1969 L78 Nova
 

Any thoughts on this Nova being a real L78 car?

http://m.ebay.com/itm/1969-Chevrolet....c100408.m2460

I know it's been on eBay a ton of different times.

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Subject VIN 114279W370572

:beers:
~ Pete

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69 L78 Nova...
 

Besides the normal BB only items I would check originality of some of the bolt on parts like the alternator and distributor...they could have been reused during the small block swap.

The real defining clue in my opinion, is the CX tranny...if the VIN is on the case and it matches the car...and assuming the stamp is legit...it has to be an L78 car...that was the only way to get that tranny. It may also be possible to find a Fisher Body sheet that would also confirm the motor.

I noticed they used an earlier alternator mounting setup...69 would have been on the pass. side...perhaps the 307 came from a 68 vehicle.

Interesting car...worth a look for someone close enough.

-wilma

That car seems to be pretty original inside. I would think the broadcast sheet would be in the top comer of the back seat, and in 69 it would have the L78 designation on it.

69 l78...
 

Well, look who showed up! How goes it down there in the south lands???

It's been a long time since we chatted Mark...

send an email when you get a chance.. [email protected]

It looks to have a deep groove pulley I wonder if its the original alternator, also has the correct ZE radiator tag. What's that box for on the inner fender well?

Thing on the inner fender..
 

The photo is a little fuzzy...but since this car is probably down south, it might be some kind of overflow tank for the cooling system????

-wilma

Why would it have a BL rear thou? Thats a 307 ratio.

Maybe is my eye's but I didn't see the rear end code listed.

The last few times he ran it on ebay there was a pic of the rear stamp,this time its not shown.

Here is the fuzzy BL rear photo. Also if you look at the rear diff cover it has yellow grease pencil writing on the cover. Maybe the rear was a junkyard part from back in the day? The date code on the transmission in Nov 26th 1968 so that lines up with the trim tag.

69 l78...
 

The default gear ratio for the car would have been 3.55...posi was an option, though most folks ordered it. As for the 3.07 axle stamp...it looks like the date is 12-10?? that would make it a little late for the 1st week of December...but, not impossible depending on assembly line/production issues. It was not common for folks to order a lower ratio on the performance cars, though it did happen. I have heard of 3.31 ratio L78 cars before...so, the 3.07 is possible...though not likely. FYI: 3.08 was also available.

The grease crayon markings do speak to the possibility of a junk yard rear...a thorough inspection of the mounting and hardware may shed some light on this.


Since this car has been thru flea-bay before it raises some questions, but, without a personal inspection, it is hard to know for sure from digital photos.

-wilma

If you flip the photo over it looks like it says 68 Camaro.

I would take those knuckle busters out of the front springs and see how it sits also,should,nt need those if it has big block springs with a small block in it...

Great eye!!

That diff photo I posted is from the old listing. If you look at the listing on ebay now you can see he scrubbed it off the cover.

69 l78..
 

The casting date on the center section will tell the story...if you can read it thru the rust.

I had been watching that car every time it was listed and rooting for him to get a decent price for what appears to be a nice solid car. Now, not so much. He's obviously trying to deceive people by scrubbing that off the diff cover. It makes you think he may be watching..

The 3:55 ratio rear was standard equipment on all 1969 L78 Nova's regardless of transmission. Here are two example's of L78 automatics with 3:55 gears listed. The posi G80 option is listed with the 3:55 gear ratio and if the car came with any other gear ratio 3:55's would be listed on the invoice as option G96.

69 L78 Nova..
 

In 1970 the posi-traction code on the window sticker was 0G80 AC...but no reference to the gear ratio. Our 70 L78 car has the 3.55 posi rear.

-wilma

In 1970 the axle ratio was not listed.

I messaged the seller on ebay and he replied that the trans does not have a vin and per order of the Nova resource site all L78 auto Nova's came with a 3:07 gears from the factory.

The seller is watching this site and emailed me that he shut down the listing on ebay. This car has issue's and I hope the buyer does not get burned.

Thats why it hasen,t sold,if it was a no issue n.o.m car but all else looked legit i think it would have been gone long ago...