricated a heat shield to deflect the heat – it should work, I’m putting it all together, should be done in a couple of weeks. If moving the master cylinder works, I may get the headers ceramic coated instead, about a $300.00 – $400.00 expense….
header wrap less than $100.00. Thank you !! – Ray
ap
NW Iowa Kevin & Pugsy – Thank you both for the kind words toward this “kid” of an old man. I’ve been a GEARHEAD all my life, and I don’t believe in stopping anytime soon ! Enjoy your rides, brothers & sisters !!!!
I imagine this will make someone a fun ride.
Can anyone estimate what this car would probably run in the quarter. A wild guess would be 14.0 and 110 Mph.
Only picking up 20 mph in the second 1/8 seems like a light prediction.
Only picking up 20 mph in the second 1/8 seems like a light prediction.
RAY, not every gray haired man wants to play bingo!
If it makes you happy and keeps you alive then keep doing it !
Enjoy YOUR life and don’t forget that it is a privilege to still be here to live it !
As with every generation, the needs are different so, let them be
As with ours , we must live with our choices
Enjoy it !
Hi Claudio !
Thanks for your reply & comments…good words to live by !! My passion for the car hobby has been past down to my two son’s who enjoy participating at the car shows and repair work with the old man. A family affair as my wife participates also with one of my cars from my fleet. You know, I cannot even remember when the last time I played bingo, something else to participate in during my retirement years !! Have a good life my friend and ENJOY also !!
– Ray
These know it y’all’s need get facts right 700 r4 is a 4 speed automatic used behind high performance engines Chevy makes not manual people need learn what it is before they say what’s in car
Really Raymond?
Before you go off sounding like an expert, make sure you have your facts straight. A 700r4 is not a strong unit for HP cars. A 4L80e is the strong one derived from the TH400. The 700r4 is an offshoot from the weaker TH350.
What about the 200-R4 trans behind the GN & ’89 t/a?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo-Hydramatic#THM200-4R
How did the above hold out in the above cars?
My friend’s 53 yr old powerglide in his ’68 nova is original with over 300k miles on it! – tho the car has a 250 strait 6, but he does not drive it like an old lady would. lol
Pugsy, We were into 4WD mud racing using mostly 74 Blazers and used the Turbo 350s with every internal HD replacement part we could get. We never had any problem with the Turbo 350 being strong, but did have problems with the 12 bolt rears which didn’t hold up well when racing in the low side of the transfer case with a stroker 383 with 475 foot pounds of torque. We had to go to a 14 bolt rear to solve our problem.
Our transmission people might have been correct about the lighting fast shifts that the 350 turbo would give after installing the shift kit and removing some of the rubber balls in the transmission. The 350 Turbos were suppose to shift much faster than the stronger Turbo 400. I will always remember driving around at low speeds and the transmission shifts between low and second would definitely jerk your neck. It felt like you were slamming the gears on a manual transmission and you were only driving normally.