Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Hi Bruce,

I just finished up the 2 year restoration on my 68 Nova SS L78 4 speed car. The car was an old drag car and hasn't been on the road since the late seventies. I have tracked previous owners all the way back to 1978 and they all wish they held on to this one. Exterior color is sequoia green and the interior color is ivy gold. The car has the following options bucket seats, console with factory gauges 6,000 redline tachometer, custom interior, tinted glass, power 4 piston disk brakes and a black vinyl roof. According to the broadcast sheet it was the 4th car in sequence on the assembly line May 31, 1968.
I did all the work myself except assembling the engine and having the seats recovered I left that to the experts. I have a lot of pictures throughout the restoration. I will try to explain the story of the car that I know of.

I bought the car out of the local want ad in 2003 as a parts car for my 70 Nova. The guy I bought it from thought It was an original BB car but wasn't sure. The drive train was long gone. I bought the car and got it home and did some investigation. The BB heater core was there, bb core support, bb motor mounts, 4 speed cross member and it had the 6000 redline tachometer.

I have talked to 4 of the last owners all the way back to 1978. This is were my investigation trail ended. This young man in 1978 was only 15 when he bought the car. The owners told him then, it was a rare car originally a BB car but the motor was long gone. He bought complete minus the motor. He painted it silver and ran a small block for a year then sold it to his friend who owned it until 1980. He sold it to the next guy who held onto it for 18 years. It was in and out of storage never doing any thing with it but new its rarity. Then he sold it to the guy I bought it off of and he owned it for 5 or 6 years again never doing anything with it.

I bought the car in Highland NY where it has been since 1978. The young man bought it in Pleasant Valley, NY from a couple going through a divorce. The car had a piston ring winner circle sticker on each quarter window. I am told these were winner circle decals.

I am a 3rd generation Nova nut. I have seen Tom Williams collection and it is amazing. I never knew that I would own a car so rare and being a limited production car to boot. I built the car to drive It does have a 68 date coded 396 out of a Chevelle along with a 68 Muncie. I do plan on building a correct 375 hp motor with the 11:1 factory specs in the future.
Jason



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Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

nice looking hotrod! i'm also a geek for the 3rd generation Nova!

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Very nice!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif I like that color combo.

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Nicely done. What an unusual and beautiful color combo. Thanks.

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

I have a big soft spot for Nova's. Very nice job on that car! The color combo is cool! Before anybody else asks, https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...-I-Have-It.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Jason, Who rebuilt your 4 piston brake calipers and how much did it cost you? Your '68 SS Chevy II looks great.

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Very nice car! I hear most, if not all work done by the owner and he DRIVES it! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Thanks for the comments.Yes I did do all the work myself except for the motor assembly and seat covers. All the hard work has paid off. I just got back from a car show with a nice first place trophy. So far I have 2 first places, 1 second, and 1 third place. As far as the color combination goes I am happy I left it original. I almost did black interior. The color is what really sets this car off and the pictures don't even justify it because it is a hard color to take a picture of. I still don't have a picture that brings out the color but I haven't came across the correct light I guess. Again thanks for a the replies.

Jason

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Tim,
I had my local auto parts store send out the calipers to get rebuilt it was 150.00 per side. I had them back in a week. He must of had someone locally do it.

Jason

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Wow..........Nice job Jason.........It's nice to see another one saved........Great Job https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Ken

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Jason,
I must say, under the conditions it looks like you restored the car under you did one h&ll of a job! It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to stay at something like this and those are under ideal conditions. Hats off to you and the job you did. Congrats on the show finishes. That and the comments are what make it all worth the effort. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif
Rick

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Jason..The car looks great. I followed your progress on a different site. You do nice work.

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

I really wish we would see more Novas like this.
Very Nice! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Glad you left it the original color schemes. A little different venue. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Jason: Nice car and nice job. You should be very proud of you work. I notice that the picture of your motor on the stand has roller rockers. I see that with the motor in the car you have stock valve covers. Are the roller rockers running under the stock valve covers?

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

I have seen this car in person and it is fantastic. It is impressive in this day to see a young guy who really has what it takes! They only made 667 1968 L78 Novas and Jason's resto is a fitting tribute to the car. I know the future of the hobby is safe when we have guys like this who are part of it. Congratultions on a great job!


wilma https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

[ QUOTE ]
It is impressive in this day to see a young guy who really has what it takes! I know the future of the hobby is safe when we have guys like this who are part of it. Congratultions on a great job!

