Detailing rear of 1969 Nova L78

[1969L78Nova]

What correct BLACK (flat/semi/gloss)should the following be:
Rear axle housing?
Rear drums?
Rear springs?
Rear (and front) shocks?
Gas tank?
Gas tank straps?
Thanks!
Martin

Martin

[JRSully]

Martin, if you can get a hold of the resto articles from National Nostalgic Nova, when they did the 70 L78 resto. It will show all the correct colors and procedures, also in NNN Ron Bentz has restored his 70 L34 Nova, he is very knowledgable about the rear. Want to know more myself, I am restoring a 70 L78 Nova.Good Luck

[RonNova396L34]

Martin,
I'll try to give an inside to what I've read and what was published in NNN about the restoration of their 1970 L78 Nova. I don't know if things are different for a Nova produced in Canada though.

According to an article published in the July 1997 issue of Nova times that dealt with the rear end assembly, this is what they found. There was a black substance found all over the rear end. The factory assembled the rears with the drums and pigtails without the brake lines and then painted the rear black to preserve it. This black substance was not paint but a sticky tar like material that washed off rather quickly. When they removed the drum off the rear of a 5,600 mile 70, everthing inside the brake area is bare steel except for the springs. The inside of the backing plate would be bare steel, the outside would be black. The axles shafts were described this way. The ends of the axles shafts were bare steel but the center circle of the axle shaft was cast iron. I also had light blue inspection paint on the inside of my axle shaft. The wheel cylinders should be cast iron. Each brake spring also had different colors. Brown, red, dark green, light blue, dark blue, pink, gray, and orange. Some of the other brake parts were bare steel, black or yellow cadium plated. One of my brake parts had a number stamped in white paint on it. The number was 239. (Does anybody here know what that is? People I've talked to are stumped!)

The rears drums were unique how they were painted. Apparantly, there should be no paint past the main lip of the drum. A good way to describe it and how to paint it is to place a 9" paper plate over the drum and then spray the rest black. This leaves the center with the cast iron look. If you're still confused and want to see what I'm talking about in color, I made a video of my restoration. Not to say that what we did is 100 percent correct for every car but it is what is believed is correct. I painted my rear end assembly semi gloss black.

The gas tank straps would be black. I believe mine were painted semi gloss black. I left my tank unpainted and so did NNN when they restored the L78 and also the article of Belk's yenko showed it was left bare. I did see a thread on this site talking about half the tank being black? NNN never talked about it. Maybe it also got sprayed with that tar like substance to preserve it?

If you are using the spiral shocks, they wouldn't be black but a gray color. I bought the gray shock paint from Ground Up. www.ss396.com (http://www.ss396.com)

The leaf springs they never really described other than being black. I would say the same color as the subframe so a semi gloss black. Both the L78 car and Belk's car were sprayed black. Other questions, e-mail me or contact Wayne at NNN. www.nnnova.com (http://www.nnnova.com)
Ron /ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif

[bkhpah]

I believe the ink # on the brake adjuster is a Julian calander date. They always seem to be close to the build date of the car. The factory assembly manual shows a tank black out step...BKH

[RonNova396L34]

Brian,
You're right, according to the assembly manual concerning the gas tank being painted. I had missed that part in my assembly manual. Looks like they painted it half way towards the front of the car and then up on the sides but not on top. I can see why nobody wants to paint them that way. It would look kind of weird. I'm gonna leave mine bare metal for now. I decided to leave mine bare since I like that look better than a painted tank. Just my personal preference. Thanks for pointing that out to us. That was one of my possible theories on the 239 as being the 239th day of 69. My assembly date is August 69. Any theory why they would put that number on there since the rear axle tube was also dated?
Ron /ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif

[bkhpah]

We restored a 69 L/78 with a small amount of tank blackout. It looked good. It was accepted at the NNN meet with little flak. There was a year long article on the restoration of that car in the NNN magazine a few years ago. It is owned by board member Rowdyrat...BKH

[RonNova396L34]

Brian,
I remember the articles so I looked them up for everyone else. Nice restoration I must say! The car was a 69 Nova SS L78 and it was blue with a vinyl top. Car was listed as restored by Super Car Worshop. Owner at that time was listed as Stan. Does he still own it? I don't know the name of the person you referred to. The restoration articles started with the February 2000 issue of NNN and continued with the March, April, May and June issued and the June issue had the color photo on the cover.

Concerning the rear and gas tank I'll repeat what was said. The March issued showed a picture of the gas tank but it was only a partial picture. Do you or does the owner have any pictures you could post so we can see the entire gas tank? I'm curious now to see what it really looks like. I can only use my imagination with the assembly manual. I don't recall seeing one painted like that yet. (I don't make it to many car shows anymore.)

In the April issue it talked about how the rear end is painted. The yoke was left a natural color along with the brake lines. The center section was left a cast color and the axle tubes and backing plates were painted from underneath often leaving the top of the tubes bare steel. Do you have pictures again? Didn't show up too well in NNN. I'd like to see a picture of that also. I'm curious what you used for exhaust hangers? I'm currently trying to work with Gardner's to get the exact ones reproduced. Right now they're wrong. Soon hopefully. I just got a e-mail from them today and they were gonna get back to me with pricing. Anyone interest in pairs, PLEASE contact me. I also left you a PM Brian.
Ron /ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif

[Nova Research Project]

My original gas tank was blacked out per the assembly manual after is was installed. The idea was to black out what could be seen from behind or the side of the car. So the AM shows the rear (as installed), sides, and part of the bottom painted. Greg

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

You mean this beautiful car /ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif

[bkhpah]

Ron, Stan still owns the car and I am sure he would share any info on the car. He is board member Rowdyrat. Mail him and he would be happy to share any info on the car. He checks the board. Stan comes from the NCRS side of the tracks and is a very well known NCRS judge. He wanted only real parts and assembly line quality construction. A lot of research went into this car. This is what I would consider a correct factory style restoration vs. a concourse restoration that has been discussed on the board in other threads. To each his own. I will PM you later...BKH

[RonNova396L34]

Marlin,
Yep! That would be it. Any underside photos?

Rowdyrat,
Photos of underside?

Brian,
I agree. To each his own. Do what you can be happy with!
Ron /ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif

[JoeC]

Where has Stan been? I have not seen any posts from him lately.