Number of 68 COPO Chevy II s ??

[John Brown]

As I recall most sources show only 50 COPO Chevy II s built in 1968, then why does <u>novaresource</u> show 98 Turbo 400 transmissions used in 1968 Chevy II production?

http://novaresource.org/production.htm

Maybe it's like the 311 L89 Nova engines that were actually installed in Camaros? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Anyone know for sure??

[Chevy454]

It took a COPO to get a THM400 behind a *solid lifter* BBC prior to '69, hence the 50+ L78/400 Novas in '68...but the hydraulic cammed 396 got the THM400 via a Regular Production Order, and makes up the 50+ to 98 difference in production numbers...so either way, an original THM400 behind a 396 in a '68 Nova is a *rare* beast...

[MosportGreen66]

Learn something new everyday... Thanks Rob!
I do LOVE those '68 COPO II's!

[Nova Research Project]

11 Pictures of a 1968 Chevy II with a 396 (L34) and a TH400 (http://www.chevynova.org/2005NNNFloridaMiniNats/FMNL34_DSCN3449.jpg.html)

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Gregg,
Is that the car that Bushey had in his storage building several years ago? I recall looking at it during one of my trips to Wayne's. Sold to a guy down south? That was a nice car, cool color.

[Allen]

[ QUOTE ]
Gregg,
Is that the car that Bushey had in his storage building several years ago? I recall looking at it during one of my trips to Wayne's. Sold to a guy down south? That was a nice car, cool color.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe that is Chris Teed's car. He is from Orlando, and did buy it from Wayne. I sent him several items for it, including those 14 x 6 rims.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Nice car, it was a nice car when Wayne had it - an excellent resto candidate.

[mr396]

I didn't know M40 L34 nova's were that rare.What is the engine code for the 68 M40 L34 nova?

[Mr70]

MR

[Kim_Howie]

The problem I have with the figure of 98 trans is the fact there are 234 L-34 cars with auto M40 trans. Are these the same used in the Gibb Nova's? The Gibb trans has a 6 bolt converter and one more clutch plate. I dont think they were used in the L-34 cars. That figure was thrown out several years ago by Mark Fuss in a mag about his car and it seems to stuck ?? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[mr396]

The 68 M40 L34 Camaro is also MR code. Were the 234 MR code Nova's part of the 1015 MR coded engines for the Camaros?

[Kim_Howie]

The camaro and nova shared the same codes MQ,MX,MR. I am not sure if that was the same figure used.

[Nova Research Project]

YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY;

Yes the owner's name was Chris. Great looking car.

Greg

[Nova Research Project]

Kim_Howie;

I do not have access to the original source for production figures. But according to the Novaresource.com link above I see the break down as this:

1968 Big Block Chevy II's
Engine....Automatics|Manuals|Total Production
L34 Engines......48.MR.|..186.MX.|.....234
<u>L78 Engines......50......|..617.MQ.|.....667</u>
Total Engines....98......|..803......|.....901

It also lists Acadians as part of the total. So the actual number of 1968 L34 Chevy II's maybe lower. On the sign in front of Chris' car speculated that there were only about 20 1968 L34 Chevy II's left.

Greg

[Chevy454]

Chris races his L34 in Pure Stock...love the look of that car, blue with blue guts...the darn thing runs good, too...low 13s if I recall correctly...cool guy as well.

[mr396]

The L34 was and is very fast. Back when I was younger,A bud had a 68 L34 Camaro and there wasn't a lot around that could touch it.Not even the Z/28. Does any one know what the only Camaro Vince Piggins bought for himself?

[Kim_Howie]

Greg , Thanks for that answer. I never thought about L34 4-speed cars. It's good for an old dog to learn new tricks. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Nova Research Project]

Kim_Howie;

No problem, I am learning all the time. (and sometimes relearning http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Greg

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

[ QUOTE ]
Kim_Howie;

No problem, I am learning all the time. (and sometimes relearning http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif )



Greg

[/ QUOTE ]


You &amp; me both http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[1968 nova ss]

Just registered today.I am the owner of the 68 nova ss 396/350 L-34 car.I had original purchased the car from Wayne Bushey about 4 years ago.the car was all there original California car;no rust not even in the trunk.I completely restored the car to original condition.car has original starter ,alternator etc.MR block # 1 of 234 produced and 1 of 48 L-34 with turbo 400.Grotto blue outside and blue inside.after a few years of car shows ,I decided to give Pure stock drags a try.The only change I really made was changing to a 2 and half mandrel bent exhaust with an xpipe;all routed as stock with a single muffler ,even the tail pipes are made to look original;as the ends of the tailpipe are flattened slightly at the end and cut in kinda of any angle;how do I know this ;the nova still had the original exhaust on it when I purchased it from Wayne.ran a best ET of 13;28 at 102mph with a 3;42 gearI am currently working on a 68 nova ss 396/375 nova with 4 speed and a MQ block.chris Teed

[mr396]

WOW! 13.28 thats smokin. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Chevy454]