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly my sentiments. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Sequoia Green is another of the unique '68 colors. Often mistaken for Shadow Gray but obviously not when you see it up close. Cool Color and I love the contrasting interior.

Great Job; Great Car! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

A great learning experience and an excellent job. Is the 70 Nova next in line?? Congrats and enjoy! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Nice work. Cool car.

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Jason,

Thanks for sharing the story on your cool L78 Nova. I, too like the fact that you kept it the original colors. Good luck on any future searches on owner history, too! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

thats a great car, excellent work, the colors are perfect together, seeing your car makes me like vinyl tops more and more.

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Thanks for the great comments on the car. I couldn't of done it with out an understanding wife and kids and also the help of my father and his garage. My son is six and he enjoys going to the shows and he already has a favorite car the corvette so who knows what the next project will be. As for the 70 I sold it this past winter so I could finish the 68. I do have a line on another 68 6 cylinder car but the owner won't part with the car, it was her grandmothers it only has 54k a real nice car to restore. But I haven't gave up on the deal yet. The stock valve covers will clear the roller rockers if you use 3/8 gaskets from mr gasket.

Jason

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Very nice. You did a great job. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

[ QUOTE ]
Very nice. You did a great job. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

What ^^^ said...X100!

Nice car and great story... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Awesome color combo, https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gifI don't think I have ever seen a 68 sequoia green/black nova. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gifIt sure would look good sitting in my garage next to my 68 sequoia green/black camaro. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Jason, that was a great price. YearOne wanted $1,332.00 to do the four piston brakes on my '68 SS Chevelle. Year One called me and advised me of this after I sent my calipers to them. The misprint price in the catalog is supposedly per piston hole!! I had my mechanic do mine. Also, which parts store did you go through? Thanks, Tim

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Tim
It was just a mom @ pop store that I buy all my auto parts from. They go that extra mile to take care of the customer. He has a local guy that rebuilds all his master cylinders and calipers I think it only cost me 29.00 to have my master cylinder rebuild the one with the correct bleeders on it. I think even your local napa or auto zone can have them sent out to get rebuilt. I tried year one to have my tach and speedometer face re-silk screened. They wanted 1200 dollars to do that. I got it done at auto instruments for 375 and they came out great.This is the link I would highly recommend them for silk screening.
http://www.autoinstruments.com/


Jason

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Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

jason, you did a great job. any one that did the work, you did from start to finish. you got my vote on yor car. super job!!!!!!!!!!!! bbbenny https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

A very nice job indeed. Congrats https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

ALbert

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Auto Instruments is GREAT! They did a great job on my A/FX Dixco Tach!

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Great job Jason! I've been following along on your restoration. I hope my L-79 comes out half as nice. For an FYI, Vette Brakes and Products also rebuilds/sleeves four piston calipers. They were extremely reasonable at $99.00 per caliper. They did my 68's as well as my 71 Corvettes and they both came out very nice.

Mike

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Beautiful car Jason.Is that a Hurst Comp. Plus?If it is how did you get it to fit the console?I'm assembling a 70 L78 Nova and would like to use that shifter.

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Yes it is a hurst comp plus shifter. I will get you the part number, I have to look for it.It does fit but I had to bend the shifter arm some.It was rubbing the side of the console. Instead of it being straight it kind of angles toward your leg. If you want it straight you will have to heat and bend the gate.I am almost positive it is the same one listed for camaro.

Jason

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

The part number I used was hurst super comp #3734529 Any way I can help let me know.

Jason

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Is that part number for a component or the entire assy?

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Really Nice!! job ---on a https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif Classic........

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

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The top picture is the one I used.These are the instructions that came in the box. You have to buy the shifting rods separate. I think they call it an installation kit. When the shifter assembly is bolted up to the tranny it favors the right side. So when the handle is bolted up to the shifter assembly it rubbed the right side of the console. So what I did is heated the handle and put a offset in it. Now it kind of points at your leg, I like it and it shifts great. If you want the handle straight you will have to heat the part of the shifter assembly that the handle bolts to because they are not straight from Hurst. It is just a stamped piece of steel that the handle bolts to. Hope the picture helps.

Jason

Re: Jason Hale's L78 Nova
 

Thanks for the info Jason.Your custom install makes sense,Since the BB is positioned to the right 3/4 of an inch.I've been wondering what to do about this because Hurst does'nt make a shifter with this offset,They used to for the OEM but it's high dollar.If you can find one.That Heartbeat City guy has them from time to time for about a $1000.Yours looks great it's probably what I'll do.