1970 Nova Yenko drag racing 1974 Firebird Formula PURE STOCK DRAG RACE - no commentary

[@74SD455TA]

I can't watch this phenomenal SD Formula enough. Would love to own it.

[@Ballenxj]

Three very desirable cars, and I would be proud to own any of them. Thumb up here.

[@charlesdalton985]

Yenko, dream car. 440 six pack/barrel, dream car. SD TA/Formula, dream car. I didn’t even know who to root for, great racing!

[@P71ScrewHead]

you root for both..lol My dad had a 455 TA so i wanted it to win.. Crazy how fast they are with such low compression, those engines are asking to be boosted..lol

[@robertmceuen3630]

No 440 six pack in either of these cars.

[@charlesdalton985]

@@robertmceuen3630 10 minute mark shows the Nova racing a 440/6...........so there's that.............

[@robertmceuen3630]

@charlesdalton985 ya. My bad. I just read the title and got tired of hearing dude talk. Switched it off.

[@jayschmahl9206]

Love that Road Runner. All three very cool and fun to watch. 👍

[@therewhatgoes8038]

I seen that Nova race before.... fantastic original paint car. Driver knows how to power shift that monster. I believe it is one of the quickest (maybe the quickest?) small block cars in all of Pure Stock racing. Verrrrrrrrrrry Nice.

[@acemaster1001]

it is🤘🏻

[@missesmew]

Gotta go against the 340, be a good race.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@@missesmew The 340's when set up with a good tune do run like hell, but I've yet to see one run anything close to a 12.02 ET in this class, like this LT-1 Yenko Nova did. That's insanely quick for a factory small block. But of course the LT-1 was one of the best engines Chevy ever produced.

[@milla698]

The small block chevy was always my favorite

[@darrinjones5951]

@@howabouthetruth2157 The 340 Runs Strong but not enough to beat the Vintage Lt1 or L79 small block Chevys

[@bw3506]

That Nova is a runner! I had no idea they even put the SD455 in anything but the T/A. Thanks for the vid!

[@superduty4556]

43 in 73 and 58 in 74.

[@mitchroberts2457]

This might be the rarest collective group of cars on this channel!

[@mikemoore7245]

I’d take any of the three. That Nova for having a 350 has no problem staying right there with the 455 and 440 6bbl. Hats off to Yenko for an incredible car!

[@dukedavis8950]

Love that formula firebird SD beautiful car very quick Love it.Thank you for that video 👍

[@bk14nyc]

WOW WOW WOW WOWWY 😳 I cant believe how FAST that Nova is, and it’s only a SMALL BLOCK!!! I tip my Hat to General Motors on this one! And let’s not forget about the Oldsmobile 350 Small Block as well.... (W-31) 🇺🇸🏁🇺🇸🏁🇺🇸🏁🇺🇸😊

[@louiskats5116]

Goodday C & Z, What a great race on both occasions. Don Yenko knew what he was doing when he put the Deuce package together that is one mean Nova. All 3 muscle cars are super rare & all within a .10 seconds of each other that is some damn fine racing. That Nova the way the driver was banging the gears you wouldn't think it was a 4 speed you didn't even hear it cherp between gear changes. Great racing all round Beautiful Formula & Gorgeous A12 Roadrunner. Your number 1 Fan in Australia Louis Kats from Melbourne Australia ☺ 👍 ❤

[@geraldlafleur7776]

Never knew Yenko made a " Deuce " model, I thought they were all big blocks. That thing was fast and light.

[@bigmanblackt-shirt8506]

Me too, didn't know there were Yenko small blocks. Cool car.

[@geraldlafleur7776]

Didnt they put the 396 in them? I thought I read that Yenko removed the 396 engine and replaced it with the 427.

[@acemaster1001]

@@kyleam288 same guy in this vid who drives the yenko has the silver 70 copo

[@acemaster1001]

@@kyleam288 well the silver copo was bought in 1986 for $3000 lol

[@mw4992]

@@kyleam288 Respectfully disagree, Chevrolet did install the 396 in both 350hp and 375hp flavors in 1968, 1969 and 1970 Novas.

[@freedomfirst5420]

The '70 LT-1, is my absolute favorite small block Chevy engine, in either an X or F body Chevy!

[@coreyjenkins3056]

Those '70 LT1 came ready first in the '69 Stingray and in '70 the Impala came with the LT1. I miss my '70 Impala!

[@Dayandcounting]

The '71 LT1 was actually stronger because of the new heads design even with the lower compression.

[@kfc1689]

WOW! That FireCHICKEN looks delicious!

