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Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
My mechanic buddy had this delivered to his garage today to get it running for the new owner. My buddy knew this car from when it was a year or two old and used to race against it. It has 29,000 miles and original paint. It is supposed to be an L-78. The motor in it now is another big block but the original block should be coming to the shop soon. Amazing time capsule.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/drside.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/emblem.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/nose.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3.../passfront.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/tail.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/passrear.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3.../rearpanel.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...8a/reedman.jpg The fenders have the ghost image of the phrase "CAUTION 1" on them. The car had tarps on it all these years and they wore away the tops of the rear stripe and the fender letters. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/caution1.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Here's the interior. This vintage customizing was called a "Palamino" interior back then. The car is covered in dust and mildew but the paint and interior will be in very nice shape (once they get cleaned)
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/int5.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/int3.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/int4.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/int1-1.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/int2-1.jpg That helmet was done by the Bontempo Brothers back in the 1960s. These are the same guys who still have a speed shop in Linden, NJ. (They were the guys that I had rebuild the rear differential in my 72 T/A a year or two ago.) http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/dash.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3.../console-1.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/speedo.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Here's the cowl tag and engine compartment. Anyone know how to decode this tag?
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...8a/cowltag.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/eng1.jpg The battery is toast. The side of the case is blown out - probably froze and cracked over the past 30 or so years in storage. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/batt.jpg Single fuel line. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/fuelline.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/S7002386.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Check out the junk in the trunk:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/trunk3.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/trunk4.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/trunk5.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/trunk1.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...68a/trunk2.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Neat find! I love the faded fuzz T-Handle!
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Cool car! It's neat how the Posi tag stayed stuck on the trunk lid all these years. What does the block in the car have for a stamping? What does the new owner have planned for it?
Steve |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
The block in the car was decked, so no stamps. The original block is supposed to be coming out of the garage in the near future. It will fun to see the old monster up and running again.
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
My friend put one of those fuzzy T handles in his Mach 1 in the early 70s. We thought it was the coolest thing back in the day.
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Reedman motors, I have a car that was sold there also. Great pictures!
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
If that is going for restoration I would leave those Raceway stickers on the glass https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
This is a great find. I would leave it alone and just get it driveable.
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
[ QUOTE ]
Here's the cowl tag and engine compartment. Anyone know how to decode this tag? http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...8a/cowltag.jpg [/ QUOTE ] You bet. 06A is June (06), first week (A) production date for the body. 873 is https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/confused.gif 66 is self explanatory. 13817 is a Chevelle SS396 (138) 2 door hardtop (17). BAL is Baltimore assembly plant, where the car was produced. 4898 is some internal plant sequencing number. TR (trim) 763 is black vinyl bucket seat interior. N2 PAINT is Madiera maroon (N) with black vinyl top (2). Cool car....that interior is too much! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Nice find. Keep us posted with info and pictures. Maybe NHRA still has that number in its system form the 1970 era. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
My buddy said that Village was a local Getty Station here in central NJ back in the day and that is where the name Village Express came from. He couldn't figure out the "Caution 1" logo, though.
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
What a cool find.
Can you share the story of how it found its new owner and why it was stashed away for so long? I love hearing about these discoveries. BA |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Very cool piece . I would just clean it up, get it running & leave it be. just enjoy..
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Didn't get much on the purchase story. I think the prior owner had to get rid of it based on recent economic conditions and he owed money to the guy who now has it and the car was in payment of the debt.
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Sweet,
Wisconsin Door panels https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Very cool! Has the car been repainted? How about the blacked out tail panel...does it look original?
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
What a great find!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
(watch out for Mad Cow!!) |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
[ QUOTE ]
My buddy said that Village was a local Getty Station here in central NJ back in the day and that is where the name Village Express came from. He couldn't figure out the "Caution 1" logo, though. [/ QUOTE ] I grew up in Central NJ, but don't recall that name. Do you know what town it, or the car were located in? |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
[ QUOTE ]
Very cool! Has the car been repainted? How about the blacked out tail panel...does it look original? [/ QUOTE ] All the maroon paint and the tail panel black appear to be factory applied. Some checking here and there. It appears that the original owner did some wierd customizing by tryng to fill the gap between the hood vent inserts and the hood - the black stripe section on the hood covers that area. |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Thanks Steve...very cool stuff! Please keep us updated!
