T400 rarity in a nova (69)

[black69]

Is a T400 rare in a nova? and does a build sheet show the selling dealer?
I am told 'yes' to the first question and 'no' to the second according to owner.

[66 Biscayne]

I have friend who owns (bought it new) a 69 Nova SS with the th400 396-375 engine.....all matching numbers to this day....12,000 original miles.

[black69]

yep, this is also a L78. But were they rare as this guy is telling me.
500 of something is not a big number (if true).
that is a cool car your friend has. another survivor rises to the surface as they say....

[flyingn]

I believe all Big blocks in Novas are 400's

[Mr70]

1970 Yenko Deuce LT-1 Novas used a CW TH400 too,when an Auto trans. was ordered.

[66 Biscayne]

Back in the day, most of them I saw/remember were 4 spds.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

The A/T was more rare than the 4 speed, bec/ less people wanted them - same is likely true today, unless you already have a 4 speed version.

There were ~9,900 L78 Novas built between '68-'70, so although rare in terms of percentage they are not too hard to find (unless you want one that is orig owner with 12k miles!! That is 'super rare'). I know there were 66x of them in '68, with about 98 being a/t's, 5,500 +/- in '69 (I forget the a/t %), and another 4,000'ish in '70. They are good running cars, just like the LT1 a/t Deuces!

[black69]

thanks for all the info.

now as far as buildsheet for a nova in 69, does it show selling dealer? Someone told me the nova buildsheet does not, yet others (like chevelle) do. the car I am looking at has a buildsheet.

[WILMASBOYL78]

According to the Nova Resource site...these are the stats:

TH400 in Novas...

**note these totals represent all engines available with the TH400

1968...98 (50 of these were in the Gibb Cars w/L78..the other were L34 applications)
1969..1411 (L78 and L34)
1970..1238 (L78, L34 and LT1 in the Deuce)

The L78/LT1 applications used the high shift point/HD versions of the TH400.

So, regarding rarity...there were a lot less automatic cars produced than the 4 speeds...does that make them &quot;rare&quot;...I guess so, though most folks like to row the gears <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif From a performance stand point they are very durable and almost impossible to break...just put it in &quot;D&quot; and let it go <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif

***my sense is the TH400 might be more common in the L34 applications as a percentage of the total cars produced...but, this is just a guess...seems like I've seen more L34 auto cars than 4 speeds <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

Fisher Body &quot;build sheets&quot; commonly found in the back seats of Novas will not list the selling dealer...you will need other documemtation or owner history to answer that question. Sometimes there are clues in the car...old receipts, oil change stickers,dealership &quot;identity&quot; items, etc. that might help you.

Hope this helps..wilma

[TimG]

The engine code should call out the TH400 or the 4 speed transmission, too.

[black69]

thanks for all the help, I think I am set. There is a 427 in the car, and it will be hard at this point to tell if its a dealer day1 or year1 conversion. They interestingly decided to start with the correct options to make it worth digging into.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: black69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">thanks for all the help, I think I am set. There is a 427 in the car, and it will be hard at this point to tell if its a dealer day1 or year1 conversion. They interestingly decided to start with the correct options to make it worth digging into. </div></div>

Typical approach - just be careful with the dealer transplant angle, that will need rock solid paperwork to make it worth addtional money. You should also determine if the car was indeed an L78 vs an L34 car, that will be called out on the broadcast sheet if it's a '69. Finally, you should verify the unique BB items on the car as well.

[Schonyenko2]

Check the rear end code too. Default for an L78 was usually a 3.55 an L34 was usually a 3.31.

Urban legend 427 early transplants are cool if you can prove them. A 427 T400 M40 is a really fast piece. Just ask Ray Morrison.

[WILMASBOYL78]

You should find a Turbo-Hydramatic metal tag riveted to the passenger side of tranny case...this will have a two letter code, eg: CW, CX, CY...and so on. There were also be a julian date and model year date...refer to this SYC thread for photos and info:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthrea...imil#Post102599 (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/102599/CY_CX_400THM_differences_simil#Post102599)

This will help identify what kind of tranny you have...the last 6 of the VIN will also be on the case (edge of bell housing or near the shift arm on drivers side)...if the VIN matches the car...this will help to confirm original driveline setup...those 2 letter codes have specific engine/model applications...if you have the info or a photo of the tag post it and we will help you decipher.

wilma

[black69]

thanks, I will get info off the trans tag. appreciate all the yenko.net help!
sounds like it would be one fast car to drive!

[mockingbird812]

Nice Jeff! Do tell!!!

[black69]

survivors make it that much better! great looking car!

[Salvatore]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1969l78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I love my L78 automatic survivor car!

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s240/1969l78/Untitled_zpsa170d232.jpg </div></div>
Bring it to Chicago Rob. We want to get to love it also!

[ss427copo]

growing up in Upland/Chester Pa, (circa 68-74) my best friend Bruce Graf had a green 69 L78 Nova with column shift T400 with bench seat and vinyl floor covering. It would up-shift by itself from 1st to 2nd.. A couple of guyz who lived 4 houses from me were the ones who worked it; Sonny and Dennis Groves. Also, my friend Sherwood Allen who still runs Super Stock tuned it occasionally.

I sure wish I bought it and wonder where it is today.

[Xplantdad]

Cool stuff Jeff!!