Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

The best stuff comes from &quot;Nu-Yawk&quot; [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Jason does really nice work [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

wilma

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I should have my motor this weekend. The engine builder just has to assemble the top end. As you can see in the pictures the CE block had no paint on it. Just the blue paint marking on each side. I told him I wanted to paint the motor. Should I try to duplicated the CE replacement motor by painting the block cast grey with blue marking and everything else painted chevy orange? Or should I just paint everything orange. What would you guys do?

From the original owner of the car the motor failed when he left the dealership, just a couple miles down the road the motor locked up. That is a bad day for sure.


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...e/PIC_1289.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...e/PIC_1299.jpg

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Kind of interesting you ask about paint as it was a topic of conversation a few times out in Chicago. I'm sure my pop will chime in, but basically we were discussing how most of the CE waranty jobs had the block come in without paint. My dad tried to get the parts counter guys to charge out a can or two of orange paint. He said the majority of the motors done out of the delaership were without paint.

I'm actually very surprized the fellow accepted the replacment motor without paint since the car was basically new and I'm sure the engine compartment didn't quite look new after the unpainted motor went in.

The question I see is about how you want to represent the car. If the CE is going to be a focal point or Day 2 theme, then unpainted would get the nod. I would have reservations that although unique, this may not add any value to the car. As I mentioned, my Dad did warranty jobs AND painted the motors, so it could be done either way.

Have you seen ny other cars with restorations involving CE warranty motors that have gone the unpainted (look) route?

The other side is going more towards the virgin factory build, simply using the CE motor. Motor would be painted and car would looks as new. I think this is the way most people treat the CE motors during restoration.

I say paint it.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nova Jed</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jason, last year I put my springs in with the internal spring compressor and used a lot of blue painters tape on the subframe, springs, and compressor arms. Worked out pretty well. I just had to peel the compressed tape off the shock mount hole in the top of the subframe after the upper and lower control arms were bolted to the spindle. Cheap insurance! Hope this helps? </div></div>

Maybe a couple layers of blue tape, followed by several layers of duct tape, and covered with more blue tape.
This gives it extra padding and thickness without further tape stick-um.
Just a thought.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Jason.......Paint it...........

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Actually I have never seen this done with a CE warranty block. All the ones I have seen have been painted. This was just another detail I was thinking about. I actually think it would be a cool conversation topic. I know it is a warranty replacement block and I will never represent it as the original motor. (Not that I can with the CE stamp)

This is what I was thinking about doing; Paint the heads, intake, timing chain cover, and oil pan all orange but not paint all the bolt heads (like someone removed them when the block was replaced) then paint the block cast grey with blue the markings. It is an AC car so once all the AC parts are installed it will hardly be noticed. I was just trying to find out if it has ever been done and what the consensus is on doing it?

As far as my focal point of the car I am trying to restore the car back to original to some extent but more the way I found it. The car did have headers and I am still up in the air if they are going back onto the car. I have all the smog parts if I choose to go that route. What I was thinking about doing is install the headers dual exhaust and mount the smog pump and brackets but that is it. Just to give it that day 2 look.

It does make since that most of these CE motors where never painted by the mechanics. If they where working on flat rate (if they had that back then) time would be money. From the dealerships point of view, they have a customer that is most likely a little upset and would want there new car back as quick as possible?


So far we have 2 for paint it? Anyone else?

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

sad but true when I was at the dealer in the 80's nothing was painted, it went out the door how ever it came out of the box.

B.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Jason you are doing such a great job with this restoration,i say paint the engine also.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Paint it.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Depends at what point in History you want the car to represent......I say as Delivered.........Paint it!!

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Thanks for the responses everyone. I will be painting the motor this weekend.

jason

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

When I did CE blocks at the dealership,the warranty R.O. would bounce if a can of paint was charged out on it. That's why the parts counter guys would not do it. I would go to the Use Car detail area and if I found a can of paint,I would paint the CE block. If the customer would ask,they were told that GM Warranty does not pay for paint. That was it. *Paul

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Almost have the subframe all done. I just have to rebuild my steering box.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/005-2.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/004-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/003-2.jpg

I also painted the L79 and started bolting everyhting back onto the motor



http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/007-2.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/006-2.jpg

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Very Nice.. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

wilma

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I like it,looking good. *Paul

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Looks really good Jason! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Very nice.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very nice. </div></div>

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...cs/schoney.jpg

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

now thats clean

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Ok looking for a little help from the forum. I was just going to bolt my AC bracket on the intake the other night and I realized I never seen this bracket with the idler pulley on it. The L79 is a manual transmission car so it would have smog for 1968 correct? I only know of one other 1968 SB nova with AC and it is an automatic car. So GM installed no smog on the automatic. Correct?
This is my concern the 68 automatic car has a 2 groove water pump pulley and 2 a groove crank pulley. My car still had its original 2 groove crank pulley, AC compressor, AC brackets, but not the correct water pump pulley. I was assuming I would need a 2 groove water pump pulley for an AC car. But now I am stumped with the smog pump, AC compressor, and this idler pulley. Does anyone have a picture of a 1968 GM car that has a manual transmission with AC and smog? Or even a belt diagram for the 1968 GM motors?
My concern is will I need a 3 groove water pump pulley and if so what is the part number.

