1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

This is my car up for sale - details are on the listing, I will try to post the link, but incase it does not work item# is 4615297216.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...E%3AIT&rd=1

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Hey Mike....I'm not a buyer but do you have the engine pad stamping info from the guy who has the reputed orig. block? ~ Pete

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Small block rad holddown? Might want to post a pic or two of the core support to show that it's the big block version.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Neat car! A clear picture of the tach, number of fuel lines, core support opening that Marlin mentioned.... all good things to document with photos.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

It would be neat to see the stamp on the original engine as well as casting dates.

From the adv; "I am told that some of the early 70 L78 Novas were aluminum head cars but I cannot prove any of this either way - just a note!"

Does anyone have evidence of the illusive L89 Novas?

Good luck with the sale.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone have evidence of the illusive L89 Novas?


[/ QUOTE ]

Nope! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I looked at this car in Des Moines IA last fall. It was on ebay and for sale at a local used car lot. Seems to be a real big block SS car. Very rusty for a IA car. Needs everything. It would have made a good big brother for my FG deuce. Just too far gone with out original motor for me. Earl

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Might want to take a pic of the SS braces under the hood, and a fuel line clip to ensure that it was originally a single line car.

The CBT rear is the standard 3.55 for L78's, but I believe could also be obtained in other models as well.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Thank you guys for all of the input - I will do what i can do get some additional pictures of the important parts here in the next day or so.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Howie's sure they made some L89's, but I keep tellin him he's crazy. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/crazy.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

He is!

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I know an old fart that says he has seen one...

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

OK I stated before, never seen one, never heard of one. I don't think they made one!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/scholar.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

-------I resemble that remark, Bob. Im pretty sure of what I saw at Bob McDormans back in 1969. Since Bob is a certified gearhead (and good guy) someone with a real stake in this should just call him and ask him. Ought to be pretty cut and dried.........Bill S

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Please, someone contact this gentlman, and have him post some documentation, or proof. You can rest assured that I won't call Mr. Howie and say,"I told ya so, I told ya so". https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Play nice now boys... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

wilma

Wish I had an L89 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I think they made a L89 Nova...

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Charley is correct...dang it!

Late '04 I was helping a friend of mine do some research on a 1970 L89 Nova he was thinking about buying. The car had no paperwork and the seller freely indicated that without the paperwork you would have to assume it was something that somebody put together ( pretty honest guy I thought for coming out and stating that). The car was very nice and a extremely correct "recreation" that won more than a few awards at Super Chevy shows. Anyway in doing the research, we did find someback up that more then a few L89 were produced from the factory. I'll try and go through my notes and see if I can find the source we found.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...z/DSC00866.jpg

Here's one.........Oh Yeah!!.....That's Right.......It's not real......I made it!!!!!!!.....LOL

Ken

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

[ QUOTE ]

Here's one.........Oh Yeah!!.....That's Right.......It's not real......I made it!!!!!!!.....LOL

Ken

[/ QUOTE ]

And Did it nicely...I may add! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I have looked for one 20 +years, never seen one yet. The thing to think about they say they made 311 al head Nova's. You would think one would show up??? I would like to know just the suffix for it??? There is 50 Gibb Nova's and we have found 20. How come we can't find just one Al head nova. Very simple THEY DIDN"T MAKE ONE. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Kim,

-------Another way to attack this might be to track down a guy named Bill that used to be one of Bobs head mechanics. He left McDormans and to my understanding was one of the principal guys that started "The Rod Shops" in the Columbus area. I dont think the Rod Shops is a goung concern anymore, but Bill probably saw every high perf car that ever came into McDorman Chevrolet. I got to know him in 1966 when both he and I raced our 66 425 Vettes, although he was a real racer at the time and I was more of a wanna-be. He used to lend me slicks and adjust my valves and stuff. Very nice guy. I wish I could remember his last name as that would make finding him a bunch easier........Bill S

------I just Googled The Rod Shops and got nothing.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have looked for one 20 +years, never seen one yet. The thing to think about they say they made 311 al head Nova's. You would think one would show up??? I would like to know just the suffix for it??? There is 50 Gibb Nova's and we have found 20. How come we can't find just one Al head nova. Very simple THEY DIDN"T MAKE ONE. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Listings I've looked at indicate L89 Chevy 2-Nova suffix's as CKP-M40 and CKT also CKU as stick (same as Chevelle suffixes). . Although no '70 Camaro L89 suffix is noted, interesting is CJB suffix, Camaro L35 w/ alum heads and Powerglide?!! ~ Pete

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think they made a L89 Nova...

