My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I just picked up my new project, A 1968 L79 Nova. Anyone recognize it? It came with all the original paper work, title, 1968 registration, broadcast sheet and pop. It has a factory replacement warranty block, the original 3 speed transmission and original BT- rear-end. Yep and it's a factory air car! I am really looking forward to this project. It’s funny how things work out I was looking at this car last year but just couldn’t come up with the money. Now it resides in my garage one year later.

Enjoy!!!!!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79nova0036.jpg

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http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79nova0035.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79nova0020.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79nova0024.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79nova0026.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...L79NovaPOP.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...dcastsheet.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...gistration.jpg

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

so the original owner was trying to fake out people with the 396 fender badges?

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

nice survivor, I would leave it the way it is ...

cool / odd option combinations: three speed, factory a/c and the high performance 327, sounds like something my dad would have ordered, he would want the ac but wouldn't pay extra for the 4 speed ... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Nice car, love the paperwork!

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Why does it have 396 fender badges if it is an original small block car?

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Don't know why? Maybe the guy with the 396 lost them during a race!!!!!

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

That's kick-a$$ just as it is. I'd be tempted to do some clean up and DRIVE IT!!!!!!

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Man!........Talk about a &quot;Rare&quot; car........WOW!!

Ken

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ORIGLS6</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's kick-a$$ just as it is. I'd be tempted to do some clean up and DRIVE IT!!!!!! </div></div>


The newest PatinaMobile !!! Beautiful!!! If that's the original paint I have two words for you.. &quot;boeShield it&quot; !!

( is that three words?)

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

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

Enjoy it as is, at least for a little while. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

The car runs and has brakes but will need a trunk pan. The back window was leaking water for years. It is on the 2 do list.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Nice piece Jason. Is the original owner still around? It would be interesting to hear why he ordered it the way he did. I can attest to how well a 68 L79 Nova 3 spd will run having had our butts handed to us one night when we thought the 383 64 Dodge we were in ran pretty well.
Jason, is the blk stamped CE, or does it have the correct stamp for the L79 replacement assy?

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

That thing is as rare as chicken lips!!!
Jason, Congrates on the car Kim

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It’s funny how things work out I was looking at this car last year but just couldn’t come up with the money. Now it resides in my garage one year later.


</div></div>

Sounds like it was meant to be. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

Congratulations Jason! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice piece Jason. Is the original owner still around? It would be interesting to hear why he ordered it the way he did. I can attest to how well a 68 L79 Nova 3 spd will run having had our butts handed to us one night when we thought the 383 64 Dodge we were in ran pretty well.
Jason, is the blk stamped CE, or does it have the correct stamp for the L79 replacement assy? </div></div>

I looked on the engine pad and didn't see CE just a bunch of numbers? What would the number be for a L79 replacement assembly? I will be talking to the original owner as soon as I get his phone number from a previous owner. If I was to register this car I would be the second registered owner. The original title is in the original owners name.
The story is the original motor blew up on the way home from the dealer the day they bought it! The dealer replaced the short block assembly. It still has the double hump heads and correct intake so I never questioned the short block. I will get the numbers from the pad tonight and post them.

jason

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Oh this is going to be so neat. Jason please take a bunch of pictures and post them as you look this car over. I would venture to guess there is going to be a few one off parts on this car. Do you still have the L78 Nova too? Is the core support big block or small block? I have always wondered why they went to the trouble of welding a small block lower radiator mount to a big block core support if the big block radiator bolts on with brackets welded to the radiator side tanks.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Was the L79 still a solid-lifter, aluminum intake, Holley carb engine in '68?

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

The L79 was never a solid lifter motor, it featured the &quot;151&quot; hi-po hydraulic camshaft. The original version started out with the aluminum intake and small Holley carb. (350hp rating) In 1967 the L79 was changed to a cast iron intake and Rochester QJ....HP rating was dropped to 325hp. The rest of the engine internals were the same...cam, heads, 11 to 1 pistons, etc. The only thing I'm not sure of is how this engine was setup for the Corvette in the 67-68 era...but for the Nova and Chevelle the info above applies.

wilma

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Thanks Wilma!

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I will take a lot of pictures during the restoration to share with everyone. I will be starting this ASAP. Yep still have the 68 L78 nova to. I went up to the gargae tonight to get the engine pad numbers. I used a scotch brite pad to remove some surface rust. Under the surface rust I think I see a light stamp for CE8 the 29638 is clearly visable and the eight is almost sideways. The block casting number is 3914678. Which is 68 327.

Jason

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

The L79 in the 67 &amp; 68 corvette had an aluminum intake and was rated at 350hp. In 69 the L79 was no longer available but the equivalent was the 350-350hp which had a cast iron intake and rochester carb.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The L79 was never a solid lifter motor, it featured the &quot;151&quot; hi-po hydraulic camshaft. The original version started out with the aluminum intake and small Holley carb. (350hp rating) In 1967 the L79 was changed to a cast iron intake and Rochester QJ....HP rating was dropped to 325hp. The rest of the engine internals were the same...cam, heads, 11 to 1 pistons, etc. The only thing I'm not sure of is how this engine was setup for the Corvette in the 67-68 era...but for the Nova and Chevelle the info above applies.

wilma </div></div>

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Thanks Steve...I thought that was the case.

tw

ps...what was the last year that you could get plain steel wheels on a Corvette with hubcaps or wheel covers..?? Not sure why I need to know...just curious.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paceme</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The L79 in the 67 &amp; 68 corvette had an aluminum intake and was rated at 350hp. In 69 the L79 was no longer available but the equivalent was the 350-350hp which had a cast iron intake and rochester carb.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The L79 was never a solid lifter motor, it featured the &quot;151&quot; hi-po hydraulic camshaft. The original version started out with the aluminum intake and small Holley carb. (350hp rating) In 1967 the L79 was changed to a cast iron intake and Rochester QJ....HP rating was dropped to 325hp. The rest of the engine internals were the same...cam, heads, 11 to 1 pistons, etc. The only thing I'm not sure of is how this engine was setup for the Corvette in the 67-68 era...but for the Nova and Chevelle the info above applies.

wilma </div></div> </div></div>

Just to clear this up. Don't want the wrong information floating around. The 1967 Chevelle L79 and 1967 Corvette L79 still had an aluminum intake and Holley Carburetor. The 1967 Nova L79 had a cast iron intake and Rochester carburetor. All 1968 Chevrolet L79 equipped vehicles had a cast iron intake manifold and a rochester carburetor.
-Matt

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Appears your information from the original owner is right on. I thought perhaps that if it was blown up early, and bad enough, that it might have recieved a engine replacement. Some of those had the correct pad stamps, for example CTB for a 4 spd deuce, but no sequential vin nbr.
I wonder if he wanted a 396 with air, but when told that wasn't available, settled on the next highest hp rated motor he could get with air. Always interesting to find the reasoning why people ordered cars the way they did.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fast67VelleN2O</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paceme</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The L79 in the 67 &amp; 68 corvette had an aluminum intake and was rated at 350hp. In 69 the L79 was no longer available but the equivalent was the 350-350hp which had a cast iron intake and rochester carb.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The L79 was never a solid lifter motor, it featured the &quot;151&quot; hi-po hydraulic camshaft. The original version started out with the aluminum intake and small Holley carb. (350hp rating) In 1967 the L79 was changed to a cast iron intake and Rochester QJ....HP rating was dropped to 325hp. The rest of the engine internals were the same...cam, heads, 11 to 1 pistons, etc. The only thing I'm not sure of is how this engine was setup for the Corvette in the 67-68 era...but for the Nova and Chevelle the info above applies.

wilma </div></div> </div></div>

Just to clear this up. Don't want the wrong information floating around. The 1967 Chevelle L79 and 1967 Corvette L79 still had an aluminum intake and Holley Carburetor. The 1967 Nova L79 had a cast iron intake and Rochester carburetor. All 1968 Chevrolet L79 equipped vehicles had a cast iron intake manifold and a rochester carburetor.
-Matt </div></div>

Oops good catch on the 1968 L79...

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

You guys are good....thanks for all the &quot;fine tuning&quot;.

wilma

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

That's why I don't mind asking questions around here. All this great information!

