My new 1968 Nova L79 project.

[jasonL78]

Thanks for the link Tom that was a real good article.

This is the radiator a past owner took out of the car it is suposed to be original? One tank has the letters I /A embossed into the tank. The tank with the cap had C /D along with a triangular tag with the numbers 7 79 31? Anyone have any idea what these codes are. It also looks like it might have been repaired next to the cap at one time? I don’t think that is original?

[jasonL78]

I just got of the phone with the original owner of my 68 L79. What a great guy to talk too. He ordered the car this way. So I asked why the 3 speed and he said his wife didn’t know how to drive standard so he figured one less gear would make it easier for her to learn. He almost ordered the super sport package with the L79 but he thought the hood grills looked cheap. I asked what happened to the original motor; he said the day they picked up the car 1 mile from the dealer the motor just locked up. So the dealer put a gm replacement short block assembly in the car. As for the 396 emblems on the fenders he remembers one of them broke, so he went to get a replacement and all they had in stock was the 396 emblems. So that is what he put on. As for the original 327 emblems they were the cast type not the foil type according to the original owner. The only modifications he did over the years were air shocks, a new cam, and a heavy duty clutch. The car was never raced or abused, just a really fast family car. LOL!

Jason

[Xplantdad]

Very neat Jason!

[jasonL78]

I was informed you couldn't order the L79 with the super sport package in 68. I was just going with what the original owner told me.

I have been busy the past couple of weeks. I just installed the new trunk pan from the donor car today. I have the passenger side outer wheel well all set along with both trunk drop offs. I wanted to get the trunk pan in before I fix the inner C pillars. Things are looking good.

[jasonL78]

I have been moving forward on the restoration. I was able to get all the panels mocked up on the car to make sure my gaps all look good. Then I removed all the panels and blasted the inner structure and then I gave it a couple of coats of epoxy primer. I have passenger side quarter all welded up and I will be working on the drivers side tomorrow. Not enough hours in the day!













I didn't post any pictures but this is what I started with.

[92646]

Jason you are a true craftsman. All the bodymen I have dealt with out here in southern California are fat and happy on insurance replacement work and would not take on some thing that requires this much work much less know how to do it anymore.