1970 L-78 Camaro

[AutoInsane]

I owned the orange L-78 for about 2 hours.(pretty sure it is the same car) I had called Legenday Motorcars when it was for sale on their site a few yaears ago and told them I would buy it, filled out the paperwork and all. When I found out the engine was a crate engine I told them I didn't want to buy it. I think the asking price was $24,ooo. That car is beauiful(from seeing the detailed pictures)

Bill O'Brien [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

Still have some regrets about not buying it [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

[55chevy]

How rare was it to have a 70 Camaro with a column shift? I had a 70 that was original small block column shift w/air. After a year of driving it around with an automatic I converted it to a 4 speed and removed the air box. I welded in the correct floor hump section from a 4spd car and switched out the shifter column for a tilt version from a floor shift car and put a standard heater box in it. Just wondering how unique the column shift was for a 70.

Ed [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

[CamarosRus]

Ed, No one will be able to answer how many column auto 1970 Camaros there were......but I did have a pretty rare one myself. My first 70 Z-28 I ordered new had a Turbo-400 on the column..... (not the one I currently have[4-spd] and bought in 1978)....Chuck S

[CamarosRus]

Mr.70,I believe that all 1970 L-78 Camaros came with the CO Dual Snorkel Air Cleaner(see attached picture).....This air cleaner was also used on "some" 1970 L-78 Novas and Non-cowl L-78 and LS-6 Chevelles. Chuck Hansen (ACES) has suggested that getting away from the Open Element A.C. had to do with new 1970 laws regarding noise. I would love to have some official G.M. answer but dont know how to research this. I have been looking at the 70 L-78 Camaros now for many years and while many of them are missing the original air cleaner, I do feel the dual snorkel was used exclusively. The swap meet prices on these is very high and heard from the sellers mouth that last year a NOS one sold for $2400. I have three Van Nuys Plant 70 L-78 build sheet copies. Norwood 70 Camaros did not come with build sheets. 1) #511596 Mulsanne Blue had CO air cleaner(Dual Snorkel) and 052 Tach(may I assume 6500/7000)listed as U14 IP Gauges on option list. This was a project I once bought without correct block or trans, and went back to the seller in St Louis. 2) #505462 incomplete partial build sheet. CO air cleaner and -- Tach/Gauge delete. 3)#521043 Cortez Silver with CO air cleaner and again -- Tach/Gauge delete. All three cars had M-21 4 spd CLS Ratio.
Chuck/Seattle

[Mr70]

Thanks Chuck.
I will let you know if I can add to your info.
Rick [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[COPO PETE]

Chuch, That is interesting that all three of those cars were M21 cars. Did they come with 4:10 gears? The orange car here was a M20 car with 3:55 gears. He put in 4:10's and I still have the original 3:55 here in my shop. Cars was documented by GM of Canada with the M20 and 3:55. Documentation did not list rally's, so it must have came with hub caps. I'm not totally up on my 70's, i just assumed all SS's came with rallys. apparantly not!
Peter

[Mr70]

The 1970 Chevelle L78/either 3:55 or 4:10 was possible to receive the M20 also.

Chuck S.& Charley L.
Is this the Aforementioned TH400/L78 Camaro with docs that was talked about before?

http://www.camarogenerations.com/mem...jackwhite.html

[Charley Lillard]

Yep [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[CamarosRus]

Peter, The #1 and #3 example above DID come with 3:55 posi per the build sheet. The #2 example build sheet is partially gone and the gear ratio, color etc is missing. I used to assume that Rally Wheels and Tach/Gauges would have been standard with SS, but they were optional. That's why I'm looking for the (everybody through them away) "CL" 14x7 wheels myself. I already have the common Baby Moons as they came on all plain jane wheels 14x6 & 14x7. Glad Jack's "White" L-78 was posted as I lost track of that club web site.....I had forgotten that it was originally Mulsanne Blue. Wonder if there was ever an original White L-78. For being 600 of these cars made, there sure arent many left or at least traded about.....Chuck S

[Schonyenko2]

I bought a new L78 nova in 70. It had that dual snorkle air cleaner. Came with M20, and 3:55 rear. Neat car, but about two carlengths slower than the deuce.
I bounced the L78 off a bridge in early 71, thats how I wound up with the deuce. Schonye