Hey, nice to see ya stop by, Chris! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[1968 nova ss]

how it going Rob, hoping to come to the pure stock drags in sept.at michigan;with the nova.i own a construction buisness and we are still trying to catch up on the hurricane damages from last year.Recently Paul Zararine shot photos of the nova for an upcoming Musclecar EnthusiastsMagazine.rob,do you know how to get in touch with a guy named Ray morrison.He lives up your way and is the owner of a 68 427 dick Harrell nova.Chris

[Chevy454]

You don't wanna talk to Ray...that old coot will only make ya wish you had a time machine set to 1968! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif But, if you must talk to him, I suppose I could dig his number up for ya... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[1968 nova ss]

i have to agree with you on that one Rob.1968 is pretty much the only year you can get out of Ray.Chris

[9566 BA]

Hey Chris
I also have a 68 nova with the same combo as yours. Can you PM me I would like to ask you some questions. Hope to have mine done next spring.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Welcome Chris http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Nova Research Project]

1968 nova ss;

Welcome! PM me if you want high res copies of the pictures I took at the mini nats.

Greg

[brideinabq]

There were 2 tranies the M40 and the TH400 . The M40 of witch there were 52 made had a 7800 rpm shift point. 50 went into the NOVA AND 2 were used for the two pace cars used for the race at Indy that year

[brideinabq]

The copo only got the M40 tran .Unfortunely thats the reason that so many of the engines were blown ,to high of a shift point(7800rpms) and not a large enough oil pan(high volume pump).

[Mr70]

Wasn't the M40 &amp; the TH400 one in the same?

[brideinabq]

No, there was the M40 first

[brideinabq]

The M40 was a high performance tranie

[Kurt S]

[ QUOTE ]
Wasn't the M40 &amp; the TH400 one in the same?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. M40 was the ordering code for a TH400 trans. Same code used for all TH400's.

In 69 (not sure on other years), M40 was also the ordering code used for the TH350's and showed up on the window sticker. M38 was actually the internal GM trans code for TH350's. Go figure.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[brideinabq]

The M40 used in the 68 COPO NOVA was a very different tranie it had a 6800 rpm shift point 6 bolt pattern and one extra disc .There were only 52 of the very first ones , the other 2 were used in the Camroe paces cars used a the Indy 500 that year.

[copo-2]

[ QUOTE ]
The M40 used in the 68 COPO NOVA was a very different tranie it had a 6800 rpm shift point 6 bolt pattern and one extra disc .There were only 52 of the very first ones , the other 2 were used in the Camroe paces cars used a the Indy 500 that year.

[/ QUOTE ]

Since the 50 Gibb Novas were built the first 2 weeks of July 1968 and the Turbo 400 was redesigned for the high horsepower, solid lifter engine for the COPO # 9738 order, I am interested in finding out about the 2 transmissions built for the Indy 500 Pace Cars? James, are you speaking of the 69 Pace cars that you mention of having the other 2 experimental Turbo-400's? While there is another designated COPO number in some material I have seen for the 68 models, I have never been able to find anything on this? The engine code is basically the same as the Gibb cars, but listed as COPO #9626, I believe?

To be specific, the new experimental automatics that was redesigned for the Gibb cars had the capability of 7800 rpm. Actually, these transmission were much like the original 400's in as much as they would shift much like the first Turbo's, but could be manually shifted at points over 7000. Shift points in Drive were less as they had a vacumn modulator valve like any other. Several different codes for the 400 was used by Chevrolet, in fact there were 16 different codes for different applications used in Chevrolets in 69. Though the Gibb cars were built in 68 and the experimental Turbo-400's were also built in 68 for the Gibb Novas, these transmissions were called experimental 69's. Remember these Novas were built right at the 68 models end.

[mr396]

I think the reason the M40 was so rare in 1967 and 1968 camaro and nova is it was a rather costly item at $368.How much did the M40 cost for the L78 68 nova?I rember in the 70's Art Carr in fountain valley ca built the TH400 in my 1970 Corvette and he told me I could leave it in first gear and it would shift into second gear.When I went to Orange County raceway and tried it,it took me a couple of runs to get the nerve up,but i'll be darn if it didn't shift.does all M40's do that?

[Kurt S]

M40/TH400 Camaro totals
67 $226 1,453
68 $237 5,466
69 price was $222 for the L34/5, $290 for the L78.

The 68 solid lifter version was the precursor to the regular production 69 solid lifter version.
But doubtful the 69 pacers would use a 6 month old 68 trans when it was already available and in production at that point. And they didn't plan that far ahead on the drivetrains for a pacecar that didn't exist yet.

[Kim_Howie]

Before the trans in the Gibb they had to manually shifted , you had to lift and then they would shift. The Gibbs trans would automatically shift with out having to lift,

[Keith Tedford]

Back in '68 a friend had an SS396 L35 turbo 400 Chevelle. Left in low gear, the transmission would shift pretty hard on it's own at 5200. It felt like there was a shift kit in the trans. In drive it shifted normally. At one point this car would hardly turn a tire but was getting terrific gas mileage. In checking, I found that the power valve piston controlling the primary metering rods in the Q'jet was stuck in the down position. I tore the carb down, freed up the power piston and the power came back but the gas mileage went back down to normal.