1976 Chevrolet Nova- Help Wanted!

[MarkV]

So, my friend just purchased a 1976 Chevy Nova 6 cyl custom! I know not much about these and he is looking for some parts such as the grille, dash bezel, radio and a steering wheel. We looked in my grandfather's 1976 dealer book and found some info but I am interested in what you guys know!

[Bleach]

Dash bezel and grille are probably unique to that year of Nova but the steering wheel and radio could be found from other GM models of that period.

[Guest]

Well we know the basic body/chassis is the same from 1975-1979. There will be some variations in instrument layout but I think the basic dash is the same. Show us a picture of what you mean is a dash bezel. For the grille on a 1976 Nova there are at least three types. One for the Concours and one for the base Nova and one for the SS or Ralley hatchback.

Base;http://people.smu.edu/acambre/nova/novapirnat76/novapirnat76.jpg

SS Rally hatchback:http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/chevrolet-nova-30.jpg

Concours:http://gomotors.net/pics/Chevrolet/chevrolet-nova-concours-hatchback-02.jpg

A 1976 Nova dash/instrument cluster;

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/comment-image/61107.jpg

Also there are brothers of that vehicle known as Pontiac Ventura 2/ Phoenix, Oldsmobile Omega, Buick Apollo/Skylark. These cars share some common parts. Other parts can be installed but wouldn't be correct.

Here is a 1978 Buick Skylark;

http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2010/04/18/03/46/1978_buick_skylark-pic-1358831581324849130-tmb.jpeg

Buick interior;

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5227/5653285604_b3191e438b_z.jpg

I'm sure that Buick instrument cluster would fit the Nova, On cars without A/C the padded dash is different in that there is no center vents.

Edited January 14, 2013 by helfen (see edit history)

[The Continental]

I think there may be a 1976 Nova sedan here local for sale. I will look into it.

[MarkV]

I am primarily looking for used parts. As for the bezel I am speaking of the surround around the cluster and radio which is woodgrain. I am hoping someone has these items used because new ones cost a lot!!

[Guest]

I am primarily looking for used parts. As for the bezel I am speaking of the surround around the cluster and radio which is woodgrain. I am hoping someone has these items used because new ones cost a lot!!

200 bucks is not a lot, but just the same put out the word to your local auto salvage yard as they are all interconnected across the country. What is wrong with the one that's in there?

The one I have in my 1976 Olds is basically the same ( brother brands ) as I stated in my first post. I had a crack in the bezel and I wanted to replace the clear plastic face. I lightly sanded the bezel back and bonded fiberglass to it after sanding and a respray you can't tell where it cracked I too have the woodgrain around the radio and opposite left side , the clear plastic gauge cover for my Olds was the same part # for the Nova, Ventura, & Skylark and I bought it at a Chevy dealer four years ago, all the dealers parts inventories are interconnected too.. Many body parts interchange.

Edited May 22, 2014 by helfen (see edit history)

[NTX5467]

Is it "Nova 6 cyl Custom" or "Nova Custom w/6cyl"?

The Chevy 6 cyl is a durable engine, for what it is. Not a lot of power and not that much better on fuel economy than a 305 2bbl V-8. I think that has the "integral" head on it, where the intake manifold is a part of the cylinder head, rather than them being two different parts. Some of the late ones, in 1/2 pickups, came with a pretty trick Holley "staged" 2bbl carb.

The REAL neat thing is the fact the chassis is very similar to earlier Camaros, PLUS the later 9C1 COPO Nova police cars in '79. Sway bars, f & r, upgraded brake friction materials, etc. can (with 14x7 wheels and tires) make it seem like a large go cart.

IF it's got the THM250 3-speed automatic, so much the better. For some reason, almost every Chevy 3-speed (column shift) set up had shift linkage issues . . . cars or pickups . . . for many years. We had a company car with a 6cyl, 3-speed, and F41 suspension, I think it might have been a '74 model. It had these "bind up between gears" or "hard to shift" issues that I later determined to have given Ford the "cheap 1/2 truck" market, as a result.

In general, though, some pretty decent cars. The first model year of the Cadillac Seville was (chassis wise) a Nova, but for the second and later model years, had Cadillac bolt pattern wheels and larger rear brakes, plus other upgrades and such.

Remember, too, that for interior plastic parts, IF you might find some that are "nice" in the salvage yard, they will be very fragile and could soon break as the ones in the '76 just purchased. Shopping "up north" might be an advantage over USA Southwestern locales. If it's cracked and can be repaired, that would be the best way to go. Even if you might find a new one (as in un-installed), the oils in the base material have been evaporating (albeit at a slower rate) too, so if it's not cracked now, it might soon be that way. If you can get the one you have spliced back together, so much the better. Also, there are some plastics which superglue will NOT stick to . . . as many GM interiors seem to have in them. But there is also a "plastic weld" process which might fill in the gap in a decent manner.

Pics and the first part of the VIN might be interesting to see.

