69 INDY L-78 M-22 project

[iluv69s]

69 INDY pacecar project...mostly apart roller. Few Big block pacecars made... way less 375 Hp cars...this is an original M-22 pacecar... less than a handful known. Purchased here from Chuck years ago. (427 KING).
Certified by Ed Cuneen of COPO connection and certified by Jerry Macneish. Letter from owner in 1975 who removed original 396 375HP and put a 350 in it. Car is a no console manual top car. Probably one of one with M-22 !! A real racer Pacer !!
I have original vin stamped M-22(restored by Jerry M) and 3.73 posi still in car. Non original restoration block restamped numbers matching with JJ code. I was going to build an L-89 clone. I have correct numbers matching original restored exhaust manifolds and carb and some other engine parts including distributor, correct BB shifter, etc.. Also have spare subframe totally restored and mint cond.
Has been in body shop hell at my friend's garage for years. My bodyman had a stroke and I do not see this car getting done soon. Time to let someone else have a go at it.
Car still has original paint but, needs floors, trunk and rear sheetmetal and upper dash rust repair. I have full one piece floor pan and trunk pan and replacement dash panel. Was just going to fix part of dash that needs fixed without touching original VIN number. All hidden VINS, VIN and cowl tag original and untouched.
I have many parts including rear valance and GM rear NOS quarters and all mint GM all front (NOS takeoffs) sheetmetal, fenders, cowl, valance, cowl hood, trunklid, rear spoiler, grill, etc.
I have many new, nos and repo parts to finish car. Complete dated door and rear glass kit. NOS Gas tank, many emblems, trim and small parts, grill, hideaways, complete new interior kit. correct wheels and new tires. too much to remember and/or list.

35k obo....I paid alot more and acquired more parts for car since purchase.

Chuck still owes me an 837 alternator. Maybe new owner can get that from him !!

[Big Block Bill]

PM sent

[PeteLeathersac]

'


Thanks for simply one of THE best also most fairly represented ads I've read in a long time!
Sounds like a cool car also great deal for all you get, GLWS also kudos to whoever here can make it theirs!
:beers:
~ Pete


.

[bergy]

PM sent

[Stefano]

I swore off all projects.......but this one sounds very worthy.

[chevelleheart]

No kidding,..great ad, well written , and likely a project you can be on the right side of when finished...
Neat project , I’m like Stefano,..I kinda swore them off,...but ...

[DW31S]

I swore off all projects.......but this one sounds very worthy.
Me too.....but this one does sound interesting.

[firstgenaddict]

Very fairly priced, when one considers what REAL 1969 L78 verts bring.
I have also sworn off personal projects... why is everyone making this so darned difficult... :dunno:

[L78 Fred]

Best wishes with the sale!
Where was the car originally sold?
Just curious as to the build date as I have an 04C L78 Pace Car (N6352XX )and know of (2) 03B L78 Pace cars.

Fred

[iluv69s]

Car is 03D... sold in Mass.. forget dealer name off hand

Sorry for not responding the last few days to pvt msgs.

Car has been sold to a great new caretaker who is a member here !!

I will let them disclose if they like.

[bergy]

Update on the "Racer Pacer". Since buying this project, I have completed the restoration of the drive train and sub-frame. The body is still a work in progress - on a rotisserie.

I have tracked down all of the owners back to (but not including) the original owner. The third owner (Dennis) indicated that he had the original (unhurt) engine to the car, but sold it separately during the 80s when the next owner didn't want to pay extra for it! The existence of the unhurt engine tracks with the 1975 letter from the second owner. Dennis promised to send me his old pictures of the car from 1980 along with all of his receipts for parts that he collected. Maybe some insight in there into where the OE went (fingers crossed). Another thing that the 1980 photos show is the original VE3 bumper still on the fully assembled, unrestored car! I actually like the look of the chrome bumper on these Pace Cars, but may go with the VE3 since it came with one on it from the factory (hint - hint for anyone willing to part with one!).

Finally - NCRS report shows that the car was delivered new to a dealership in the state of Maine.

[iluv69s]

Congrats Bruce !! I luv the VE3 !!! I am so glad that this car has found a great home. Hope you find the original owner !!


The car is most likely a 1 of 1. Who would order an L-78 , M-22 Indy 500 pacecar replica with endura bumper, no console and manual top? It was apparently raced early on as the discs were converted to drums to save ET. (the same as two of my 67 Z's).

Did you ask any of the prior owners if they raced it and who changed the fornt brakes?

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Can we see some pictures?

Ryan W31

[bergy]

Drum brakes were on it when the second owner bought it, so car was raced by the first owner.

Not too many pictures to share yet. The car was apart when I picked it up from Max. I've now finished the sub-frame and drive train. No progress on the body.

[iluv69s]

You would think some one in the Northeast would remember a painted bumper pacer in the early 70’s at the track. Maybe one of them guys with all the pics? It was original paint so no lettering it seems ever. Just a non-sponsored guy woopin’ on his pacer !!

Would love to hear the story from the original owner.

[Jonesy]

Thats going to be a great car when its finished!!

[bergy]

Just waiting for body work now. Body is media blasted and at the body shop.

Also - front drums that were installed for racing are 1969 part numbers. So, discs must have been replaced early on - when car was raced. Unfortunately, Whelen foundry apparently didn't put date codes on their drums. I thought that it was an MVSS requirement back then, but all that I can see is the part number and insert number.

[luv2sixty9]

Bergy, Congrats on a very rare Pacer. I wish mine was a L78, hell even just a BB car.....lol

Here is mine the day I got it back from Frank Arone's Auto Body.

