Dick Harrell Prepared Chevy ll’s
 

An article about Dick Harrell Performance Center in Kansas City, MO and the result of prepared 396-427 Chevy ll’s combined with a modified Turbo-400 automatic transmission.

12.0@115 is plenty stout for the late 60s.

Great stuff Ray! I hope all is well with you :headbang:

Great article! Thanks for posting!

Definitely. Very cool article!!

The above article was useful in confirming that a 427 Nova ever existed and was sold through Chevrolet Dealerships complete with the original 90 day warranty and could be fully financed by GMAC.

After the Nova was completed, it was taken to a major car show in Marietta, GA in the Spring of 1990. An issue came about as to it being authentic by the tech committee. When told what it was, they evidently hadn't heard or knew anything about a 427 Nova or even an L-78 automatic car being built and sold through Chevrolet Dealerships? We didn't have paperwork to back up the story, so the tech crew classified the car into the "Competition Class" over objections. At this point, the Fred Gibb involvement was still to be uncovered.

About a month later, it was taken to another major show in Memphis, TN. The tech committee proceeded to try to check it in the "Modified Class." This time though, original paperwork a the above article was presented unto them. There was a small gathering that formed to look at the evidence being displayed. They were convinced enough to correctly identify it into the class it should be? After this, there never has been a problem or question as to the 68 427 Nova automatic.

Original inspection sheet & adjustment sheet received when picked up @ DHPC. No Chevrolet dealer information or buyer information or no dealer window information? However, in the upper right hand corner is a handwritten note of carb with a circled X. That was to note that if a question came about for warranty work, they needed to contact DH. Other information of codes with dates was same as the information on POP.

Is there any information on the author (Dan Bott) of this story?

When this article was written, Dan Bott was the associate editor of Popular Hot Rodding magazine.
A follow up legacy to Dan Bott can be found in a link about the career he established being a Ford man through years past.

Bott Motorsports;@

http://www.bottmotorsports.com/BMStory.html

This Dick Harrell ad appeared in the May 24, 1968 issue of “Drag World” the official publication of AHRA.

Notice; in small print, the indication of the Chevy 11 becoming available soon.

This letter was sent to NHRA by Chevrolet Motor Division informing them that 50 396-375 hp Nova's were built on April 23, 1968.

Another ad in color announcing the 427 Nova coming soon.

This advertisement from Dick Harrell announces the available new 396-427 Nova is now available with the 69 Turbo-Hydro.

Same Dick Harrell ad with Hurst beauty attachment!

Five DHPC prepared Novas (One Camaro) being loaded for transporting to a Chevrolet network. Notice the use of Crager SS wheels on the 68’s!

Dick Harrell and the teams behind him, used many different combinations unturned with the devotion using the latest Chevrolet options offered.

This article discloses the use of a ZL-1 into the Nova being prepared. Dick Harrell & Bill Sells are shown in this article preparing the motor for the Chevy11.

Way cool article! Thanks for posting.

Daily transportation thru the week but drag raced most weekends.

Great pic!!!!!

In the first page of the article, (post #1) it mentions the Turbo-400 being redesigned for competition. This automatic transmission was developed for the 9738 Gibb COPO Novas to qualify them for NHRA SS competition. Since these cars were built and delivered the first 2 weeks of July 1968, the bulletin is dated July 12.

Since Dick Harrell used some of these Novas to modify, this document explains the modifications for initial 50 L-78’s that DH would latter upgrade including the 427. Also, the redesigned torque converter.

Pictured is the original redesigned Turbo automatic transmission developed for the Gibb Nova’s. DH got some of the cars for modifications of which the paperwork & transmission is applied. The special engine code for the original 396 factory engine is still in the document.

E3 Engine code for COPO Chevy II
 

I still remember Kim Howie telling me about the E3 engine code. He thought it was alpha numerical for Experimental 3 speed automatic transmission.

I would suspect that engine suffix “E3” would be related to Tonawanda installing a flexplate with 6 holes for that 6-lug converter hence, “Don’t forget the Extra 3 holes!”

Good point Mark! I don't ever remember that being brought up in the many discussions, before? You are correct about the flywheel being modified to connect the modified converter for the automatic transmission.

The special engine code and transmission code have had numerous discussions ever since it was discovered the Gibb Novas were built and made possible by the COPO process? Not much to learn in Chevrolet manuals?

From factory stocks base price, for an additional $822, the Dick Harrell 427-450 hp version with the additional options listed on this page could be bought? Additional options not listed on this page were standard on the 427 model, that being a Sun tachometer, specially prepared rear suspension, and A & A fiberglass hood.

Concerning the post of the above article, a couple of noticeable misprints need correction? First is the 427 is referred as L-79, but should be L-72? Next question would be on the size and brand of tires? While it is understood that DHPC would add aftermarket options the customer was willing to pay for, the base Gibb Nova is listed for stock as having F-70 X 14 tires?

An original spare tire, never used, is pictured that came with the 1968 427 Nova. A Firestone redline wide oval. Size; E-70 X 14!

The original spare above was to indicate a misprint of what was original with the Gibb Nova’s? In that picture, you may notice a difference in the location & size of the “Wide Oval” from the available replacements?

Just to share this information is one thing I have been unable to confirm? When converting the car back as originally bought, these foil stickers were still attached. Every effort to remove them carefully, the one that was different from the others was really stuck, causing it to tear. It showed a Dick Harrell serial number? In talking with Dave L & other employees, none of them had an answer?

More information about the Dick Harrell Foil Sticker with His serial Number. Though it is pretty well torn, the numbers 25 still appear. If memory serves me correctly, there was a
1 that is missing? When it left K.C., that DH serial number would then be 125 that appeared to be indented into the foil by a pencil or other likewise tool?

Just my opinion, but it seems that DH was keeping records on these cars he was preparing to show what changes were made or done, possibly even the race cars carrying his name? Back in that period of time, hand paper work was about the only choice of record keeping?

In speaking of this, the M & H slicks shown in the article were part of the original order. When the car was picked up, they were out of stock. in a few days, they would arrive by bus to be picked up locally. Such small things as this could possibly enter into the reason for a personal serial number for a car in keeping track?

TIMES HAVE CHANGED AS TIME ROLLS ON?