[/ QUOTE ]

Most of us think so too, just have never seen a documented one https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I just think the numbers from Chevrolet that say 311 Nova's with L89 and 311 Camaro's with L89 say that something isn't right. It could be a coincidence but I think it's probably a mistake by Chevrolet(or Tonawanda).

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Isn't the 311 quantity for 1969 cars....we're talking about 1970 model year production cars now aren't we? . When doing the 'homework' keep in mind the confusion w/ the extended '69 model production also the change to three digit 'C' suffixes for '70. ~ Pete

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

We'd be happy to find an L89 Nova from either '68-'69-or'70! We believe the 311 number only pertains to '69 Camaros.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I know someone who has a 70 black L-89 nova that is having the engine compartment freshened up. I don't remember what he said he had for paper work. Is it real I don't know I've not seen it. It is in a shop east of the mississippi. I'm surprised nothing has been said about this car before https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Hmmm... East of the Missi? That narrows it down https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif (The one in NJ? It was at the Nova show in AC last Sept.)

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm... East of the Missi? That narrows it down https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif (The one in NJ? It was at the Nova show in AC last Sept.)

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If i recall, the owner of the car forgot to bring along any paperwork to prove the car was originally an L89. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Did you see it Marlin? What were your thoughts? I didn't want to be too specific(sp?) as I don't know if the owner wanted that known.
Did you ask him about documentation? And finally was he from NY?
Thanks, just curious.
Rich.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Sounds promising Enoch....wow, black too! . Please bring on whatever info you can....if true, it's sure a great topic to get to the bottom of! . The dogs are hungry and may be out hunting for their own dinner already? ~ Pete

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

BK and I were all over it. The heads were... different, but not sure why, it was just strange. There was nothing on the car to prove L89, I don't think it has the original block, but it was a code 10 car. In my opinion, it looked like a pair of dated heads were installed https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif Might sound strange, but my buddy Neal in NY put a set of NOS, dated '68, L89 heads on his '68 Nova for the pure stock race in Michigan. So, if he ever sold that car, the next owner might think that they were original.

I think part of the problem is that we assume that the engine code of an L89 Nova will be the same as an L89 Camaro - would make sense since they share the same L78 codes. But, without seeing one in person, we don't know that for sure. So, there are some cars with the L78 engine code, but with dated L89 heads - does that mean that it's an L78 or an L89 that they didn't bother using the L89 suffix code for? Most of us would lean towards that situation being an L78 - unless there was paperwork to show an L89, of which we have seen none https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I would assume a 1970 L89 Nova would have a proprietary engine code, possibly the same as that of the L89 Chevelle. I have never seen what I would consider a factory built piece, and don't believe that any were sold. I wish one would surface!

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

For 1970 the Factory only built 18 of the L-89 Chevelles and that's it.
I've seen two authentic still standing today,with the CKT/CKP Prefix.
I really believe that no other Chevrolet car got Aluminum heads on the Assembly line in 1970.

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I am going to get riffed but thats ok.

there is a very well known restoration shop currently restoring a documented L89 nova. I dont beleive this shop is in the bussiness to lie...

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

I will give you my opinion FWIW. I think there may have been 68, or 69 L89s, but no 70s. I think for some reason that novas had no specific suffix number for it. The nbr being the same as an L78. That's why you can't find any by using the suffix code. The proof will be on the window sticker, or dealer order if by nothing else the price. Al heads were around 400.00 more than cast iron. I have seen a dealer order like that, but not the car.
Now, all that said, I could be wrong. Howie, and me are both old. Seen both L89 camaros, and chevelles back in the day, but no novas. Never even any urban ledgends about one. But I owned a Yenko back then, and never saw or heard of a copo either. So who knows. I'm still hopein. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Howie said he flipped at least one. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smirk.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

Sounds similar to our Y-Camaro...the original owner remembers it having aluminum heads when he first had it (had to warranty them because he dropped a valve) and we've had folks come up out of the blue at shows that remembered the car back in the day that said they remembered the car having aluminum heads on it in the beginning...but everyone says no aluminum headed L72s...https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: 1970 L78 Nova on Ebay
 

No your wrong!! I flipped three of them!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif