PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

Does anyone know if Brewers' 68 Nova SS from the PSMCDR started life as a "light-weight" 6 cylinder Nova? I was talking with someone about this car and this is what I was told.

Mike

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

I don't recall if it was a six cylinder car or an SS to start with. You can see a short story about it at www.yearone.com , click on car photo gallery, then employee cars, then Nova.
There has also been an article or two in the past on the Nova in Muscle Car Review. They may explain the history of the car.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

I know that I have read somewhere that the frame for a six cylinder Nova is lighter than the frame for a V8 car. But I have looked at them, and I see no difference. The same part number seems to be used for the frames, according to the 68 Nova assembly instructions.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

There used to be some info on the Brewer's Resoration homepage, but there doesn't seem to be anymore.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

These cars are a rare breed and fast as hell,902 to be exact in 68.1968 have some unique features that make them very special.Only year for that particular dash and only year it says Chevy II and Nova.396 cars came out early mid 68.There are identify marks for the 396 cars.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

The car was also featured on My Classic Car. I seem to recall that Brewer said that it was an original 396, but not originally an aluminum head version.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

I have know substantial info on the L89 option for the 1968 SS 396 Chevy II Nova,except for a Question asked in a old 68 car magazine where the respond to the Question was that you could order the aluminun heads on the68 Nova if you asked the right imfo at the dealership when placing your order.Dealership mention was Dana Chevrolet.
Only other way was Motion for the 68 Chevy II Nova SS,they had a 427 option with aluminum heads,very rare.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

The Brewer's Nova has been a pretty popular topic on several boards over the past couple of year's, but say what you will...THAT THING WILL FLY!!!! Our first year at the Pure Stock Drags in Michigan was the Brewer's first year as well, and believe me, that thing just flat gets down to business! No wasted motion, just straight down the track (of course that's easy for me to say...I'm not the one driving!). I think the best ET to date is a 12.10, which is cooking!

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

After reading the posts here I looked in the information I have on my '72 Nova.

Shipping weight-6 cyl: 2949 lbs.,8 cyl: 3083 lbs.
Curb weight-6 cyl: 3032 lbs.,8 cyl: 3166 lbs.

I assume this would be similar the '68 Nova?
I also vaguely remember reading or hearing the car was an original 396. I can not find my MCR issue which featured this car!

Mike


[Edited by MikeA (08-25-2001 at 08:49 PM).]

[Edited by MikeA (08-25-2001 at 08:52 PM).]

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

Dan Mark Fuss's Nova which is a 68 SS also got alum. heads, these were installed along with the L-88 package by Dick Harrell. I have been trying to get Mark to come on and share info about this car. Dan another question, Out of those 902 SS 396 Chevy 2's, how many were bench seat, T-400, column shift cars?

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

Did your friend ever check to see if it was a original Bucket seat car,there is a way to tell.Ask him that question and get back to me.Courtesy Chevrolet was to have sold a few Fred Gibb/Dick Harrell cars.I believe their still in Phoenix.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

Dan it is NOT an original bucket seat car. It has always been an bench seat column shift car. He has an incredible amount if info about Dick harrell and Chevy II's. This car is definately NOT one of the Gibb 50, but it IS an original big block SS car.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

Dan I as well as Mark know Courtesy in Phx. sold a Harrell car or two, but to date none have surfaced here in the Area. This car was bought by Mark in Wisconsin in 1978 just as it is now, L-88 and all for the princely sum of $800 . Mark told me that the person he bought this car from found it in Oklahoma somewhere sitting behind an old speed shop. As far as Courtesy Chevrolet goes, this dealership IS still in business here in Phoenix and Mark and myself have spoken to a couple of people who remember a Harrell 427 Chevy II on the dealer floor in 1968. If there is any Harrell Chevy II's here in the valley I have not heard of any (I have lived here for 30 years now) and neither has Mark, who happens to have his finger squarely on the pulse of the Nova scene here.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

I meant say that the Courtesy Chevrolet was still in business,not that I thought the Dick Harrell Nova's sold there were still there.I would be on the lookout for any 68 Nova SS big block,since if the Harrell badgeing was removed it might go undetected. 901 total not 902,total 68 SS Nova 396.234 L34 and 667 L78.
98 came with the Th400 and out of that came the 50 Copo 396 375hp,which in turn 15 to 25 of these could be Dick Harrell 427 conversions. This leaves 48 396 350hp th400. So since Marks car did not come with bucket seats and is not a one of the original Copo cars then it started life out as a L34 car and became a 427 conversion by Dick Harrell.It is 1 of 48 automatic 396 350hp cars,which is very rare in itself

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

Yes Dan it is quite a rare and nice car. I have been trying to get some good pics and some info from Mark to send in the the site for the Monthly Cover car. When he gets some good pics I will send them to the site(hopefully later this year). Perhaps you have seen this car when it was on the cover of Nova Times a few years ago (I am not sure of the month),it is Fathom Blue with Black Interior.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

The first article I saw on Brewer's car, way before they shared the "tuning" tricks, stated the Brewers started with an original SS396/4speed car, which they rebuilt with L89 heads and a TH400 to optimize the combo for the drags.

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

MikeA;
I think the reference of '6 cylinder' and 'Brewer's Nova' was in regard to the front coil springs. It is believed that the car has 6 cylinder front coils or 'trick' springs. Apparently, you couldn't put your little finger in between the coils when it was being teched for the PSMCDR. Additionally, when you look at the photos of the Nova vs. Hemi feature in MCR, you can see that although the Nova appears level, the ground is not. The front end sits very low on this car, but is very high in the launch photos. We all know how grandma's Novas are supposed to sit!!

I think the lightweight part came about due to the heads, and that he cut the radio in half!
M

Re: PSMCDR '68 Nova SS
 

Muscule Car review had 2 articles on Phil's 1968 Nova (that I have seen). I have them both. On about the pure stock drags and the setup of Phils tricks he used on his Blue Nova. The other was when he raced the Hemi (it did an 11.90's) and beat Phils very low 12 second pass.

Above what people were asking about the springs. The first year at the pure stock drags Phil B. used moroso trick springs but the officials gave him a hazzle so he replaced them with worn out 6 cylander springs. To get the corect ride height with the 6er springs he had to use blocks as well to raise the ride heigth.

It also stated in the article that the car weighed 3240 Lbs without driver.

Phils car is very fast and with slicks I'm sure he would see high 11's He also states the Nova is really not a street car. Many of the mods he did for the track would not be a good idea on the street.

Bruce

[Edited by Bitterman (09-14-2001 at 09:07 AM).]