Horsepower

[MikeA]

On Steve's Nova Site someone receive and posted GM of Canada paper work for a 1972 Nova SS. The paper work showed 350 cu. in. w/ 270 hp. Everything I have seen shows a ’72 Nova SS came with 200 hp. Was it standard for cars that were shipped out of the U.S. to have a higher horsepower rating?

[COPO]

I bet that is the difference between the "gross" HP and the "net" HP. 1972 was the year GM made the change to net numbers.

[Supercar_Kid]

My guess is it has something to do with the conversion of English measure to the metric system. Canucks likely don't use foot pounds. Just a thought.

[Keith Tedford]

Don't take all the GM of Canada stuff as total gospel. While Larry Davidson was on the ball and was a car nut himself, some others weren't and some mistakes were made. An L78 Pontiac just about got the documentation sent out listing it as having a 375 hp 396. Our '72 Lemans has the L78 400. Perhaps I can get things juggled to read 396 375hp and have one of one. A COPO Pontiac even. Think of the possiblities. Everything else has been tried on E-bay.

[Canucklehead]

Metric system coversion was right at about that time, but i don't think that was the reason as it was a slow changeover.

[Keith Tedford]

I have a '72 brochure listing a 350 at 165 hp. This was a net rating. Our 400 Pontiac was rated at 250 hp with dual exhaust and 200 with single. The net ratings are a little closer to real world, as installed in the car.