Thanks Jason

This is the idler pulley I am referring to:


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79EngineHR.jpg

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Wow!! Good question....... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Wow did I stump the board? These are the part numbers I cam up with for a 3 groove water pump pulley for 1967 and 1968, I think they are SB part numbers. They are 1967-3906657 DP and 1968-3908920 DQ.
This was the motor I found on e-bay out of a 68 L79 corvette but it doesn't have AC. As you can see it has the 3 groove pulley.I will get some more pictures of the bracket this weekend bolted back onto the motor. The idler pulley is what has got me stumped? In my picture I posted of my motor it looks like the idler pulley is behind the AC compressor. So it must be part of the smog?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...motore-bay.png

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...motorebay2.png

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

The e-bay ad said this was a 68 motor but I see ram manifolds with smog. I thought those were 66-67??????

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I think I found it. But I dont see the idler pulley. Looks like I will need to talk with the original owner.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...chale/aim1.png

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Been busy! Motor and transmission installed into the subframe.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/001-4.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/003-3.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/004-2.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/006-3.jpg

I tried to duplicate the subframe markings I found.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/002-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/005-3.jpg

Installed the shifter and the NOS 3 speed reverse switch.
It sure was nice to put it through the gears!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/007-3.jpg

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think I found it. But I dont see the idler pulley. Looks like I will need to talk with the original owner. </div></div>

Well as most of you know this idler pulley was not original to the car. But when it was installed it lined up with the 2nd groove on the water pump and crank pulley for the ac belt. So to me it looked correct. It wasn't until I installed the smog pump I realized the idler was wrong and was installed into the smog pump bolt hole. I have no idea why? So I have located the correct 3 groove AC water pump pulley and should have the correct AC smog pulley this week. I still need the correct diverter valve and bracket for the back of the smog pump. I don't know the part numbers I need? If someone has the correct diverter valve I need I think it is the FG diverter valve and correct bracket please PM me.

Thanks Jason

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Good god Jason... well done!

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

very nice! love the L79 cars [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
EP on the frame rail for the original engine suffix

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Is the L-I for Long Island? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

is this build being done on Long Island?

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I think Jason is way upstate near Saratoga.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69belair</div><div class="ubbcode-body">very nice! love the L79 cars [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
EP on the frame rail for the original engine suffix </div></div>


Well that is what I thought when I first seen the marking but it clearly didn't have the bottom line for the &quot;E&quot; Looks more like an S maybe SP for special performance? So that is what I made it. On the passenger frame rail I found what looks like
L-I_ Not sure what this one means? Just trying to duplicate what I found.


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...nchale/007.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/005-3.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...nchale/001.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/002-1.jpg

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I am located in upstate NY just outside of Albany NY. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Jason...I was joking with you [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]


Looks great!

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I know Bruce no hard feeling.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

could that last one be L-7? as in L-79? cool car, great resto

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

any updates jason? can't wait to see it in paint. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Dave I&quot;ve been really busy at work. 10 hour days 6-7 days a week. So my time has been limited. I have the inside of the car ready for paint. I am going to epoxy prime the floors black then duplicate the factory fathum blue over spray. Hopefully this will happen this weekend. The underside of the roof is all finished with new sound deadner. Once I get the floors painted I will bolt the sheetmetal on the car and start blocking the car out. No rush on my end but I am shooting to paint it sometime in April. But it all depends on work my schedule.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Well I was thinking about making another topic on this but just figured I would do it here. Has anyone ever noticed the build week stamping through out the body of your car. I heard about this just before my restoration started. I was amazed how many spots on the car I found these stamps. I think they are build week stamps. Some people say no. This is what I have found so far. This car is an 06B car so the 20, 21 ,22,23 week stampings all line up with the build date of the body. I also found X22 on each inner door frame and H23 stamped in the rear floor pan under the rear seat but I don't have any pictures yet of these two spots.
Most of these stampings you really can't see until the paint is removed but some are stamped deeper than others and just stand out. I just thought I would share what I have found with others. I think it is very interesting.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ale/L79003.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ale/L79004.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ale/L79005.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ale/L79006.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...hale/022-1.jpg

I also found X22 stamped on all four floor drain plugs. I went to my stash and found some drain plugs removed from an 02B car They had X4 stamped on them. Very interesting.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...nchale/029.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...nchale/028.jpg