71 copo nova?

[willie71]

just bought a 71 s.s .nova that was bought from ammon r. smith Chevrolet in York.pa. with a dealer install 427/I have the ncrs letter saying it was bought there on 9-9-70 how can I find out if it had the dealer installed 427 put in from the t dealer/ it has a non original 427 in it now/I bought it from the original owners cousins wife{he passed away and the car was in storage 9 yrs)we used to be neighbors and he told me the reason he tracked the car down was because it was bought with the deler install 427 in it.his cousin bought it new is this a c.o.p.o. nova ? does ammon r. smith have an archive of 427 engine.c.o.p.o.crs theybuilt. they raced many 427 old releble cars all over the country.with grumpy jenking etc it has the 12bolt w/f41 suspention and 427 front fender scrips and the bb heater box vin # 114271w117254

my cell is 717-513-6902 willie

[442w30]

If it has a dealer-installed 427, then what makes it COPO?

At least for the popular term, a COPO involves a non-regular-production engine installed by the factory.

Perhaps you shouldn't be distracted by the COPO term and instead try to find documentation on its pedigree, because I suspect a Nova that came from a hallowed Chevy dealership documented to have received a 427 could be interesting to Chevy fans.

I'm sure someone here who knows more about these cars can correct me if this doesn't sound right.

[Mr70]

Agree,whatever it is,it's not a COPO vehicle.

[Charley Lillard]

It's not a COPO but sounds like a cool car. You might start by getting notarized statements from past owners. Post some pics. And welcome to the site.

[willie71]

thanks/I tried to get the original owners name from the woman I bought the car from.it was her husbands car and he died years ago.and she didn't know his cousins name who got the car new with dealer install 427 at ammon r. smith Chevrolet.they made no big block novas in 71. but I know motion Chevrolet installed a few in 71 novas in 71.but mostly 454 stagethrees.and it has a big block heater setup on the fire wall.thats strange. and mr. heck the deceased guy who owned the car before me. always told me his cousin bough the car with the dealer installed 427. at that time we were neighbors and the car wasn't for sale so he had no reason to lie about it. afriend of mone knows a guy who worked at ammon r smith when thay were racing the 427 cars and hes supposly knows what cars left that garage with dealer installed 427 engine. like yengo and motion Chevrolet etc.they also did some.

[Mr70]

You've got a lil bit of wrong info here.
Motion was a Hi-performance shop,not a new car Chevrolet dealership.
Baldwin Chevrolet was the dealership nearby that would often sell customers new vehicles,then send them over to Joel Rosen @ Motion Performance for modifications,per the customers request.
Read here..
http://www.motorbooks.com/motorbooks-blog/Rearview-Friday-Motion-Performance-and-Joel-Rosen/43

Post photos of your Nova..

[willie71]

yeah I know about Baldwin Chevrolet and joel next door/can u guys tell me what my cars serial #tells you.and why if its a 71 as titled it has a big block heater core setup with the 2 hoses going into the middle of itlike big block novas had? could it just be a very late 70/396 car titled as a 71. it was delivered to ammon r. smith Chevrolet on 9/9/70 and all the marker lights are date coded as 1970/im not sure how to post pics yet

[Fast67VelleN2O]

If Ammon installed the 427, they most likely installed the heater box as well. There were NO big block Novas made in 1971. If it was a dealer conversion like you say, they would have done it right. The serial number of your car only says that it's a V8 1971 Nova built at Willow Run

[willie71]

again just trying to find info on the 71.s.s.nova I bought an old neighbor used to have mamy yrs ago. what does my vin tell you #114271w117254 titled as a 71. and delivered to ammon r. smith Chevrolet in 9/9/70. there were no big block 71 novas,but mine has a big block heater core with the two hoses going into the middle of it on the firewall box {could my car be a late 69 396 car?) and my old neighbor always told me his cousin bought the car new with a dealer installed 427, that's why he tracked it down a bought it,when he got it it had a small block in it.he died years ago and the car was in storage for 9 yrs.he never got it restored however it has a fresh 427 motor in it.I bought the car off his wife. she didn't know her late husbands cousin.how do I find out more on the car.does ammon r. smith have an archive.supposely thay put 427 motors in some of there cars too.like motion or yenko and nikie. and I know they had the famous old releiable race cars and raced a lot of 427 Camaros and novas etc.grumpy jenkens wrenched those early cars before he raced his own. my cell 717-513-6902 willie