[@therealojsimpson8024]

🔪🐓

[@sometimesieatcake4156]

feed me some chicken you chicken colonel

[@mcdanolds6760]

Fuck you Colonel CRAP.

[@ripvanrevs]

My '80 FireCHICKEN is short a wing. Only has a 454 in it.

[@soldierski1669]

Missing Wendy

[@gary9426]

Great races, 3 awesome classics ..would be great to see a best of three matchup with these cars...times were really close. The LT-1 was one of the best engines Chevy ever made...very formidable in the light body Nova. Don Yenko definitely knew what he was doing! Thanks for posting.

[@jerrycraig6522]

That's for sure, super tuners, his mechanics were second to NONE!!!

[@jasonkrause6778]

That Firebird is sexy and those quarter mile times back in the day are very impressive for 8:4:1 compression

[@danmyers9372]

Anyone who was around back then knows just what an awesome little engine the LT-1 350 was. I knew it primarily from the Z-28 Camaro (also came in the Corvette). It was a super hot small block and was probably under rated at 360 HP. I knew the Nova was going to have some serious top end!

[@coreyjenkins3056]

A Chevy 350 whines on the other end! They never stop climbing!

[@Dayandcounting]

Best SBC but it was over rated like all the solid lifter SBC that weren't a 302.

[@StickShiftMuscle]

I always thought my formula was faster than my Trans am. It was lighter and had less options. Everyone thought it was a V6 until they heard me fly by them! Pontiac Formulas are the best

[@electricgamez5415]

I love the sound of the solid lifters. As a kid I used to think it was an engine knock 😂😂😂

[@ricktaylor3748]

Solid lifters had to be adjusted every three months, if you laid the RPM to it, every 3 weeks.

[@aphil4581]

@@ricktaylor3748 I disagree If on a bb Chevy. My 69 SS Chevelle 496 stroker with 550 lift flat tappet solid lifter roller rocker setup needed only to be adjusted 2 times. After that it was golden for 7000 rpm, 3:90 gears and 12yrs until I sold it. Lots of weekend street and 1/8 mile track driving and minor 1 hour highway trips to BMP in FL. Oh no tapping either.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

That was some damn good car match-ups to race in this vid, all very close. That Yenko Nova w/LT-1 can flat haul the mail & giving those BB's all kinds of hell. This video featuring this Yenko Deuce Nova ( not the 1st time though ) finally made me recall a cousin who pulled the 283 & powerglide out of a base 2-door '67 Chevelle & replaced em with a built ( NA ) 350 & 3-speed turbo auto. I think he replaced the rear end too. This was back about 1981. One of the fastest cars I ever rode in. I can't recall the details of the engine, but I do know it was a 4-bolt main & the car ran 12's. Within a couple months, he sold the car to a younger cousin of ours in high school. I swear, he used that damned car to outrun every other racer in Cullman Alabama. I mean he beat everything street legal, even the BB's. During the 5 yrs he owned it, he only lost once, but I can't remember what beat him........and barely. ( I wasn't present during that race, but they told me about it. )

[@rong4189]

Excellent episode C&Z, and not just because a Mopar won 😂. Seriously though, three IMPRESSIVE cars for sure and amazing that Pontiac was able to sneak out such a killer package during the ‘dark days’ of the muscle car era.

[@billnyilas8]

Right you are! The 73 & 74 Pontiac Trans Am's somehow fell through the cracks and were true kick-ass Muscle Cars several years after Muscle Cars were no longer being made.

[@chevyblue10]

I can't believe such a low compression engine ran low 12s. 455 was a badass, even in 74?

[@chevyblue10]

290 hp? Low 12s?

[@billnyilas8]

@@chevyblue10 It's hard to believe, but there it is on video. Even the magazines from back in the day, when they tested the 73 &74 Trans Am's, the 1/4 mile ET's were in the mid 13's!

[@billnyilas8]

@@chevyblue10 Sure was!

[@kollerjims447]

I’m sure people will complain about the nova ET in the first race but if you do the calculations based on trap speed that car puts out about 385 to 390 hp. Definitely doable with a couple allowed mods.

[@John1Brady]

Another excellent video! I guess I can search for current market prices on these cars but may be worth adding that info to your descriptions since the price in todays dollars is NOT what it would cost to buy one of these rare rides!

[@dirtbike9003]

Damn some good racing on this one.