[firstgenaddict]

Something that most people may not realize... the upper area below the header trim where the rear view mirror attaches is untrimmed and exoposed metal, IT WAS sprayed with dash texture.

Also make sure to use the foil tape over the convertible pinch weld so when the clips push on they do not scratch the paint and cause areas of bare metal to be exposed and ultimately have rust come out from the trim.

Sealing the header trim also must be done correctly in order to keep water from being driven over the edge of the header and a waterfall into your lap!!!... the early C3 Corvette Assembly manuals illustrate the sealing method.

[bergy]

slow progress on ownership history. Now back to circa 1975. Still checking with 1969 employees of Forest Chevrolet. It was the only Pace Car that they sold & customer ordered, so maybe someone knows the OO.

This pic was sent to me by the owner who bought it in 1977 in Manchester, Maine. He still lives in Scarborough, Maine today.

[iluv69s]

Ve3 or no? hard to tell from the pic

[bergy]

Yes - the bumpers on all of those cars look white on top. An old owner and his buddy are getting together to recall all of the options that were on the car when they first saw it as a running, driving car. They owned the car together and spent a lot of time with it. Long story but cool.

[L78 Fred]

Love the stories Bergy!

Please send some picts when you can- I would love to come up and see the progress
best wishes
Fred

[the427king]

Still have some of the old sheetmetal from the car, been in the same garage buried under 8 ft of parts since the day I bought it...

[bergy]

Still have some of the old sheetmetal from the car, been in the same garage buried under 8 ft of parts since the day I bought it...

I'm using NOS GM sheet metal that I got with the car. I have tons of old RS sheet metal from Pace Cars too - don't know why I save this stuff!

[bergy]

Many of you who enjoy searching for old owners of your cars will appreciate this update. I placed an ad in craigslist in Maine asking for previous ownership info on my car. Well, the original owners just contacted me. They ordered the car new at Forrest City Chevrolet. It was their pride & joy - they have lots of pictures of it during their ownership (sending them to me). I'll post as I get info regarding original options (like VE3). Ownership history is now complete :-)

[chevelleheart]

Wow! Excellent news, congrats ,...that’s priceless! Keep the updates coming

[SuperNovaSS]

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing.


Jason

[BJCHEV396]

X2!!

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Cant wait!!!!!

Ryan W31

[mssl72]

Very cool getting closure on the owner history!! :biggthumpup:

[bergy]

Yes - another cool Vietnam story behind it. Original owner ordered the car when he returned from there. He was airborne - paratrooper.

[olredalert]

Yes - another cool Vietnam story behind it. Original owner ordered the car when he returned from there. He was airborne - paratrooper.

----101 Airborn?.....Bill S

[bergy]

----101 Airborn?.....Bill S

Unfortunately, the husband passed 8 years ago. I've been speaking to his wife (they were married when they ordered the Pace Car). She says 173rd Airborne?

[HawkX66]

Seeing how it was raced, contact with anyone at Sanford Speedway (Sanford, ME) and New England Dragway (Epping, NH) would probably net some gains with racing pics etc. Scarborough, ME is pretty far north though, so there might be a track up that way. NE Dragway has a good FB presence and one of the old track photogs posts a ton of pics from back in the day. My Dad use to race there in the 60s and early 70s. I have a ton of 69 pics racing at NE Dragway that I'll take a look through and see what I see for BB Pacers.

[Charley Lillard]

ILuv69's.... a friend sent you a pm awhile back about the car but doesn't think he heard back.

[bergy]

If it's info about this car, please have him forward it to me Charley (or give me his contact info). Iluv69s doesn't own the car any more :-)

[Charley Lillard]

No. He was interested in buying it.

[bergy]

After years of delays in restoration, the “Racer Pacer” is nearly finished. Just needs wheel alignment next Wednesday and the trim rings & caps go on.

[69M22Z]

Very cool!!!

[Pro Stock John]

Killer! My buddy has an auto BB pace car been all apart since the late 80s, I've been suggesting he sell it, maybe to me or just let it go to someone who will do a proper restoration.

[69Z11Pacer396]

Absolutely beautiful restoration!!! Thanks for sharing.

[RPOLS3]

Thanks for the updates - I was wondering how things were going.

[duskblue]

Good looking car

[chevelleheart]

Beautiful! Wow

[BJCHEV396]

Thanks for sharing!

[Tracker1]

A long bumpy road for that resto, so glad it is almost done. Looks awesome Bruce!

[scuncio]

Beautiful work, looks great.

[southernfriedcj]

What a beauty!

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

A long bumpy road for that resto, so glad it is almost done. Looks awesome Bruce!

I remember the restorer went radio silent…… and it went downhill from there, all better now!!!

Ryan W31

[bergy]

Beautiful weather for the Hershey car show & judging last Friday. First show for the "Racer Pacer". Pictured here next to Chick's '68 Z28 with Air Plenum, and '69 Z28 with factory JL8.

[TimG]

Very nice, Pace Cars still fire me up. Especially big block Pace Cars.

[iluv69s]

Hoot hoot.. Glad to see the racer pacer got out in the wild !! I’ll bet she sounds good with 375 ponies flowing through the chambered exhaust! It’s been a long journey.. congrats Bruce !

[RPOLS3]

Glad to see you finally got it done after all of the struggles. Good for you. Looks great!

[Pro Stock John]

Great!

Steve since this turned into a bit of a build thread should it be moved?