1970 L78 nova

[MotownMadman]

Marlin, Back to the car stuff, your numbers on power to weight are correct, but you failed to factor in torque in the equation, which is somewhat more with the big block. Any twisting taking place will do so in maximum torque range,(low end), vs maximun HP range, (mid to high end). The actual HP rating at low end launching from the lights is no where near the stated numbers. The big block having more torque will create a greater twist factor, which always occours at launch under max torque. I dont know if this theory has anything to do with chevrolets decision not to put the 4.10 in the BB Nova, there may be a multitude of reasons or none at all. Although this theory makes sense, that doesnt mean Chevy even considered it. The frame shop I worked in many years back had the most business pulling High Performance drag cars back straight from the Buick crowd, which happens to have the highest Torque ratings of all GM. Hmmmmmm........
Motown

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Matt;
The '68 and '69 Novas came with BB's and 4.10's, as did the Camaro's. Why would it suddenly become unfeasible for a '70 Nova?

[MotownMadman]

Marlin,
I can only take a guess, possibly the same problem Don had, pressure from the safety freaks in government and insurance companies, by removing the 4.10 option it would seem logical that would tone down the Big Block a bit. This is just a guess, as a matter of fact I am not sure they didnt offer the 4.10, I am only speculating based on the previous post that indicated they didnt. I do know however that all the automakers were under extreme pressure from uncle Sam and the corporate insurance muscle, it became a real problem for the big three to please the public and the factions screaming for sanity. Fuel prices were also rising, it was bad advertisment for a off the lot car to get 8-10 MPG which was the case with the extremely low geared muscle, by a simple change to a 3.73 mileage increased to a claimable 12-14 MPG which was a bit easier for John Q to swallow with the rising fuel costs while the cost of living increases remained stale. Fuel prices were long overdue to go up, a gallon of gas could be had in the fifties for 15-16 cents, in 68-69 the gas wars saw it drop to 16-17 cents. It seemed that the entire Market Basket had increased over the years while gas remained in about the same range. The liberal free sixties were on the way to history to make way for a more responsible conservative seventies, suddenly those crazy kids and their dangerous gas guzzlers were becoming a target for every ambitious politician and the big corporate lobby groups. Consider the changes in American Muscle between 69 and 74, just five years, it becomes easier to understand why changes were taking place with the hi performance options available to the consumer.
Motown

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

yada, yada, yada, ZZZZzzzzzzzzzz..
Wait, the '70's were conservative? Huh? Oh, you were self medicating again. ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz..

[MotownMadman]

Marlin,
The seventies may have seemed open and wild to someone who was not even alive in the sixties, I can assure you the seventies didnt hold a candle to the sixties, The last "REAL" party I was at was Woodstock, I am sure you thought your Bannana seat Stingray bicycle was liberal and wild, but the decade prior to that would have swallowed many of the seventies Disco Ducks alive. You still wear polyester Marlin?
Motown

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Enough already.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Don,between football and torque this topic really took a turn. I hope your car is truly a factory installed 4:10 with some unique axle code. Finding a special car is always great. Enjoy!

Tom

[GTO_DON]

Marlin, its just as you said,on the order form,he ordered g80 positraction,next to it he wrote '410'gears. I have not been under the car yet,but when i do i'll be sure to get the code for you. The nova is code 58 dark gold met with gold interior,not one of my favorite colors to be honest, the car also has rally wheels on it and it has that option listed on the window sticker! I thought all ss's had the same wheels like a 70 ss chevelle had but the guys wife says those are the wheels the car had when it was new,i have to check the codes to see if she's correct. the guy i bought it from said the car was the fastest car in their town in the early 70's.[he said its a bear!!] The trans was just rebuilt and the guy at the shop said he hasnt seen one of those trannys in a long time,said it has a torque converter out of a jaguar,I knew it had a different clutch pack,but never heard that!! The rims are 14x7 with get this, J-60-14 MCREARY'S ON THE BACK!! Whens the last time you saw a pair of those?

[PxTx]

[ QUOTE ]
Marlin,
...the firing order to your car, it's 18432576. Have a nice day M, ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey "Pops", ever try using a 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 firing order on the ol' Chevy V8s? I find my SS really prefers it.

[Bill Pritchard]

A good friend of mine bought a brand new Forest green 70 Nova L78, Turbo 400, 4.10 posi. Came that way from the factory. Undesirably slow factory stock, but the usual 'Day 2' mods woke it up, ran a best of 12.95. Wrapped it around a telephone pole around 72 or 73 Luckily he was OK.