[@thefupalord9630]

That Nova/Road Runner match up is crazy close how about a few more runs from those cars wish the nova hadn’t broke in the first match against the SD

[@mynameis9057]

Oh no, it's one of the voice delete videos!!! I remember when this sad phase happened,oh the rampant speculation of why!!! Did he go to rehab? Did he get an ultimatum from the significant other shutting down his funny? Did his funny bone get removed? Speculation is still rampant and I can't wait to see the Behind the Music type VH I video explaining all of the sordid details! Dish please dish!!! Enquiring mindless ones want to know!!! And what a spectacular day it was when we finally, after a too long hiatus, the funny toilet humor thankfully returned!! 😅

[@clover831]

Yikes! That low compression 8.4:1 '74 Automatic SD Firebird did a 1/4 12.11@111.28mph!? WHAAAAAT?! -Let that sink in for a bit. A 1974, low compression engine, automatic car, did that run... Just goes to show you appearances can be deceiving.

[@edwinfeldman8231]

Don't know if I've ever seen the Yenco deuce before...but, I like it. LT1 for that era was a runner, shame he had to withdraw. Those HP & TQ figures for the BB roadrunner seemed a little "soft", but that deuce stuck em'.

[@chevyblue10]

That Nova is giving them hell!

[@joelalexander5338]

I just saw a White Castle commercial while watching this. I wish the world was like it was many years ago. Really enjoyed these races, to be sure!

[@genefortney9133]

Wow! Great racing! Thanks for sharing!

[@therealojsimpson8024]

That Nova driver really knows how to stab the gas.... 🔪🩸

[@billharden7127]

That was some good racing.

[@LITTLE1994]

Those races sure are close. I thought the Nova would be faster, since that is the rare version of the muscle car. The Firebird pack a punch, too.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

What? Were you not paying attention to the ET's most of the BB's are running in this class? A 12.02 ET is insanely quick, especially for a factory small block. That's a full second to 1.5 seconds QUICKER than most of the BB's running these races. This LT-1 Nova is one of the fastest cars in the entire class. The fastest BB's with their higher torque gets the Nova during the hole shot, but once he bangs 3rd gear, he really pulls past em, and with an impressive high trap speed for the standing 1/4 mile. For the rules in this class, ya can't ask for much quicker. Hell, that LT-1 runs in the mid to low 12's every pass.

[@74SD455TA]

Oddly enough, this incredible SD 455 Formula as shown, has the clock within the gauge. What this meant was, is that, these cars were not equipped with the slapstick shifter. I know, I had a Formula with the clock

[@mynameis9057]

Wow that's the biggest factory carb at 800 cfm I believe I've ever seen for a 4 bbl. I think 780 cfm is the biggest I've seen on the biggest cube monsters. I'm wondering how close a 70 SS Nova from the factory is to the Yenko Deuce. I figured you could get almost every option Yenko gave you, unless the LT1 wasn't available. Hmm, or was that a Corvette only engine option? Either way, sweet rides no doubt and thanks to the owners of all of the great cars and the mad Zee-man for all he does!!!

[@Powell_OBonez]

In 1970 The LT1 was only available in the Z28 camaro (360hp) and the vette (370hp) The nova would've came with a 300hp 350ci from factory so the yenko duece was quite the upgrade especially since I'm sure Don worked his magic on it also !

[@garrisonnichols7372]

Love both cars. This is a hard choice for me to make. The Firebird is cool but that LT1 350 is such an awesome motor. The problem Chevy had was it didn't offer this engine in the standard Super Sport package for the Nova. These LT1 Nova's would've sold like hot cakes and could have been a real contender against cheap muscle cars like the Plymouth Roadrunner/ Dodge Superbee. Even the Duster and Demon 340 cars wouldn't be able to out run this beast. I'm surprised that it came with front disc brakes. Don Yenko was building the cars Chevy should've been making in the first place. Now for the Firebird formula this and all second generation F bodies are some of my favorite from GM. Always liked the looks of the Firebird over the Camaro and Pontiac had the better engines in my opinion. Even if the compression ratio was down that 455 Super Duty is a real muscle car engine. Definitely the last of the true muscle cars after 74 it was game over. The Firebird still had the styling but performance would never be as good. This is going to be a great race.

[@timsharpe3498]

Pontiac was still kicking serious butt with a smog engine.

[@rickbullock4331]

Great races.👍👍🇨🇦

[@futon02]

Awesome cars!

[@jerrycraig6522]

AND, in case anyone was wondering, drag racing is faaar out!!!

[@taylorpinkney7253]

I guess we will have people complaining about the cars not being stock 😂😒

[@kollerjims447]

🤮

[@donnis618]

Small block Nova hanging with the Big Dogs!

[@coreyjenkins3056]

Especially, that 440 Hemi! I'm a Chevy fan by heart, but I thought that Hemi was going to embarrass my small block Chevy but the lightweight Hevy Chevy did very well.

