69 L78 Tranny question

[Chevy454]

I was thinking along the lines of Sully. The Novas were cheaper than cheap, and the base combo I *believe* was M20/3.55...in my mind, if the base tranny in the el cheapo Nova was the M20, then the base tranny in the other car lines would be the same, if not a step up. But, I wasn't there, so this is just my stinky opinion...

[Kurt S]

Base trans for a L78 in a Camaro was the 3 speed manual (MC1). Don't see that combo very often, but they exist.
Also, all SS's in 69 that had a 3 speed manual got a floor shift. 67-8's could be column shift.

[Don_Lightfoot]

Agree Kurt, thanks. Can't see it being different for the Velle

[NCGuy68]

[ QUOTE ]
Base trans for a L78 in a Camaro was the 3 speed manual (MC1). Don't see that combo very often, but they exist.
Also, all SS's in 69 that had a 3 speed manual got a floor shift. 67-8's could be column shift.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with Kurt and heres why........

Years ago, I bought a Muncie 3-sp. tranns at a swap meet. It caught my eye because it had a factory Muncie shifter hanging on it and the shifter wasn't the usual 4-sp. It dawned on me that I was looking at a special heavy-duty Muncie 3-sp complete with the original shifter, linkage, etc. The seller claimed it came out of a 69 Camaro L78 that he couldn't sell because all potential buyers said it should have a 4-sp. He removed the tranns, installed a 4-sp, and sold the car. I have no reason to doubt his word.

It is RPO MC1/M13 in Camaro and only came with a floor mounted shifter in 69. I still have the tranns and shifter and would like to mate it to the original car but thats looking for a needle in the hay stack.

I consider it a interesting piece of GM history. Not many were built.

I'am thinking this same tranns was installed in 68-9 Velles behind Hi-Perf motors if no optional tranns were selected.

Correct me if I'am wrong please.

[JoeG]

Some more info--this is from a '68 buyers book-- Chevelle--

[JoeG]

some '69 info--paragraph was shorten to highlight M13-- ........

[Kurt S]

Most books like the Red Book, etc, have errors in them. We try to base everything on GM documentation and real cars. Lot fewer mistakes that way.

Craig,
That's a familiar story. I've heard of several L78 cars with the 3 speed trans swapped cause noone believed it was original.
If you send me the VIN off that trans and the trans code, I'll see if I know anything about that car or if we run across it in the future.

One thing I don't know for sure. If you ordered a SS and got the base trans, was the trans included in the SS price or was M13 / MC1 a mandatory option ($79) that you had to pay for? I think it was the latter, but I'm not positive. Never seen a window sticker to confirm it.....

[NCGuy68]

[ QUOTE ]

Craig,
That's a familiar story. I've heard of several L78 cars with the 3 speed trans swapped cause noone believed it was original.
If you send me the VIN off that trans and the trans code, I'll see if I know anything about that car or if we run across it in the future.

[/ QUOTE ]

Kurt,

Only stamped number on the tranny is as below:

19N637387

Obviously a 69 Norwood stamp. From the VIN sequence number, I'am thinking the car was built sometime in the 5th week of May, 1969.

All the main case, tail housing and side cover casting numbers agree.

Anyone else care to chime in on any info?

Craig S