72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Im redoing a 72 nova. It has a 307 in it right now. Ive got 2 options.

1. 350 4 bolt main, forged crank

2. 454 2 bolt main, cast crank.

I have to change a few things in the car to make it ready for the 454, radiator, springs, etc.

If you had those 2 options, which one would you go with?

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

What are you going to do with the car when done?

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Its a street car, but i want it fast. I would like to get it in the low 12's high 11's, and Ive heard its not too hard with the 454 with 450-475hp. I just got offered the 350, I realize its an easier changeout, and cheaper to work on, but dont know if ill get the performance i want.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

plus its forged and a 4 bolt.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Since that particular style Nova was available from the factory w/ a bigblock during certain model years it's not like your trying to shoehorn it in there and cobble parts together, I'd go with the bigblock. Especially since it doesn't look like economy is a factor. I think a car/boat/snowmobile with a larger big torque engine is always more fun to drive than a smaller high horsepower engine, even if they run dead even in a drag race.

The two bolt and cast crank wouldn't bother me a bit.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Big block. I had a buddy a while back that bought a 1970 Skylark convertible. It had a rod knock when he bought it. It was a 350/2 barrel. We discussed what he should do, and I told him to go to junkyard, and get a 455 Buick from a 70's station wagon or electra. I told him to have it redone, with a healthy cam, carb, headers, and some mild headwork. he insisted his 350 would be fast enough if he had it redone and added a 4 barrel and headers. Long story short, he paid 1500 to have the 350 rebuilt, 300 for a 4 barrel holley, 200 for a intake, 200 for headers, and a couple hundred on odds an ends. When it was all over, the performance still sucked. He was expecting a tire scorching musclecar, and he unded up with a slug.

For you, I would say, get a big block, keep the cam and compression conservative, some roller rockers, a good carb, intake, and headers, and you'll have a stout setup that will make you happy. You'll have enough torque to run a 3.23 or 3.42 gears and still have good et's. Im sure you can build and stroke a 350 to a 383, and make some great power, but Im sure it aint cheap and it wont be as user friendly as a big block making the same power. Post some pics

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

ever think of a GM crate motor?......they're pretty reasonable and all new

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Heres a pic

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

No, Ill check on that. I already have the 2 bolt 454, and was looking at something more along the line of 10.5/1

It wont be an everyday driver, just for friday and saturday nights.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Other things to consider:

10 bolt rear will not last very long with big block torque

Cooling system upgrade?

Hood clearance depending on what intake manifold you use

Sometimes power brake boosters get in the way with big blocks

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

All thought of.

Im looking for a 12 bolt

I have a new radiator already

It has a cowl hood (with extra clearance)

It doesnt have power brakes (although i bought the kit) It doesnt look like it will be in the way though. And the 69 and 70 year models came with bbc's

I know there will be a couple of fixes to make it work, just wondering which one i will be better off with.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Aint that the truth!!!!!!!!!!

IMHO only if your gonna lower the car down on all fours with some sticky tires and suspesion work and make a pro touring corner carver out of it (which is a great way to go in my opinion) ........Id go for a smallblock......the Nova isnt too heavy so you get a good little crate smallie goin' then add an inexpensive 150 hit of nitrous for that odd stoplight duel........that 'll get the job done!!!!.....it'd be nice!!!

If its just stoplights and the odd trip to the strip......Big Block all the way....no replacement for displacement......doug

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

I can't comment on this thread. I still have nightmares of a 350 Nova I could never beat with my 69 Mach I. :(

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Get some heavier coils for the front, a couple sets of rear tires and go for the big boy. :D :D

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

My 78 Trans Am had the 10 bolt rear end. I had a built 455 Pontiac making gobs of torque down low. The buick, olds, and pontiacs were tq monsters. I never had any issues with the rear end. Then again, I was running standard bfg radials.

The other question is what trans do you have? A TH350, TH400, or a 4 speed? The TH350 combined with a big block wont hold up that well. I blew two TCI TH350's in one summer with the 455. The sprag kept breaking.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

I like the 350 better than the 454. I could never keep the 454 together in mine but I bolted together a 350 that would turn low 12s and did not fly apart.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Always dress to impress...there ain't nothin' like a BB. My kid did a 69 PU a few years ago with a 454 stroked to 496. Much more impressive that a SB whether running or just looking at.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

BTW , The above 496 has a worked over 700R4. With 3.73 gears and 18.50x33 tires does 10:87 127 mph and can still cruise all day at 65 mph :cool:

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Go with a 738 cubic inch.You wont be disatisfied :D

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Its got a 4 speed muncie.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

damn, that has to be crazy fast. :eek:

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Cuda,

I couldnt believe how it ran with the small block in it now. power to weight ratio has a new meaning in my book.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Thats good news. Especially when its time to pick a cam.

I agree with going to a big block for the power and uniqueness. It seems as if every old chevy running around has a 350 small block with headers. Thats why I always liked pontiacs and buicks because you didnt see those motors hopped up too much. Nothing like popping the hood and seeing those fat big block valve covers vs. the small narrow small block ones. Like the difference between a 426 Hemi and a 440 magnum mopar. Hemi's had those monster hemi heads, even though it had less CID, it dwarfed the 440 in appearance.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

So Baja.......corner carver or boulevard cruiser??? :snide:
Inquiring minds want to know...........

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

A 10 bolt will hold up fine behind a big block, if you don`t have real sticky tires.

Remember HOT RODDER`S #1 RULE:

"THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT !!!"

Go with the RAT motor !

(If you don`t know which one is a RAT, you don`t deserve to own a Nova,,,,,)

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

My 72' with some power as a kid. 1989 was a long time ago but I ran a RAT in that one but for a street car go 350. 500hp small will move that car easy.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

definately a boulevard cruiser.
:drink:

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

"There is no replacement for displacement." The 350 is lacking the two main ingredients compaired to a 454-bore and stroke. The only thing better than big cubes is bigger cubes. :D

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

It's all about $$$ per power. CID is good but it's a car not a boat. I run 600cid 1100hp pair in h2o and a 475hp twin turbo VR4 for the street.If you want to lift the front and drag go big. :D

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

I'd say it could go either way. Before I went to a 400 I had a 350 solid lift motor running 11.30's all day with no breakage (cast crank). With the 400 I had a roller cam running 10.80's (also cast crank), no major breakage on this motor either. The lope was a little wicked but I like a lumpy motor. If I were you it would just be a matter of which configuration I had more parts laying around for.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

Jason, I've got a lot of BBC parts laying around the shop if you need something.

Re: 72 Nova, 350 or 454??
 

As they say (GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!!!!!) :D :D