[@tomcherry7029]

@@coreyjenkins3056 440 hemi? No no no 426 Hemi

[@coreyjenkins3056]

@@tomcherry7029 I don't know much about Mopars EXCEPT you never jump on a Hemi! So the 426 is more of a racing engine verses the 440? Like the Chevy 427 is the racer and the 454 is basically a truck engine for torque.

[@tomcherry7029]

@@coreyjenkins3056 no the 440 is a whole different engine the 426 Hemi used hemispherical combustion chambers there were other Hemi engines before it as well .

[@tomcherry7029]

@@kyleam288 the scert to the Nova was weight to H.P. ratio 400 to 500 Lbs lighter than the other cars

[@jerrycraig6522]

I drove a 71 camaro type LT, oh my goodness was that car fast!!!

[@maximumcoverage5591]

A 71 with an LT1 ?? Or a type LT built in 71??

[@TheGunfighter45acp]

Both of those cars can scoot!

[@74SD455TA]

This 1974 SD Formula 455, has not been registered with the SD Registry. WOW!

[@74SD455TA]

Here's to LOOKING at the FINEST there was! Bad ass

[@adamtrombino106]

I've never seen a formula 455. Didn't even know they existed. Now I know why...

[@baldscarlettjohansson6433]

Thank you daddy CZ. My bald head thanks you.

[@scottrandel7284]

I like a three of thesee cars

[@donaldhollums3278]

If I have seen a Pontiac Firebird Formula SD-455, I cain’t remember when. That’s definitely a rare Bird. I’ve plenty of the T/A versions.

[@soldierski1669]

Shaker with a SD 455 on it in a Formula, looks like something done at home, seen so many TA this dosen't look correct lol

[@donaldhollums3278]

@@soldierski1669 yeah, the shaker hood looked weird at first notice of the car, but I didn’t dwell on it. There are better Pontiac aficionados out there than I am.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

All SD's in 73-4 came with shakers

[@chrisauten2039]

@@chutoparadinni5474 Correct. If you were lucky enough to buy a SD 455 formula firebird in 73- 74, the standard dual snorkle formula hood was replaced with the shaker hood set up from the SD 455 Trans Am. All SD 455 cars are very rare but the formula firebird ones are ultra rare.

[@johnwilkerson2195]

My favorite is the Nova

[@HarryPotter-no4lc]

very quick!!

[@jimmytheslimmy670]

Canadian nova 🇨🇦

[@danielmiller4492]

Thought yenko all came with 427. My dad's 69 has 427. Just assumed they all did

[@Powell_OBonez]

In 1970 yenko used the LT1 in the duece instead.

[@mohh.4327]

SD Baybayyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@mohh.4327]

Aaaaaaaaaaannnd.......it loses

[@johnhalchishick7094]

Just looking at the years before I watch this if they're stockthe Nova's going to get it

[@fd797]

I need to do some research on Yenko. I guess the trick is Yenko ordered from Chevrolet whatever performance parts were dealer-visibly available from GM. Add whatever you want, take out whatever you don't. Makes for some ultra-rare, very light, extra-high performance cars, that GM itself didn't produce - sort of. Kind of like Hurst Olds I suppose. ? Anyway, I struggle a hair with how these fit into class acceptability. But, maybe that is just because I dislike the thought of a Chevrolet small block keeping up with the big iron. That thing boogies.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Pretty sure the Yenko dealership ( and several others ) used the COPO system ( Central Office Production Order ) to have any of the Yenko Chevy "factory hotrods not offered to the public by Chevy" produced & delivered. The LT-1 was one bad ass SBC.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@@kyleam288 You're full of shit. This Nova doesn't have "a 427". Nobody even mentioned a "Chevy 427" in this video, or these comments, but you. That Yenko Nova has the mighty LT-1 350 small block. Good grief man, watch the video again, make sure you're wide awake, sober, pay close attention, & put on your reading glasses, whatever ya have to do. There's no way you watched this video & paid attention. Wake up bud. Furthermore: Other than ordering special fleet vehicles with heavy duty components, what the hell do ya think dealerships used the COPO system for, pertaining to muscle cars? THEY USED THE COPO SYSTEM TO GET BIG BLOCKS INSTALLED INTO CHEVY'S FROM THE FACTORY, THAT OTHERWISE WASN'T AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. SUCH AS 427's IN CAMARO'S. AND THEY WERE FACTORY INSTALLED USING THE COPO SYSTEM. Headers, dual 4 bbl carb/intakes, etc.......were delivered in the trunk & left for the dealers to bolt on. Get a clue man.

