I purchased this 1968 Nova in 1980 for my son so he could get to work. At the time, it was a 6 cyl. with a 3 speed on the floor and bucket seats; just a very basic commuter car.

One day while he was at work the car was stolen and the joy riders blew up the engine and left it on the side of the road.

I paid $300 to get the car out of impound… That’s a double wammy! I stored what was left of the car at my friend Earl’s for the next 25 years.

But in 2006, I decided it was time to build the Nova into a Race car….

My friend Keith Comella installed Mini Tub and moved the rear springs and shocks. He replaced the gas tank with a poly fuel cell and relocated the battery to the trunk. We added a 383 stroker backed by a Muncie 4 speed and a 9″ Ford rear with 3.89 gear for motivation.

My nephew, Derick applied the Graphite Grey Metallic paint with Pearl Orange stripes and my talented wife, Diane, stitched up the orange upholstery with charcoal grey headliner and door panels and carpet.

The car has recently gone through major changes, Back half, with big tires, Rollcage modification, TKO 5 speed, Tunnel Ram intake with twin Holleys.

The transformation from a commuter car to a race car was complete!

Nova Info

  • Engine is a 383 stroker with Dart iron 180 heads with, 2.02 int. 1.60 exh. valves and 1.6 Comp Cams roller rockers.
  • A Comp 268H cam driven by a PJ Gear Drive.
  • A Hays flywheel and 10.5 ” clutch is surrounded by a Lakewood scattershield which hooks up a TKO 600, 5 speed.
  • The power is transmitted back to a narrowed Strange 9 inch Ford big bearing rear with 4.11 posi.
  • Rear suspension is coil over ladder bar mounted to and A.R.T. narrowed frame rail back half.
  • Front suspension has 2″ dropped spindles mounting the CPP disc brake conversion, new A-arms and poly bushings with new ball joints.
  • A Flaming River tilt column mounts to a F.R. manual rack and pinion for firm steering. Front tires are MT Frontrunners on 15×4 Billet Specialties Street Lites, and the rear tires are MT SS/R Radial 29x15R15LT mounted on Billet Specialties 15×12 Street Lites.
  • An 8 point cage ties into the narrowed back half and welded in frame connectors and front half all together for no twisting.
  • To lighten the load, a 12 Gal. aluminum fuel cell sits between the frame rails, a Harwood 4″ cowl hood and front and rear Glass Bumpers have replaced the steel counterparts, and a aluminum radiator installed for better cooling.
  • The battery and electrical has been relocated to the trunk.

Nova Photos

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