69 L78 Tranny question

[Don_Lightfoot]

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I remember a friend that ordered a 396/375 Chevelle in 1968. Only options were am radio and L78. Had a 3-speed on floor with bench seat.

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Good information Bob I don't think there were a lot of changes in this area from 1968 to 1969.

[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

[ohhawk]

According to the Chevrolet SS Muscle Car Red Book:

1969 CHEVELLE SS - L78, if you ordered an auto it was the Turbo Hydra-matic (3 sp.)...if you ordered with the manual it was a 4 sp. of several choices but the M22 was only available with the L78 or L89. The 3 sp. manual was only available on the 325 and 350 HP versions. The 3 sp. auto, Turbo-Hydra-matic, was available on all versions.

1969 CAMARO SS - Says the Turo Hydra-matic 3 sp. was available with all SS engines. Goes on to say the only manual transmission available with the the 375 HP versions was the M22. Other 4 sp. versions available on other HP versions outside of the L78 and L89. The 3 sp. manual was only available on the 350/300's.

Quiz tommorrow!

[Don_Lightfoot]

Interesting Dick, thanks.

Seems every source has a different story . We need Jerry to do one of his books on Chevelles .

Ah the heck with it, I'm taking up drugs

[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-- ........

[ohhawk]

Don, taking a look at another resource on your question....Mike Mueller's Chevelle 1964-1972 book says regarding the '69 Chevelle SS..."Turbo Hydra-matics were also offered behind the brutish L78 for the first time, as were all the manuals, including the Super Sport special MC1 3 speed and M20 wide ratio four speed units that previously had been spared the wrath of 375 horses".

This would support what the other fellas said about the MC1 which the Red Book did not mention.