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] My buddy said that Village was a local Getty Station here in central NJ back in the day and that is where the name Village Express came from. He couldn't figure out the "Caution 1" logo, though. [/ QUOTE ] I grew up in Central NJ, but don't recall that name. Do you know what town it, or the car were located in? [/ QUOTE ] The Getty station was on Stuyvesant Avenue in Irvington. Not exactly a nice place these days, or back in the 1960's. I think the last time Irvington was a "nice place" was in the late 1600's. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif I stopped by the shop today. He had the valve covers off and there was no sign of any rust. Everything was all nice and shiny inside. He said it was from the "green oil". I said, What? And he enlightened me that the Valvoline racing oil back in the 1960s was a green color and turned yellow when the additives were used up, indicating that it was time to replace it. I never heard of that but obviously the stuff works since according to him the car has not moved from its hideaway since the mid 1970s. |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] My buddy said that Village was a local Getty Station here in central NJ back in the day and that is where the name Village Express came from. He couldn't figure out the "Caution 1" logo, though. [/ QUOTE ] I grew up in Central NJ, but don't recall that name. Do you know what town it, or the car were located in? [/ QUOTE ] The Getty station was on Stuyvesant Avenue in Irvington. Not exactly a nice place these days, or back in the 1960's. I think the last time Irvington was a "nice place" was in the late 1600's. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif I stopped by the shop today. He had the valve covers off and there was no sign of any rust. Everything was all nice and shiny inside. He said it was from the "green oil". I said, What? And he enlightened me that the Valvoline racing oil back in the 1960s was a green color and turned yellow when the additives were used up, indicating that it was time to replace it. I never heard of that but obviously the stuff works since according to him the car has not moved from its hideaway since the mid 1970s. [/ QUOTE ] Nice https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif We sure have our share of heavyweights in this area of Jersey. I am about to uncover a great find of a pair of survivor one owner big block cars. I will let you all in on it when it comes to fruition. Keep us posted!! Mike B. |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
1 Attachment(s)
Steve, remember mine??? (see attachment) You probably remember it when it was red before I tubbed it. Of course, mine wasn't a real SS but I modified it so much it didn't really matter. Sold it in 95 and lost track of it. Was somewhere in NY last I knew. Blown 454, Doug Nash 5 speed, 9" Ford rear. Been trying to track it down just to see what happened to it.
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
[ QUOTE ]
Steve, remember mine??? (see attachment) You probably remember it when it was red before I tubbed it. Of course, mine wasn't a real SS but I modified it so much it didn't really matter. Sold it in 95 and lost track of it. Was somewhere in NY last I knew. Blown 454, Doug Nash 5 speed, 9" Ford rear. Been trying to track it down just to see what happened to it. [/ QUOTE ] Holy Cow! Is that you Mark? I just went over to the thread on the "ZL1 and Yenkos at B-J" and saw your response on the Armstrong Show photos. Too cool dude! So how have you been? |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Hung out at the shop this morning. He's made some progress on the car. The owner wanted him to remove the roll bar (yes, everything taken off has been carefully packaged up for storage and is not for sale).
He finished the brakes, replacing the shoes and wheel cylinders at each corner, as well as the master cylinder (he's sending the original out for a rebuild so this one is the temporary replacement). He flushed out the tank and lines which still had a few gallons of well-preserved racing fuel that was crystal clear and smelled pretty good. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/S7002593.jpg Valvetrain, still nice and shiny. I heard the monster run a few weeks ago. Sounds very angry! http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/S7002597.jpg The original slicks still hold air nicely. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/S7002592.jpg The interior. The owner has pealed the palomino fabric off the doors. Needs a bit of cleaning inside...and no, it's not for sale - the "for sale" sign was a practical joke. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/S7002596.jpg The underside. very dusty but rust-free. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/S7002599.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/S7002600.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] Very cool! Has the car been repainted? How about the blacked out tail panel...does it look original? [/ QUOTE ] Bruce, that sure looks original to me. Whoever put those dealer tags back on again? Just the dealer, right? http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3.../rearpanel.jpg All the maroon paint and the tail panel black appear to be factory applied. Some checking here and there. It appears that the original owner did some wierd customizing by tryng to fill the gap between the hood vent inserts and the hood - the black stripe section on the hood covers that area. [/ QUOTE ] Steve, a picture inside the trunk to show the black overspray and/or masking details for the tail panel paint would be great reference. Thanks in advance https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
I want it! I want it! I want it!
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Stopped by the shop today. Here is the trunk edge detail inside and out. No black overspray anywhere.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002734.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002737.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
For those of you that seek to duplicate a 1960's quality tow bar mount, just see if you can try to copy this quality piece of welding:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002717.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002718.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
The car was on the lift so I got a few shots of the underside. They ran a buffer over the paint last week and it really woke it up. Nice and shiny now. The areas where the front fender decals were, are raised up above the adjacent paint so the ghost image of the original text still remains.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002720.jpg Factory exhaust hangers still in place: http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002706.jpg Nice quarter bottoms. The tack welds were perfect with no rust anywhere: http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002708.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002707.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Here's a video clip of the engine running. Sounds rather docile. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_S7002739.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Nice shots Steve. Thanks. She does sound healthy!!
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
Here's the 1976 receipt for the engine work. If only the prices were the same today.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7002746.jpg |
Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
That sounds freaking awesome!
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
That video sums up why I love muscle cars. Thanks for the reminder Steve!
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Re: Neat local barn find 66 Chevelle L78
What a great car, can't wait to see some more pics.
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