One of ? L89 Nova for sale at Russo and Steele

[WILMASBOYL78]

This post leaves out the 2 most common codes for the L78 motor...CKO(4spd) and CTY(TH400).......I have never seen a CKQ HD clutch code on any Nova. But then, there's lots of stuff I haven't seen.

wilma

[kwhizz]

Dave said he could "Assure" us that the car is real.....yet hasn't responded to the two simple questions that were asked a couple of weeks ago........I'm sure he and others wish this thread would go away, but...His non-response to the questions either show that he doesn't want to respond......or...Can't......
"Again"....this is Nova "History".......But.....It seems that `he just wants us to take his word for it.....I'm sure if the guy's at Legendary fully understood the Head issue they might have questioned things a little more before claiming it as the only one in existance ....
Dave seems to be comfortable with the "Lack of verifiable History" and other documented items that could have doctored at some time in the cars past......I'm sure with the money that was spent on the resto was done in good faith.......But.......That doesn't validate or verify the cars true pedigree..........

Ken

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
Dave said he could "Assure" us that the car is real.....yet hasn't responded to the two simple questions that were asked a couple of weeks ago........I'm sure he and others wish this thread would go away, but...His non-response to the questions either show that he doesn't want to respond......or...Can't......
"Again"....this is Nova "History".......But.....It seems that `he just wants us to take his word for it.....I'm sure if the guy's at Legendary fully understood the Head issue they might have questioned things a little more before claiming it as the only one in existance ....
Dave seems to be comfortable with the "Lack of verifiable History" and other documented items that could have doctored at some time in the cars past......I'm sure with the money that was spent on the resto was done in good faith.......But.......That doesn't validate or verify the cars true pedigree..........

Ken



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I get the fact that you and others here are interested in all of this from a historial stand point and want to learn or confirm certain aspects. However, you need to understand that some sellers/owners don't necessarily share all of your passion or prefer to keep some of their business private. Continuing to post your dismay with the absence of the seller isn't going to get you anywhere. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, why don't you contact the seller personally to satisfy yourself?

[Pulnaway]

Darryl, I have contacted Dave and asked all of the relevent questions. Fact is he could not answer them or would nor answer them?...NOT ONE! I for one like to think that people are upfront and truthful...I did not leave our conversation feeling this way.

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
Darryl, I have contacted Dave and asked all of the relevent questions. Fact is he could not answer them or would nor answer them?...NOT ONE! I for one like to think that people are upfront and truthful...I did not leave our conversation feeling this way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, it is nice to see that someone has at least talked to ONE of the owners of this car.

In reading this thread I see where someone questioned
Dave(?) about a parts wanted ad for a set of date coded heads that apparently they suspect may have ended up on this car?
If he made a mistake with the heads and has since sold the car, and it is for sale again I doubt that anyone is going to get him to comment on something he has already sold. Maybe the current owner has gotten to the bottom of this? That is the person that has to defend the car now to any potential buyer if this is of a concern to them.

The car is 40 years old, thing happen to original parts. Maybe he (Dave) was looking for heads that he thought would be correct for the car which may not have been?

I posted this back on page 14:

"I understand there is some question as to the part number of the heads. So what, the car has the correct code to be an aluminum head car. Who really cares which heads it came with or not. If it were me I would take the path of least resistence and buy another ACCEPTABLE set of heads for the car, and give the new buyer both sets and let him make his own decision."

The point being, yes maybe it has the wrong heads and some were of the impression that it came from the factory that way. If that is wrong then it simply needs a different set of heads to make it "right" as the supposed original block with V.I.N. shows the car to be an original aluminum head car.

[Pulnaway]

Darryl, Dave Frendel is the one who purched the the car, inquired about the heads, had the car restored and now has the car for sale.
With that being said, I have gone back and re-read all of the information on this car. This is from the Hemmings artical on the car.

Rather than dive into a full resto right away, Frendel opted to simply redo the engine and use the Nova. "I drove it for two years with no door panels, no package tray--the interior was a real rat's nest." Despite this, the car's body was actually fairly nice, with no visible rust and a decent black paint job, which turned out to be the Nova's original color.

