69 L78 Nova

[sztuty]

Dear Guru's
Came accross a 1969 L78 Nova. Have seen some of the documentation-ordered from University Chev in Seattle in Nov68 by a racing company. The car was raced for a number of years then stored. It was bought in the mid 90's and restored to be a street/show car. It currently has 5200 miles on it. Boby is mint in the original garnet red repaint
Block is original, think the M21 might be (1967 dated)and although the rear end seems to be dated right, it is a BM code and the buy agreement has request 4:88 gears.
Ordered radio delete, the order reads as light as possible for racing only. Have old drag picks, and apparently the car did acquire a national title in 1970. Don't think there is a build sheet or protecto plate. Oh ya, the bench seat is missing and there are some buckets(look like Pontiac)The interior has been cut (guages) but also mint-back seat like new,
What do you think for value given the racing background/order and low miles>
Appreciate the help
Ty
1968 L78Nova-motor almost done!!!!!

[sztuty]

No opinions out there?
The car went by the name of Novacane when it was raced
Appreciate any input
Need to make a decision on the purchase or the seller is going to offer to the next drooler
Thanks again
Ty

[mockingbird812]

Ty,

I'll get the ball rolling on your car. Let me qualify myself... i know little about the Nova market. Need a bit more info and pix to get you a good estimate (from our Nova experts). Your prospective car sounds cool with the racing Hx. Not the first one called "Novacane". What is current condition of car (with older resto)? It sounds like you have an order form (Chevrolet?) for this car. Can you post the docs? They will really drive the price of this car. Good color.

[sztuty]

Sam
thanks
I can not post the documents but have inspected closely-they are legit
color is 52 52 garnet red-zero brightwork other than bumpers
the photos are 69 70 era and the car was the same paint just decal covered-since repainted the same color/clear coat-some dust so needs a repolish
The current condition is great-just a litle against my style with accessory guages mounted on the cowl(duplicated with cut-ins into the radio-delete dash (unfortunately) but mint shape in/out and underside
Has had subframe connectors welded in, trac bars and centerlines
The engine bay is spotless too, but some extra chrome, aluminum aftermarket rad, wrong carb(replacement Holley) distrib, intake, etc
Very nice ride but alot of the originality has been lost when so many in the 90's were not worried about maintaining that originality
I think I can buy it just shy $40K canadian
Appreciate the opinion
Ty

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Not sure how to value if there are no pics. Make sure the block has the vin on it, and the JH code. The trans sounds like a replacement, as does the rear - the rear code should be a BT for 3.55, maybe a BV for a 4.10. There are a lot of BB specific clues to look for.

[sztuty]

Marlin
I own a 68L78 Nova that I researched heavily so have some insight
The block is T1224JH, it has been bored but never decked-the current owner built the block 7 years ago (2300 miles)
The build date on the trim tag is 2nd week of Jan
The order sheet from the dealer reads as 4:88 posi requested, but the rear end code in the car is BM which I understand is a 3:31-do you think chev would ever use that housing as opposed to what is documented (I believe a BX code) and 4:88 gear it? Perhaps anything is possible?
The body is truly mint-I am a picky guy, and all the panels align extreemely well for a shaky 2, very straight, but the paint job quality is fair (way to much dust in the clear)
Has all the BB stuff it should-for all I know there is abuild sheet under the seat?
The cars stance has been dropped, and like a said before it has cheesy 90's touches
Any Thoughts?-I just didn't feel that taking pics would be right in this instance
Ty

[sztuty]

Marlin
Hit the send button too fast
Please post the mailing address for donations-I missed the boat the last time - I won't do it twice!!!!
Thanks s
Ty

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Hey Ty,

There is a button at the top of this page that says 'want to become an sYc member?' That will get you to the membership and donation page.

Your description of the rear is quite interesting! It is not uncommon for a particular ratio to be hand written on the order form, yet the car comes from GM with something different. In my experience, when there is something handwritten on the order form, it doesn't hold much creedence - ie; the car came with whatever gear GM felt like installing, and not necessarily the standard ratio for the engine code. So, if 4.88's were requested, it sounds like GM installed a 3.31. This is a little unusual because the standard ratio for an L78 would be a 3.55, the 3.31 was standard for the L34 Novas. This was not set in stone however, so there are L78 Novas with anything from 4.10 posi's to 2.73 open's. I've never witnessed a ratio lower (numerically higher) than a 4.10 in a Nova through '69, and a 3.55 for '70+ - unless it was a copo Nova. IMHO, it sounds like the 4.88's were dealer installed, which actually makes it quite unique.

Most years of Novas contain a broadcast sheet under the seats, but for '68-'69 that broadcast sheet will contain the engine code! So, be sure to pull the seats and look for it.

[jasonL78]

Not all 68's have engine codes on the broadcast sheets!

[JRSully]

My 69 L78 has the original BW coded 4:56 12 bolt it was born with, in 69 you could get anything, 70 they limited it 3:55 and higher (except copo), probably due to warranty issues. JS