1966 L-79 Chevy II"s that i remember

[EZ Nova]

Originally Posted by novadude

Question for guys that owned these when new:

How were those things drivable at all in stock form? I know my ~375 hp 355 ci '65 Chevy II will spin the 225/60R15 radials at any speed in first gear, and keep them spinning all the way through second with an M20 / 3.36 combo. That's with Global west springs that have the pack biased to the front eye like Mopar springs.

I can't imagine it with a 3.73-4.56 gear and 4" tread-width 6.95x14s. The Monoleaf springs would probably hop like crazy if you did get it to hook.

That's just what people did back in those days. And to make it worst, living on SW Ontario we get snow and a good amount being 1.5hrs west of Buffalo NY. I have heard of a few L79 cars around over the years, 5 to be exact. These were/are the original owners that ordered them.

"BENSON" had a green car and used to streetrace it a lot. Had headers and 5.13's with the 7" slicks. Heard that car worked really well.

"Cominticki" heard his was yellow. It to had gears but think more in the 4.10 range.

"Bobby D" forget the color but think it was blue. He's a mechanic and did some work to it and also ran well. BUT he with headers and 4.10 he says he couldn't keep up with the Dodge 340 with hearders and gears?????

2 others are not the original owners.

66 SD Acadian. Still around, black on black. was fast with 4.88 and tunnel L79 for a while, but now all the original parts are gone. Just a SB 4 sp Acadian now. been sitting for years with this owner.

66 Nova, heard this one sold a few years ago. Original owner just used it as a car and played vary rerely with it. Just his driver pretty much. People recall the car but not much more.

'66 Post surfaced a few years back as an OG L79. Kid is making a racecar out of it and doesn't care if it's a L79 or not as supposibly has GM docs and it was from out west.

And lastly, local Napa shop owner has one. Guess he lucked out and wanted a 66 Nova. Bought this car as that and while fixing it up, found out from GM Canada it is an L79 car. Don't know if the born with motor/trans is with it anymore or not. Drives like a regular car.

Now some of these were not only driven, but also winter driven. Benson did his with the 5.13's. I have a friend who ordered his '69 L78 Nova new and his buddy bought one the same time. Buddy spec'ed 4.88 with the 4sp. Both these L78 were winter driven too. That's just what you did back then. People drove these cars and they were nothing more then a car. Hell up till a few years ago, 10 probably. Local car guy daily drove his '65 396 Vette with sidepipes and that was winter driven too. He just said "well it wont rust"..

The best was the computer guy who bought a Lambo Diablo, Orange. Drove it year round. Only on really bad days in winter he didn't drive it. He said it's AWD so it's good in the snow LOL.