[@josephnewcomb5670]

@@howabouthetruth2157 exactly and the 427 Yenko Nova was even faster which really tells you how awesome them Yenko cars were plus street legal :)

[@robertjohnson4401]

Would like to see the 1969 Yenko Nova with the 427 go up against these competitors. It wouldn't have been close. The Nova would have won easily. In these races, the Nova was giving up 100 cubic inches and was essentially tied.

[@Wilson-cp4gx]

Why does the deuce have the sound of a Briggs and Stratton during the walk around?

[@acemaster1001]

generator beside it lol

[@daltonmann4916]

that yenko will scoot for a 350!

[@gt-37guy6]

No kidding.....Ford Too had a 351 Boss Mustang that would keep up with pretty much everything as well! 11 to 1 compression on underrated motor same as Yenko.

[@tomcherry7029]

@@gt-37guy6 you have to remember how light the Nova is. 3360 lbs with driver vs 3755 lbs for the Formula, 395lbs lighter , if they would of put the 455SD in the 1974 GTO it would have been unbeatable.

[@bobby9623]

That’s not to much carb for a 350? Referring to the nova. Said it had a 780 cfm carb.

[@hotwheel6663]

How do you convert net to gross hp? Formula a stick or auto? And where are the dual scoops at on the Formula?

[@kollerjims447]

No consistent calculation as there are many factors. Typically you can assume 20-25% loss converting from gross to net. But sometimes more and sometimes less.

[@kollerjims447]

The video clearly states (as does the video description information box) the Firebird is a three speed automatic. The Formula SD did not have dual scoops. It came with the Trans Am hood.

[@Dayandcounting]

The ballpark is 22% but because it's options dependent and assumes the gross rating is accurate which it rarely is, it's commonly high and lower. For example the 426 Hemi was rated at 425 it actually made about 450 showroom stock, it made 350 Net HP. Converting to wheel hp is similar it can range from as little as 7% for newest cars to over 30% for older auto cars. With newest hyper cars some seem to be reporting a whp rating, like in the McClaren 720S.

[@robertjohnson4401]

Add approximately 70 horsepower to net rating to get gross ratings. This is based on horsepower differences between the same car and engine from successive years when the ratings changed

[@lawrencewehren8968]

that is a '70 1/2 Z28 with a Nova body .

[@danielleach2307]

Cat still has your tongue thanks for sharing

[@christopherjackson2690]

1 YENKO USED IN 1 RACE AGAINST A 4 YEAR YOUNGER 455 SD PONTIAC BEFORE HAVING MECHANICAL ISSUES AFTER DRIVEN TO A VICTORY: DID THEY FIX IT YET? WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT?

[@robormiston2841]

I thought a deuce had 2 carbs?

[@kennethjones8876]

I am pretty sure that is not a true Yenko Nova . If I am not mistaken all Yenko Nova's came with 427's .

[@therealhonestabe7839]

That is a real-deal very well documented Nova Yenko Deuce. It even has its original paint. And yes, you are mistaken.....A Yenko Nova isn’t the same as a Nova Yenko Deuce, which DID come with a small block.

[@kennethjones8876]

@@therealhonestabe7839 I guess it would be more rare than the 427 Nova ?

[@acemaster1001]

@@kyleam288 i think 17 are know as of today.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

Another Muscle Car Poser!

[@kennethjones8876]

@@chutoparadinni5474 I got your poser ! I am just not familiar with the 350 Yenko . As a matter of fact , have you ever seen a true Yenko Chevelle , Nova , or even Vega for that matter ?

[@russellfederici865]

I hope this don’t sound stupid , but why don’t we hear your voice anymore ?🤷‍♂️

[@milla698]

I thought all yenkos were big blocks

[@karlsracing8422]

Road runner is a little heavier

[@soldierski1669]

Yanko bailed on PMD because of that SD engine. I agree with him. The SD engine was a much better decision from a manufacturing position than the BBC.

[@chutoparadinni5474]

@@kyleam288 you and him are Ignorant Posers!!

[@bbgcars]

I HEAR THE SOUND OF SOLID LIFTERS but sadly no VOICE!...shame :(.....

[@stevegagnon1449]

Where is the farter? In jail? 😜 #freethefarter

[@howabouthetruth2157]

He received the death sentence.

[@vanlarson9213]

That Firebird wasn't stock'

[@sporty196071]

It would be better the way they used to do it with comedy, now it's just like all the other boring channels.

[@boostjunkie2320]

Racing anything from 69 vs 74 is pointless....The compression ratio by 74 is embarrassing