Correct six-cylinder engine for 1963 AMT Chevy II NOVA kit in REVIEWS (by Larry Greenberg)

[W Humble]

In the kit review, it is stated that "...the powerplant from the AMT '60 Chevy pickup kit is the right motor for the vintage Nova," but I believe that this is the venerable 235-cu.in. six that debuted in trucks during WWII and later became standard for PowerGlide equipped cars in the early 'fifties.  Yes, or no?

The Chevy II and more deluxe Nova had a mini-six of 194-cu.in. that was all new, along with it's 230-250-cu.in. bretheren (both of which eventually powered the model, along with small-blocks) which is NOT of the 235-family, and of quite different internals.  The 194 was spec'd to compete with the Ford Falcon 144-cu.in. six, which had proven quite popular -- running over, as it were, the Corvair boxer six, in sales at least.  The 194 looked almost like the 230-250, as most changes were internal, and it used a number of SBC Chevy parts inside!  To save dough, it did not have a counterweighted crankshaft, and there was some other cost-cutting aspects that don't concern modelers.  However, using the 235-series would be incorrect, and they looked significantly different.  I've owned and driven 'em all, and restored them too.   (At various stages of it's life, we had all three displacement '62-up sixes in our '51 Chevy, with Saginaw all-synchro three and four speeds, and now a T-5 five-speed to abet the mild 350 V-8.)  SO: I don't know if any kits do have the correct block type; MCW probably would be the best bet.  Later truck sixes in this family grew much bigger (higher decks), and can be made to run like [insert simile] !!i

It seems bizarre to me, a builder of car kits since about 1957, aircraft and the rest since 1953, that any car kit would be sold with an empty engine bay!  Maybe they want us to put in a BBC, or Arias Hemi conversion?  Certainly I knew of several  1:1 Nova drivers who had SBC's before 1964, courtesy of the wrecking yards.  I would have.  Wick      Age 76

[larman]

The  kit is being issued again soon, this time with complete detail. It will have a stock engine, an extra Hemi race engine and a trailer. Of course, I bought 3 of the curbside '63 wagon kits when they first came out, not knowing they were going to do this.  I am lucky enough to have a stock 6 cylinder from the original AMT '64 Chevelle wagon, which fits in the Nova wagon and is pretty close to correct, it needs a few small things to be right. I also was able to get a stock engine from the Trumpeter Nova kit for a pretty decent price, so I can build 2 stock ones of the first release. The other one is going to be a Hot Rod "Drag Week" type car with a twin turbo LS engine if I ever get around to building it.

Edited September 5, 2021 by larman

[Casey]

 

[dimaxion]

In HS a friend had a '65 Nova . WE graduated in the late '60's . He was an older upper class School Friend . It came with a 6 . He swapped out for the SBC . Got into Traffic Troubles . Dadd-yo made him swap back in the 6 ... lol ..OR ELSE ! Bad Driver Awards continued .. He was on his Dad's insurance $$$ . So , his Daddy-o threatened to swap in HIMSELF the 4 popper (available from '62 MY until the '69 MY) at the next ticket ! I did not see him since 1969 . It is disappointment to see the '64 Nova SS was scrubbed . Slated to have the SBC 2 bbl as the Factory installed . I am a string Builder . MY 2 cents .. Thanks for

[Classicgas]

JR the factory did not install sb engines in the 63. You could get them installed at a dealership however. 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Classicgas

[W Humble]

Pay attention to what is posted about the different GM six families.  Remember, the 194-230-2560 (& 292)cu.in. began in 1962, with the Chevy II/Nova.  Previous to that was the 235 family, which began as a truck engine during WWII, and was of course adapted to the early Corvette.  Built simultaneously until about 1953 (?) was the old 'Stovebolt Six' 216.5 cu.in., a Chevy standby but with dubious oiling which was remedied in the 235.  Before that, there were similar sixes including ones with updraft carburetion. Right?   (The six, nice as it is, in the '51 kits is the 216.5, even with the aftermarket head not accurate for other eras.)

The 230 was used in the A-body Pontiac Tempest/LeMans as a base engine in 1964-65, then replaced by the SOHC six in 1966-67.  How I wanted Pontiac to produce the Banshee 2-seater with the 215-hp. version of that engine, plus 4-speed!!  When I ETS'd from the Army, it was but a misty memory, though the Sprint option had been sold in the Firebirdy those two years.  I bought a new Datsun 240Z; very strong and thrifty SOHC six in a sporty GT package; still have one!  Note: the Sprint OHC is not the same block as the Nova, etc. six; it was a special casting altogether, and distinctive.  Check it on the web.  Olds and Buick; I dunno.

Anyhow, if building 'stock' be sure you have the right block package to begin with, as they definitely look very different, and were even moreso internally.  The '60 engine would  undoubtedly fit, but not be correct -- if that is a criteria on the Nova wagon kit.  Now, as to an LS...

[W Humble]

Wait; wasn't the 1964-65 Tempest a 215 cu.in. oddball?  It didn't have any performance options, but the GTO came on the scene... !

[Rodent]

36 minutes ago, W Humble said:

Wait; wasn't the 1964-65 Tempest a 215 cu.in. oddball?  It didn't have any performance options, but the GTO came on the scene... !

Yes, my friend John had a survivor 2-door post 'pest with a 215. He wound up selling it in the downturn of 2009-2010. Nice solid Sacramento Valley car that spend most of its life in someone's grandma's garage. I am pretty sure that the buyer wanted a solid car to make a GTO clone from.

[W Humble]

Steve,  yep, my bro and I (c. 1968) were going to do that with a '65 Tempest 2-dr post 'grandma' car but using a 327 we had, maybe lucky we didn't.  I got drafted!

Before that, I had a '65 Tempest Custom 2-dr HT, 2-bbl. 326/ three-speed that I just loved! Good ole' A-body; Tiger Paw redlines, 4-4-2 rear sway bar, chrome-reverse rims, and mellow exhaust... fun car!  Using an AMT GTO kit, I built it as close as I could: modified '55 Chevy front bench, delete hood scoop, console, etc. and added a strip of Plastruct teensy rectangular strip for the side chrome.  Changing the grille was harder. I am also doing a version of my first car, a '55 Chevy 'post' Delray (one side with the long lakes pipes, and Hollywood moon caps, the other without lakes and baby moons as I eventually drove it) AND my '51 Ford Club Coupe from the AMT '49 kit.  This is a toughie for me; wish there was a resin conversion available.  Luckily, I got it from my wife's nutty cousin with the grille already out ('the gasser look'), but making the chrome tail-light housings is difficult, plus no appropriate lenses.  I have a plethora of 240Z kits in various scales to build my '70 Z car that NISSAN USA bought back from me, but haven't started one yet.  Live long enough...  BTW, I'm in Chico.  (No pics of above yet.)

[MeatMan]

I did a replica of my dad's old 62 Biscayne and wanted a period-correct engine to put in it.

I took the stovebolt engine and fabricated an intake manifold to match the correct setup, as well as a valve cover, air filter, and oil bath oil filter.

Not perfect but I think I came pretty close.

[W Humble]

With plenty of oil/dirt on the PowerGlide, that works.  Not that Stovies were markedly leaky, only average.  My SBC's like to drool from the front and rear seals, even with the new type.  Gaskets and shellac sealants were pretty mediocre, back in the day.  I find that going much beyond adding plug wires is hard for me at age 76, tho the VA gave me carpal tunnel on my right wrist;  sometimes I do fuel lines, etc.  Looks good in a very use way!