68 Motion Preped Nova

[Mr. Chevy]

I recently found 2 Speed and Supercar Magazines dated Feb. 68 and June of 70. The 68 magazine had a cool article on a 68 Motion Preped Nova, while recently on the topics of 68 Novas.. I posted the article and some other cool pics.. from the two books... Enjoy...

Rich

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3734.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3732.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3731.jpg

Some Cool Camaros...

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3733.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3735.jpg

Cool 454 Motion Camaro Ad

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3736.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3737.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Way cool Rich...THANKS!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[jasonL78]

Never seen that write up before thanks. One thing I did notice was at the bottom of the first page it says the car had a 3:55 rear with a close ratio transmission? I thought the 3:55 had the M-20 wide ratio and when you changed to a higher gear ratio it would change to the M-21 close ratio?
Just some thing I heard or read some where not sure if the statement is correct?

Jason

[JRSully]

You could specify if you wanted a close ratio trans, but if you didn't designate it, you normally got the wide ratio by default (so goes popular belief)

[brent396]

I see they talk about taking out the 396 and puting a 427 in the 68 nova .I thought bb 68 l78 didnt come out until late april early may of 68 .Its a feb 68 magazine http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

[JIM]

Take a look at the engine compartment photo, its a manual drum brake car !!!!! in that photo. hard to tell what chassis that engine is sitting in !!!!

Jim

[WILMASBOYL78]

Most of the BB Novas had drum brakes....discs were optional. I'm not sure (may need help here from Howie) but, the power option for the big finned drums, may also have been an option http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Can't see the pics, but I assume its the Nova that went to PR?

[Kim_Howie]

I think when you got power drum they came with the finned drums. That opt. was on the Gibb Nova's.

[weranc55]

Since you are on the subject could you get a 375 nova non ss car? I know you could be a 350 hp car without the ss package.

[WILMASBOYL78]

The 375hp and 350hp big block engines were only available with the Super Sport package. The base engine for the SS option was the 295hp small block 350. You could get the 327/325hp small block in non SS cars. Hope this helps..wilma

[Kim_Howie]

Where did you see 350hp non-ss car?

[weranc55]

[ QUOTE ]
Where did you see 350hp non-ss car?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ive never seen one. A local person that knows novas very well tells me that they existed.

[weranc55]

[ QUOTE ]
The 375hp and 350hp big block engines were only available with the Super Sport package. The base engine for the SS option was the 295hp small block 350. You could get the 327/325hp small block in non SS cars. Hope this helps..wilma

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the info. Can you tell me why this Yenko Nova does not have the ss trim on it if all the cars where 375hp cars?

http://www.corvettes-musclecars.com/Supercars/69YenkoNova/index.htm

[WILMASBOYL78]

As you know from the description, these cars all started out as 375hp units and were then converted. Having all the factory BB stuff in place made the conversion very simple. I'm not sure why there is no SS trim....perhaps this old thread will help.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/224903/page/7/fpart/1/vc/1

[brent396]

The 68 novas had a lot of one year only stuff done to them .68s ROCK http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[weranc55]

[ QUOTE ]
As you know from the description, these cars all started out as 375hp units and were then converted. Having all the factory BB stuff in place made the conversion very simple. I'm not sure why there is no SS trim....perhaps this old thread will help.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/224903/page/7/fpart/1/vc/1

[/ QUOTE ]

I cant figure out why that car does not have any of the ss stuff on. I could see them taking off some of the ss emblems but not the hood louvers.

[L78steve]

No 369 non SS. All SS had Disc F brakes.

[WILMASBOYL78]

[ QUOTE ]
No 369 non SS. All SS had Disc F brakes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Front disc brakes became standard starting in 1969 on all SS models. In 1968 they were an option....I think most 68's had the large finned front drums with power assist like Kim mentioned.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The 375hp and 350hp big block engines were only available with the Super Sport package. The base engine for the SS option was the 295hp small block 350. You could get the 327/325hp small block in non SS cars. Hope this helps..wilma

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the info. Can you tell me why this Yenko Nova does not have the ss trim on it if all the cars where 375hp cars?

http://www.corvettes-musclecars.com/Supercars/69YenkoNova/index.htm

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't reread the other links, but this car was restored as a non-SS because the resto shop (20+ years ago) found the broadcast sheet in the seats and it had the L78 code in the COPO box. So, they felt that it was a COPO order for a non-SS L78 Nova. Their conclusion was laughably silly, since the entire first row of the broadcast sheet was printed on the second row - the sheet was not properly aligned when it was printed, duh!

