Something isn't right..

Check the valves, make sure they are not too tight.
Bought a really nice looking 70 Nova one time, but it kinda ran ok, but not right.
Bought is really cheap, to drive while my 71 Challenger was getting painted.

The guy painting my challenger, asked me one time, did I ever get that Nova to run right, I said yes the valves were too tight, he gave me the deer in the headlight look... He owned the car lot where I bought the Nova, and his mechanics could not figure out what was wrong with the car.
I did not know he owned the car lot, but that little Nova would scream after loosening the valves up around 3/4 of a turn.