Take care,

NTX5467

Edited January 17, 2013 by NTX5467 (see edit history)

[Guest]

1976 six cylinder is a great engine. Seven main bearings, does have a integral intake cast into the head (first year) uses a monoJet 1bbl Rochester. I specifically bought a Olds because the Pontiac Ventura and the Buick Skylark base engine was the 231 V-6, which has a life expectancy for 1/3rd less than the I-6. The I-6 would be last used in a Olds in 1976. It was the base engine for the Omega and the Cutlass. I ordered mine with a T-350. The car was a week old when much to my wife's surprise the front suspension was on the ground and Pontiac Trans/Am springs and sway bars were going in, along with a 1-1/4' front and a 7/8" bar in the rear plus a variable high effort steering box all from a 9-C-1 Police Nova. Something ALL the X bodies should have gotten. A 3.08 Posi rounded it out. On unleaded regular the car would get 32MPG HWY, today with 10% ethanol it now gets 28MPG. At roughly sea level the car will do a honest 100MPH on level ground. One of the best cars I've ever owned.

Why did I choose a Omega Brougham over the Nova Concours ? A better grille, and rear tail lamp design and a much better interior plus the engine over the Buick and Pontiac.

The beauty of these cars is all the above "extra" parts come right out of the GM parts bin and are interchangeable. F & X body sub-frames are the same and so is the Cadillac Seville K sub-frame, which means you can use either Trans- AM or Seville rear disc brakes. You can also use Cadillac's five on five bolt pattern and the one inch larger front disc brakes.

Edited May 22, 2014 by helfen (see edit history)

[NTX5467]

When I went to work at the dealership, in Sept '76, the parts truck they had was a '76 C-10 Scottsdale 6-cyl/3-spd manual/3.73 rear axle/15x8 Rally Wheels w/P235/75-15 ww radials.  It did good, but would not get over 14mpg, no matter what.  In low gear, from a red light, you'd think it had a V-8 in it, but on the shift to 2nd, acceleration decreased a good bit.

 

I'd figured out the max rpm shift points, if I ever needed them.  As with most 1bbl 6-cyls, they did good up to about 4000rpm and that was it, power-wise.  One day, I ended up behind a dump truck and we had to go up an on-ramp (on an incline).  I knew that I needed to be at a certain speed in low gear to get around him, hopefully.  So with all of the staging, I made my move.  Only thing was that a OTR moving van 18-wheeler was coming faster than anticipated.  So I stayed in the throttle until power started to nosedive.  I narrowly got around the dump truck and the moving van moved over a few inches.  When I realized that it was in WOT decal mode, I grabbed a quick shift into 2nd and we went on down the road.  As I shifted, I looked back and saw a puff of white smoke out of the pipe, but that was all.  Checked the oil when I got back to the dealership.  Still on "Full"  When I got back home that night, I got out my slide rule and calculated the rpm for mph.  At that mph, the engine was close to 6000rpm, with a 1bbl carb.  

 

Next morning, it fired up and was quiet, as if nothing had ever happened.  It never used any oil, and that didn't change.

 

I always might have liked to have had a 4-speed, but it would have lost the lower low gear ratio of the 3-speed.  It did well as long as the rpm was under 4000rpm.  Wish it had had a front sway bar, though.  Would have been more fun in the corners!

 

Years later, during the fuel crisis, we had a C-10 250, with THM350 and the factory staged two-barrel Holley carb.  Never could tell if the secondary barrel ever opened!

 

Enjoy!

NTX5467

[Dandy Dave]

I had a 75 and a 76. Both had the 250 6. Both were tough and reliable. Both ran went I got rid of them. Because of the not so great north east rust issues the body's suffered. I'd buy another if I found a rust free one for a reasonable price.  

Edited April 8, 2020 by Dandy Dave (see edit history)

[Pfeil]

6 hours ago, Dandy Dave said:

I had a 75 and a 76. Both had the 250 6. Both were tough and reliable. Both ran went I got rid of them. Because of the not so great north east rust issues the body's suffered. I'd buy another if I found a rust free one for a reasonable price.  

There are a couple in Hemmings right now.

[TerryB]

I really liked my 1977 Nova Rally coupe.   Handled well and ran well with the 305 2 barrel.

Edited April 8, 2020 by TerryB (see edit history)

[radioguybill]

The model number of the radios that were used in the 76 Nova are as follows:

 

Delco 60XFPK1 7933511-1 1976 (shown)

Also fits:  Pontiac Ventura, Oldsmobile Omega, Buick Skylark

 

Delco 60XPB1 7933241

Also fits:  Pontiac Ventura, Oldsmobile Omega, Buick Skylark

\

 

Delco 60XFM1  7933261-1

Also fits:  Pontiac Ventura, Oldsmobile Omega, Buick Skylark

  The first and third are am fm. The second is am only

 

Bill N

 

 

[60FlatTop]

Here's my 1978 305 4bbl 4 speed car with some of the mid '80's touches.