CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Customer Spotlight
Kandi McCrea & Her 1972 Chevy Nova
“Smiles for miles, powered by a Box 468”
468 cubic inches of heart, history, and horsepower
Meet Kandi McCrea—a lifelong gearhead, pin-up model, drag racer, writer, and hot rod soul through and through. Raised in the garage and practically born at Dragway 42, it’s no surprise she grew up dreaming about big blocks and burnout smoke. And today, she's living that dream behind the wheel of her 1972 Chevy Nova powered by a naturally aspirated Box Performance 468.
Built from a 454 stroked to a 468, this big block beast wasn’t just a replacement—it was a resurrection. After her previous 396 gave up the ghost in a near-miss highway scare, Kandi endured two summers without horsepower. But she and her partner Rob held out, and with some perseverance, a few donor parts from Gary, and plenty of Box Performance love, the Nova came roaring back to life—stronger and louder than ever.
“Once you have a big block, you can’t go back,” Kandi laughs. “And despite what some may say, bigger can definitely be better… We’re talking motors, people!”
The car isn’t just a cruiser—it’s a storyteller. Whether it's quarter-mile passes at Dragway 42 or road trips across state lines, the 468 delivers smiles for miles. From the 2024 Woodward Dream Cruise to soul-soothing drives through the hills of West Virginia, the Nova is more than a build—it’s therapy.
Behind the motor sits a Muncie 4-speed and a 3.73 rear, though Kandi dreams of a 5-speed Tremec and a little vintage air someday. Health challenges have slowed her wrenching, but not her racing spirit. “I still plan to drive the Nova like I stole it,” she says. “Because this… this is my dream come true.”
We’re honored to be part of Kandi’s journey. Her passion is contagious, her Nova is iconic, and her appreciation means the world to our team.
“Gary is the Big Block-a-saurus for a reason—his knowledge is unmatched. And Momma Box… Margaret, I love you. You are the glue and the river that keeps it all flowing.”
Kandi, thank you for trusting Box Performance to bring your Nova back to life. Here’s to many more memories, road trips, and full-throttle moments.
Stay fast, stay fearless, and keep living your dream.
—Team Box Performance
More From Our Customers
Kandi’s story is just one of many. From street cruisers to full-blown race cars, Box Performance engines are powering builds across the country. Here’s what some of our other customers have to say:
CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
Box Pontiac 400 Stroked and bored to a 468 for a 1965 GTO:
“Instead of using a kit, they came up with a custom Pontiac combination that gave me HP and Torque to achieve a 468 using E-85” – Mike Dimassa, OH
Blown Box 540 BBC for a 1969 Chevelle:
Box Performance built my 450 Blower Motor 18 years ago and it still runs like he built it” “Car has been in numerous magazines and has won numerous awards”
“We are very pleased with the cars performance and Gary still builds my engines to this day” --- Jim Katakos
Blown Box 565 BBC in a 1956 Thunderbird & 1963 Corvette with a Box Nitrous 427 Bored and Stroked to a 498 Big Block Chevy:
“They had built many motors for my father and brought many smiles too long burn outs in Hot Rod Mega Pro-Street Cars, lol. If you need anything that has to do with performance and speed, I can’t recommend these guys enough!” --- Glen Mahaffey
Bored and Stroked 434 Small Block Ford & Bored and Stroked 461 Windsor for a 1988 Mustang:
“I have been a customer of Box Performance for over 20 years. Box built me a 434 SBF in 1997 and it ran great. I had it upgraded in 2000 to a 461 Windsor”
“Always trusted my car to Box” - Christopher George
Stoked & Bored 470 Small Block Ford in a 1970 Maverick:
“Box Performance is the best. They have built 5 motors for me and they are wicked fast and bullet proof” – Dennis Harris