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
ps...what was the last year that you could get plain steel wheels on a Corvette with hubcaps or wheel covers..?? Not sure why I need to know...just curious. </div></div>

I'm sure the '69 Corvette could be had with full wheel covers; maybe the '70 and '71 also.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

the last year for &quot;plain&quot; wheels on a Corvette was 1966, all after that (except 67 bolt ons) were rally wheels, the P01/P02 wheel covers were installed over the rally wheels.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I had one of these '68 L-79 Novas that I sold just a few years ago. It was a solid red car with black bucket seat interior,327-325 HP, 4-Speed, and 3.55 gear'ed 12-Bolt. I purchased it from the original owner with it's original Protect-O-Plate. It even came with the original Goodyear Blue Streaks slicks that it was raced on when it was new and came with all the original smog equipment that was removed in one piece as an assmbly and placed in a box in the attic! As mentioned above, in '68, ALL the L-79's including 'Vettes, Chevelles, and Novas came with cast-iron intakes/Q-Jets. Heck, the '68 Q-Jets had a higher CFM rating than the earlier 1965-66 L-79's with small Holley's and may have even been faster! Anyway, I hope the original selling dealer replaced that short block properly. The '68 L-79 has a VERY RARE, low production crankshaft in it. It should be a forged 3.250 stroke, large journal crankshaft and would be a very difficult piece to find these days. Anyway, neat find and don't forget.....one of these cars would make a great Pure Stock terror!

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Talk about rare, I worked at an engine rebuilder for 5 years and never saw a large journal 327 steel crank. It makes complete sense because 68 and 69 327 motors were large journals but every one I ever saw was cast. The only factory steel cranks I saw were small journal 327 cranks, small and large journal 350 cranks and small and large journal 283/302 cranks. Does this motor have forged pistons and deep groove pulleys also?

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Mark, so who bought the car? Is it being restored?

Jason

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I thought the red one ended up with Jeff L in Nashville. I think he was going to resto it now that he finished the GG one that was from SD.

I knew Mike in NY had your blue one Jason, and heard it was at Wayne's for awhile but didn't know it was owned by a guy in FL.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

That is a very cool car!

Bob

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Mine went to a fellow here in Missouri and is being restored. He's a big fan of '68 Novas, and from what I've seen of the one he was finishing up when he bought mine, it went to the right person. It's gonna be a great car after resto. It was amazingly complete and numbers-matching: Born-with engine, transmission, rearend, carb, dist, smog equip, Muncie shifter. I can't think of any of the hard-to-find components that were missing. It's was a great restoration candidate.

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Great can't wait to see the car done.

Jason

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I would rather see it left as is ...

too many &quot;restored&quot; cars and not enough left to remind us of what they all looked like after years of use ...

IMHO anyway, YMMV

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Found this interesting Super Chevy article on L79...very well done.

wilma

http://www.superchevy.com/features/c...ine/index.html

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Thanks for the link Tom that was a real good article.

This is the radiator a past owner took out of the car it is suposed to be original? One tank has the letters I /A embossed into the tank. The tank with the cap had C /D along with a triangular tag with the numbers 7 79 31? Anyone have any idea what these codes are. It also looks like it might have been repaired next to the cap at one time? I don’t think that is original?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79nova0002.jpg

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http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79nova0005.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...79nova0008.jpg

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

I just got of the phone with the original owner of my 68 L79. What a great guy to talk too. He ordered the car this way. So I asked why the 3 speed and he said his wife didn’t know how to drive standard so he figured one less gear would make it easier for her to learn. He almost ordered the super sport package with the L79 but he thought the hood grills looked cheap. I asked what happened to the original motor; he said the day they picked up the car 1 mile from the dealer the motor just locked up. So the dealer put a gm replacement short block assembly in the car. As for the 396 emblems on the fenders he remembers one of them broke, so he went to get a replacement and all they had in stock was the 396 emblems. So that is what he put on. As for the original 327 emblems they were the cast type not the foil type according to the original owner. The only modifications he did over the years were air shocks, a new cam, and a heavy duty clutch. The car was never raced or abused, just a really fast family car. LOL!

Jason

Re: My new 1968 Nova L79 project.
 

Very neat Jason!