COPO Nova Transmission

[STR8SS]

New member here.... just thought I would try and put a myth to bed.
I bought my Oshawa built L34 '69 Chevelle SS this past May... the PO told me that the M20 that is in the car now could have come from a '70 COPO Nova.
I read a while back that most of the '70 COPO Nova's were shipped to Yenko but 2 cars remained in Canada. I've also read that the '70 COPO Nova cars all had M21's???
Here is the info I have:

Casting: 3925661
Side Cover - 3952648
Tail Housing - 3857584
VIN - 10W199469
Date Code - POS24A

So it is an M20... with a Nov 24th build date which would make it for a 1971 model year...so that might shoot this myth down but I figured I'd give it a shot and ask you guys!

Thanks,
Chuck

[WILMASBOYL78]

The November date and the 70 model year designation in the tranny stamp mean it was assembled in the fall of 1969. The VIN is early in the production run which would line up with that date. The casting numbers on the parts you listed are correct for the 70 tranny.

Hope that helps...wilma

[iluv69s]

Isn't that early for the dueces?

[mockingbird812]

COPO Novas ('70) could be ordered with the TH400 or M21. I may have read that Pete Simpson's Cananadian delivered COPO Nova was an M20 car??? , but if a manual tranny was ordered, the rule is it would come from the factory with the close ratio, M21. A tranny build date of Nov '69 is most likely way too early for a Deuce as they were built at GM in two batches in late May and early June.

[STR8SS]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I may have read that Pete Simpson's Cananadian delivered COPO Nova was an M20 car???</div></div>
I figured that this would have been the case.
I did read a while ago that 2 of the '70 COPO cars were delivered in Canada. Is there any other way of narrowing down the origins of this tranny???
How would I go about contacting Pete?
I know this is probably a wild goose chase but it would be nice to rule it out if at all possible.

Thanks,
Chuck

[WILMASBOYL78]

If you think the tranny originated in a Canadian delivered car then why not just check with George at the Canadian GM Registry..run the VIN and see what comes up...that will tell the story.

wilma

[STR8SS]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you think the tranny originated in a Canadian delivered car then why not just check with George at the Canadian GM Registry..run the VIN and see what comes up...that will tell the story.

wilma </div></div>

Good point... why didn't I think of that! :-)
I see what I can find out!!!

Chuck

[Xplantdad]

Chuck,

Pete is no longer with us (We miss you , PETE), but you can reach his sons by the COPO PETE Screen name <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Hi Chuck

Welcome to sYc, you will like it here.

Ryan

[COPO PETE]

MY Dads silver COPO NOVA was sold out of Central Chevrolet in London Ontario. As well as the green one.

I know for a fact Dads came with a M-20. I believe the green one did also.

The salesmen ( dave mathers) ordered them specifically with the M-20.


I know where the original M--20 is that came out of the Silver car. The guy wont sell it, dad had tried for years to buy it, But it went through a shop fire...


Im not too sure about the dates on what you have. The Green car was crushed 25+ years ago as it rotted away too nothing. I have no idea what happened to the drive line.

Hopefully this helps.


OWEN.

[Kurt S]

What's the build date on the silver Nova?

[PeteLeathersac]

SYC Feature car - Dec 2001
Peter Simpson's 1970 COPO Nova
http://www.yenko.net/features/2001/December2001.htm

Welcome aboard Chuck!
Nice to see Pete's lads are here too!!!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[COPO PETE]

i can't tell you the build date at the moment. i ll have to look it up. dad has the documents/ original bill of sale in his office somewhere.

[STR8SS]

Thanks Pete!!!!

[STR8SS]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: COPO PETE</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> MY Dads silver COPO NOVA was sold out of Central Chevrolet in London Ontario. As well as the green one.

I know for a fact Dads came with a M-20. I believe the green one did also.

The salesmen ( dave mathers) ordered them specifically with the M-20.


I know where the original M--20 is that came out of the Silver car. The guy wont sell it, dad had tried for years to buy it, But it went through a shop fire...


Im not too sure about the dates on what you have. The Green car was crushed 25+ years ago as it rotted away too nothing. I have no idea what happened to the drive line.

Hopefully this helps.


OWEN. </div></div>

Thanks Owen... PM sent!

[STR8SS]

Just spoke to George over at GM of Canada... they can search the partial VIN off the transmission but I'm not exactly into paying $119 to find out! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif

Would anyone have the VIN on the other Green Canadian COPO... didn't see anything on the Nova Registry?

Owen, maybe your Dad had that info?

Chuck

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Wow $119.00 smackers.

Yikes.

Ryan

[Postsedan]

Welcome aboard Chuck <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Dan

[Kurt S]

That's why I am asking about the build date for the silver Nova, knowing it's close to the green one.
I think the trans is too early, but that's just a guess....

