Nova six-bangers

Q: Greg, I just read your article on the V-8 engines in the Nova series from the 1960s, but please don’t forget the other motors: the 230 and the 235 six-cylinders. They had one heck of a transmission, too, the two-speed Powerglide. It was one tough tranny. Thanks for bringing back the best memories of my life. — Rick O., Oklahoma City

A: Rick, glad you enjoyed our trip back to the great years of the Chevy II and Nova. It was a great car.

As for the 230 and 235, these were the very durable inline six-cylinder engines you mention. The 235’s last year was 1962, so I think you are referring to the 230 and the 250-inch inline-six engines available in the Chevy II Nova lines in 1966. The 250 had a bigger stroke crankshaft and the same bore. Also remember that when the Chevy II was introduced in 1962, there was also a four-cylinder 153-incher, and a 194-inch inline-six, which were Chevy II-only motors.

The 194, 230 and the 250 were all available in the Chevy II line, which included the Nova, but the four-cylinder was only available in the stripped-down Chevy II when it appeared in the redesigned Nova and lasted until 1970 as an economy model.

Most Novas did have six-cylinder engines, but the Chevy II and Nova line offered everything from the four-cylinder to a 396-inch, 375-horsepower V-8 big block.