The current owner has corrected that error and has installed the SS items.

[weranc55]

Thanks for the info. So for 69 all 375 cars and yenkos started life as a ss. What where some of the standard things ss cars came with? I assume they had disk brakes, did they have to be power? Could you get a bench seat with a ss car? Reason I'm asking is I'm building a pure stock 69 nova and want to get as much info as I can.

[brent396]

There talking about motion nova over at steves nova site heres the link http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143825 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Mr. Chevy]

Mr. "68 Motion L88 Nova" should have looked a little farther.. I did post the article along with the magazine cover.. Maybe he just wanted to be a shooting star for the nova site members!!

Rich

[69z2x4]

Did they change out the complete motor in the Yenko cars or did it get a 427 short block like other builders did?

[PxTx]

I don't think there is any hard and fast rule you can apply. I suspect there were customers who may have had their 396 warmed over with a cam, intake carb and such. There are also cars which probably had ther short blocks switched out for 427s. I also think there were pleny of L88 conversions.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3732.jpg

I read a comment about this engine pic still having exhaust manifolds on it. Probably isn't a pic of a Nova. Also noted is the fact that the 396 option was not available till after this article was written. I guess if that is the case, any early 68 Chevy II 427 Motion cars probably were full engine swaps from a small block car.

I don't know how long it took form ordering a car to delivery. Don't think Baldwin/Joel would have calculated to take orders and wait for the 396 option to become available. From a salesman's perspective I would either "up-sell" the customer into a BB Camaro or "up-sell" into converting a SB Chevy II.

All these points changed each year, so again- no hard and fast rules.

[WILMASBOYL78]

I think the dead give-away is the rubber fuel hose and generic chrome fuel line....if these were converted L78's they would have used the factory fuel block and lines that were standard with the Holley carb. Another item is the master cylinder...I don't see a booster behind it. I believe all L78 Novas came with power drum brakes as standard and the discs were optional. These cars were probably converted small blocks....

wilma

[southside]

It does appear to have the BB heater core. Hoses don't seem to go behind valve cover like a converted small block car or a Chevelle.

[WILMASBOYL78]

I didn't notice that...perhaps some other info will come along to help with this. I know some dealers did BB swaps in early Camaros before the BB was introduced..how did they deal with the heater hoses..?? maybe the cover was changed as part of the conversion..???? wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

[brent396]

Tom hows your 68 l78 coming along

[WILMASBOYL78]

It is sleeping quietly in the garage...wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[brent396]

GO over to steves nova site a motion 68 chevy ii spoted look at the facts http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143825

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think there is any hard and fast rule you can apply. I suspect there were customers who may have had their 396 warmed over with a cam, intake carb and such. There are also cars which probably had ther short blocks switched out for 427s. I also think there were pleny of L88 conversions.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture3732.jpg

I read a comment about this engine pic still having exhaust manifolds on it. Probably isn't a pic of a Nova. Also noted is the fact that the 396 option was not available till after this article was written. I guess if that is the case, any early 68 Chevy II 427 Motion cars probably were full engine swaps from a small block car.

I don't know how long it took form ordering a car to delivery. Don't think Baldwin/Joel would have calculated to take orders and wait for the 396 option to become available. From a salesman's perspective I would either "up-sell" the customer into a BB Camaro or "up-sell" into converting a SB Chevy II.

All these points changed each year, so again- no hard and fast rules.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have several of these S&S and Cars magazines with B-M articles and I'd bet that engine photo was used several times in several B-M articles. I think it's the photo of the very first 427 Camaro conversion's engine--the Tahoe Turquoise car that was a 350 to start with. Maybe that helps explain the manifolds and manual MC? I'll go dig out my copy with the original 427 Camaro article if you want.

[Plowman]

The color photo of the engine with exhaust manifolds is interesting. Oversparay on the intake. How did Joel source that engine? Is it a 396 or 427?

Pretty sure a CE enigne came without paint, and most of the time without an intake or exhaust manifolds.