[WILMASBOYL78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: STR8SS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just spoke to George over at GM of Canada... they can search the partial VIN off the transmission but I'm not exactly into paying $119 to find out! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif

Would anyone have the VIN on the other Green Canadian COPO... didn't see anything on the Nova Registry?

Owen, maybe your Dad had that info?

Chuck </div></div>

I was under the impression they had two prices...one to check to see if the VIN matched a Canadian delivered car...and then a second higher price if you wanted the whole package of info...at least that is what they told me last time I called.

wilma

[STR8SS]

I was under the impression they had two prices...one to check to see if the VIN matched a Canadian delivered car...and then a second higher price if you wanted the whole package of info...at least that is what they told me last time I called.

wilma [/quote]

Apparently not... I asked George the same thing... it's $119 if they find a match and if they don't find anything it's still $16.95.

Chuck

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: STR8SS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was under the impression they had two prices...one to check to see if the VIN matched a Canadian delivered car...and then a second higher price if you wanted the whole package of info...at least that is what they told me last time I called.

wilma </div></div>

Apparently not... I asked George the same thing... it's $119 if they find a match and if they don't find anything it's still $16.95.
Wow! How things change. the last time I dealt with George I believe the charge was $55 for the whole package.
Chuck [/quote]

[BARRY]

i had a 1970 acadian and a 1969 camaro both canadian cars george could not find in the system

[Tracker1]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: STR8SS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was under the impression they had two prices...one to check to see if the VIN matched a Canadian delivered car...and then a second higher price if you wanted the whole package of info...at least that is what they told me last time I called.

wilma </div></div>

Apparently not... I asked George the same thing... it's $119 if they find a match and if they don't find anything it's still $16.95.

Chuck [/quote]

it is only $16.95 if they do not find a match.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Wow, a lot of good Canadian content here....:-)

Ryan

[PeteLeathersac]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BARRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i had a 1970 acadian and a 1969 camaro both canadian cars george could not find in the system </div></div>

Sorry to hijack but it may be best wait a while and try these two again?
Best would be confirm build dates first especially if the Camaro is one of the extended build cars as GM Vintage may only be searching their shipping microfilm info to Sept. '69 unless specified otherwise.
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[STR8SS]

Received a PM from Owen last night stating that the Silver car was originally sold October 2, 1970. As I understand that both the Green car and Silver car were ordered from the same dealership and I have to assume that they would have taken 6-8 weeks to be delivered that my Nov 26 M20 is probably not from the green car.
Owen is looking for more docs... will let you know what we come up with.

Chuck

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

It is very unlikely that your trans is from the green car, since I believe Owen's silver COPO Nova has an 05D build date - making the sold date irrelevant.

The Canadian COPO Novas were 'tweeners' when comparing the TT and VIN data to the Yenko COPO Novas. I forget the body # on Owen's COPO Nova, but the build date / VIN combination is after the Yenko 4speeds but before the Yenko automatics - almost like they slipped 10 more in for Canada before building the automatics for Yenko.

[STR8SS]

Thanks Marlin... I think we are just about ready to put this myth to bed! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/cry.gif

[Kurt S]

Thanks Marlin. I thought they were way later in the year, too late for a Nov. trans, but didn't have data to confirm.

[COPO PETE]

i know The salesmens Dave Mathers ordered 10 COPO NOVAS. only recieved 2..



I cant find the build sheet at the moment, so i dont know the build date of the car..

[STR8SS]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is very unlikely that your trans is from the green car, since I believe Owen's silver COPO Nova has an 05D build date - making the sold date irrelevant.

The Canadian COPO Novas were 'tweeners' when comparing the TT and VIN data to the Yenko COPO Novas. I forget the body # on Owen's COPO Nova, but the build date / VIN combination is after the Yenko 4speeds but before the Yenko automatics - almost like they slipped 10 more in for Canada before building the automatics for Yenko. </div></div>

Hi Marlin,

Do you or anyone have the VIN off the green car?
I'd like to find out once and for all... but it looks like it was a myth.

Chuck

[STR8SS]

****UPDATE*****

Well after many months of trying I was finally able to locate the guy that sold both Pete Simpson's and the Green COPO's. We finally connected by phone today and he filled me in on the demise of the Green car. Apparently the original owner of the car traded it in on a '72 Hurst Olds Automatic after losing a leg in an snowmobiling accident. The second owner of the Green COPO wrapped it around a tree several months later and there wasn't much left of the car after the accident. It's very doubtful that my tranny is indeed from that car but he is checking through his files to see if he can locate the VIN to put this myth to bed.

Stay tuned!

Chuck

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Sad, but good to find out the story.

Ryan

Does he have any pictures from back in the day?