[willie71]

thanks/can u tell by the vin if its a super sport car.one guy said yes/ it has the f41 package/and the pics ive shown and the people who looked at the car where I keep it says its a big block car.because of the heater set up/but as u say and I know there were no 71 big block cars made.could it be a late 70 396car ?im going to Carlisle with my info. its definetly a strange set up and a legendary car in my parts always known as the yenko nova
im not selling it or trading it till I find out for sure what it actually is.

[willie71]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: willie71</div><div class="ubbcode-body">again just trying to find info on the 71.s.s.nova I bought an old neighbor used to have mamy yrs ago. what does my vin tell you #114271w117254 titled as a 71. and delivered to ammon r. smith Chevrolet in 9/9/70. there were no big block 71 novas,but mine has a big block heater core with the two hoses going into the middle of it on the firewall box {could my car be a late 69 396 car?) and my old neighbor always told me his cousin bought the car new with a dealer installed 427, that's why he tracked it down a bought it,when he got it it had a small block in it.he died years ago and the car was in storage for 9 yrs.he never got it restored however it has a fresh 427 motor in it.I bought the car off his wife. she didn't know her late husbands cousin.how do I find out more on the car.does ammon r. smith have an archive.supposely thay put 427 motors in some of there cars too.like motion or yenko and nikie. and I know they had the famous old releiable race cars and raced a lot of 427 Camaros and novas etc.grumpy jenkens wrenched those early cars before he raced his own. my cell 717-513-6902 willie</div></div>

[willie71]

im needing help with my vin to decide if my 71 is a late 70 ss 396 car.because it has the 396 heater box on the fire wall/or the dealer aamon r. smith of York{famous for the 427old releiable race cars they and grumpy Jenkins raced}the original owner told his cousin they dealer installed the motor.i bought the car from the cousins wife{without the original motor) after he passed away.i know 71big block novas weren't made. so why the big block heater box on the firewall with the hoses going into the center. vin is 114271w117254 and per ncrs documentation it was delivered to aamon r. smith Chevrolet on 9-9-70

[PxTx]

Throw up a pic of the trim tag on the fire wall. If you need help with pics, we can help.

[442w30]

You need to slow down a bit. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/crazy.gif

The equipment on the car now is practically irrelevant - anything can happen in 44 years. A big-block heater box proves nothing just like a big-block Chevy motor proves nothing. If there is any pedigree, you need to find it from people in its past.

Additionally, there is no such thing as a &quot;late&quot; 1970 car - it's either a '70 or a '71. Your VIN says 1971? Then there's your answer.

There's a lot of VERY knowledgable people here. Listen to their advice and follow through. Come back with evidence from your search and I'm sure the good people here will be able to help you some more. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[willie71]

thanks I own a few muscle cars and trucks but know little about the rare ones/btw how do I post pics

[Charley Lillard]

click on the 5th box from the left, upload, hit &quot;do it&quot;

[PxTx]

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/2015-04-20%2021.28.57_zpslztgxxs3.png (http://s710.photobucket.com/user/Plowman7/media/2015-04-20%2021.28.57_zpslztgxxs3.png.html)

Try clicking on the 5th box from the left. Then browse to find the pic and select it to upload. Let us know if you struggle anywhere.

[Salvatore]

Maybe the owner just had Ammon R. Smith install the motor for him after he blew the small block up. Maybe paid extra for a 427 under the warranty or just bought the motor over the counter. By then, many hot rodders wanted the 454 so the 427 was probably a good deal. ARS probably talked him into installing the BB heater box also telling him the heater hoses would not fit if they didn't.