After having some fun with the car, Frendel decided the time had come to do a proper restoration, and was referred to Legendary Motorcar Company in Ontario, Canada. He'd seen Legendary on the cable TV show Dreamcar Garage, so he made the call. Soon after, the Nova was on its way to the Great White North

This is from Daves post here on the 4th page.

The original engine block, heads, intake, water pump, and carb as well as the original tranny and rear came with the car. During restoration at Legendary, they disassembled the engine in front of me, BKH, and Klutt to examine the broach marks and dates.

This engine had already been rebuilt and driven for yrs by Dave before Brian and Klutt ever dis-assembled it!

Dave knew what would be found since he had already had the motor redone! Sounds like to me that the engine came to him in parts and he had the engine rebuilt using the heads that came with the purchase of the car.

If the car is the real deal,then the value has been hurt by using heads that had no factory piston that would work with them.

[Steve Shauger]

This debate has been beaten to death. The present owner has only owned the car for the last few years and can offer very little information regarding the cars history prior to his ownership. It's obvious that the car if an L89 has incorrect heads. He states this is the configuration of the engine when he purchased the car, and was told they were original.

Dave made some statements that he believed to be accurate. He was NOT there and the car was 30 plus years old before he purchased the vehicle. Only the original owner knows the story.

I think we gotten everyones take on this issue at this point. Unless something new comes to light, lets put this to rest, as the issues with this car have been restated multiple times.

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
Darryl, Dave Frendel is the one who purched the the car, inquired about the heads, had the car restored and now has the car for sale.
With that being said, I have gone back and re-read all of the information on this car. This is from the Hemmings artical on the car.

Rather than dive into a full resto right away, Frendel opted to simply redo the engine and use the Nova. "I drove it for two years with no door panels, no package tray--the interior was a real rat's nest." Despite this, the car's body was actually fairly nice, with no visible rust and a decent black paint job, which turned out to be the Nova's original color.

After having some fun with the car, Frendel decided the time had come to do a proper restoration, and was referred to Legendary Motorcar Company in Ontario, Canada. He'd seen Legendary on the cable TV show Dreamcar Garage, so he made the call. Soon after, the Nova was on its way to the Great White North

This is from Daves post here on the 4th page.

The original engine block, heads, intake, water pump, and carb as well as the original tranny and rear came with the car. During restoration at Legendary, they disassembled the engine in front of me, BKH, and Klutt to examine the broach marks and dates.

This engine had already been rebuilt and driven for yrs by Dave before Brian and Klutt ever dis-assembled it!

Dave knew what would be found since he had already had the motor redone! Sounds like to me that the engine came to him in parts and he had the engine rebuilt using the heads that came with the purchase of the car.

If the car is the real deal,then the value has been hurt by using heads that had no factory piston that would work with them.

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First, let me say that somehow back in the early pages of this thread I got the idea that the current seller of the car was someone that Dave sold the car to. I APOLOGIZE for any confusion this may have created for anyone other than myself.

Based on what you and Dave have stated above it is VERY possible that the heads were replaced/provided with the engine in pieces at sometime prior to Dave's ownership. We all seem to forget that these aluminum heads were very prone to cracking and warping if the engine was engine overheated, and we all know overheating Big blocks was quite common. Very logical reason for the original heads to be MIA.
It sounds to me from the comments of the "experts" that looked at the car when the engine was taken apart, pretty much gave it a clean bill of health regarding the broching marks and stampings on the block that match the cars V.I.N.

So, once again, It sounds to me like the car is a true L89 with the wrong heads, which is not THAT big a deal to correct with a different set. Certainly not something to keep ME from buying the car if I were a buyer for it. At this point I have seen no evidence that the pistons or type were changed from an original type. The heads used would work but would reduce the compression. If this is the case then the correct heads would remedy this. If not, then the pistons would have to be changed creating additional expense. However this again would not bother me but WOULD be reflected in my offer or bid, but probably not by much. If you want the car where are you going to find another for sale?

As far as it being a 1 of 1, I guess that remains to be seen until documentation of another shows up. I think this thread has provided proof that they WERE available. Does anyone know of another?

BTW, i voted for #3.