Are you Boyd?
My friend did the same, with two Novas.
One was obviously fast, so he asked if the victim, uh, competitor wanted to race his other one instead. Single exhaust, two barrel, tiny one snorkel air cleaner, three speed knob. Greasy dirty small block.
Was a 434, with a 500cfm 2bbl, air cleaner was opened up underneath where it couldn't be seen , 4sp trans with a bunch of gear in the back. 2 1/2 ram horn exhaust, nice pipes dumping underneath.
Won five times as much money with the sleeper than the fast car.