Mullin Motors here in Ambler, Pa. installed a 427 short block in my friends 1968 396 camaro after he blew it up probably around 1970. The guy just paid the xtra few bucks for the 427. No biggie.
Have somebody ost some pictures. Sounds like a nice car!

#may want to fill out your profile to Willie!

[Schonyenko2]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You need to slow down a bit. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/crazy.gif

The equipment on the car now is practically irrelevant - anything can happen in 44 years. A big-block heater box proves nothing just like a big-block Chevy motor proves nothing. If there is any pedigree, you need to find it from people in its past.

Additionally, there is no such thing as a &quot;late&quot; 1970 car - it's either a '70 or a '71. Your VIN says 1971? Then there's your answer.

There's a lot of VERY knowledgable people here. Listen to their advice and follow through. Come back with evidence from your search and I'm sure the good people here will be able to help you some more. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif </div></div>

Yes, and no. Don Yenko advertised the deuces as 701/2. When I went to IA. DMV in 71 to title my deuce, I told her that the ad said 701/2 so she titled it as a 71. Someday when I'm dead and gone future collectors can argue about it being a fake as there were no 71 deuces. :-)

It seems this gentleman may have an urban legend, &quot;week one&quot; BB transplant.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

'Slow down a bit' is good advice, you will not solve this in a day or two.

- Your car is a 1971 Nova, per the VIN, not a late '70 etc...
- There were no BB's in Novas in 1971, so you will need to determine when it was installed.
- I didn't read all of your posts because they are too difficult to segment, but you should obtain the casting date info from the engine that is in there now. If it's dated well after 1970, that's good info to know as it tells you how far back you need to research.
- The BB heater box is a common item to change when doing an engine swap, or sometimes just knocking 2 extra holes in the SB heater box cover, we need to see pics to determine how it was done.
- Check the radiator support for the larger opening, also the radiator hold down equipment - was that changed as well?
- Check the engine stands for the 1/2&quot; offset to the passenger side, especially if the car has p/s
- Check the trans crossmember for the BB version that also has 1/2&quot; offset

[willie71]

thanks/that sounds more reasonbable and would explane alot

[Salvatore]

where do you live in Pa. Willie?

[luzl78]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">where do you live in Pa. Willie? </div></div>willie sounds like another car fanatic from pa who loves 68 novas

[willie71]

Mifflintown between st college and harrisburg

[willie71]

good news here.tonight I spoke to the widow of the previous owner from whom I bought the nova from . she now says she can get me her late husbands cousins phone number who bought the nova new. the mystry will hopefully be cleared up.im going to Carlisle tomarrow,now I wont sleep till I talk to the original owner.i hope he has some original documentation

[willie71]

oh and by the way.is there any reason the yenko novas serial numbers all start with 11427 then the yr number 8,9,or 0? Do all the novas have a vin starting with 11427 ? just asking cause I have no idea and my 71 nova starts with 114271

[Carleen]

Yes all nova v8 2 door from 68 to 71 starts with 11427

[willie71]

thanks great info

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

How many days are you going to be in Carlisle?

[PeteLeathersac]

Willie,
Did you ever get to speak to the original owner of your car and what did you find out if so?
What #'s are stamped on the extended engine deck surface that protrudes out under the front pass. side head?
Post pics of your Cowl Tag using the 5'th box over above...it's easy!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[willie71]

hello again,how can i tell what engine came in my nova,vin# 114271w117254 thanks for any help

[earntaz]

114271w117254
1 = chevrolet
14 = V8
27 = 2 dr
1 = 71
W = Willow Run
117254 = Production Seq number

TAZ

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

There is no engine identifier in the VIN or Trim Tag numbers for 1971 Novas, only whether it is a 4, 6, or 8 cylinder engine (I'm not sure if the 4 cylinder was still available in '71 though...)

[ds1]

About 6 years ago at a car show at Kish Park a guy with a young boy from the Mifflintown area was telling me he had a 427 Nova. Was it you? Lots of strange cars in this area. I was in a storage building outside of Mifflin with some nice Mopars in it. I just bought a 70 Nova this spring to build another race car. If you need help I can point you in some of the right direction. Dan