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68 nova project is a buick 430 worthwhile?

2K views 7 replies 8 participants last post by  dinger 
#1 ·
I am a 16yo girl working on a 68 nova my dad & I bought as a project for me to learn how to work on cars with. We are on a tight budget. The car came with a 307 - i am told often to ditch it asap - my friend has a buick 430 for pocket change - is it worth picking up for the nova, or should i save my pennies for a 350 or other?
 
#3 ·
Yeah I agree wholeheartedly with cole.I had to edit my post as I didnt realize at first that you have a 307 chevy in that. I was thinking 307 olds and Like who in the hell would put a 307 olds in a great car like a nova.
Put a nice 350 in there. You will like it. Headers fit nice and all that... you know! :thumbup:
Leave the buick and olds motors to the apollo and the omega. That is where they belong
 
#4 ·
What shape is the 307 in? If it has been rebuilt it probably has pistons that lowered the compression even lower than what it was originally. FWIW, do not be too quick to discount the 307 as a dog. I had one in a 70 Nova that would run 13 second quarter miles all day long. It never had the heads off of it. Crower 280 hydraulic cam & rev kit, Muncie 4 speed, Hooker headers, Mallory dual point and coil Holley 600 single squirter on a Edelbrock Tarantula. Had fantastic throttle response and surprised quite a few 350 Nova and Camaro owners.

Vince
 
#5 ·
Being it is your first project, stick with the Chevy. But if you had a little experience that Buick would run circles around the 350 if stock. And it WILL "bolt in" using all factory parts. But it is a MUCH bigger project (collecting all the right stuff and so on) than you are ready for.

Brian
 
#6 · (Edited)
If you can pick up the Buick 430 for pocket change...do it...then advertise it on Ebay, Craiglist, Buick specific forums, the local Autotrader papers in your area... and use the profit toward your goal of a more powerful Chevy engine. The 430 has value to a Buick guy.

I buy things just to flip them from timt to time, if a deal comes along that looks lke a money maker. It is part of being a successful low budget hot rodder, buy something you don't need in order to flip it for a profit, to buy what you do need. Big Blocks of any brand are always on that list if the price is a screaming deal.

Just depends on how cheap you can get the 430. $50 yes, $200 no.
 
#7 ·
Keep the 307 in the Nova for now and get it running well. Buy the 430 Buick and store it out of the weather. If you don't have the Shekels to buy it, see if you can trade out some labor for it. In a year or so, when you have a little more knowledge under your hat, this will be your ace in the hole for an engine swap. Nothing in the entire world is more gratifying than an engine swap. When you lift the hood down at the Drive-In and all the dudes give you an attagirl, well, it's just a great feeling. A Buford in a Bowtie, yep that'll work.

In the meantime, do all the reading you can about swaps.
http://www.amazon.com/Engine-Swappi...85460150&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Eng...85460150&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/Petersens-Eng...85460150&sr=1-4
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book...85460150&sr=1-6
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book...85460150&sr=1-9
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book...85460150&sr=1-8
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book...5460150&sr=1-10
 
#8 ·
You have 6 of the sharpest guys on this website that just gave you some good advice. Post some pics as you go and keep us posted on your progress. It's great to see young people involved with our hobby, and refreshing to see a young lady get involved. :thumbup: Dan
 
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