68 L78 nova on E-bay

[jasonL78]

Anyone know this car. Not a bad price if it is original!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...mMakeTrack=true (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190056677610&fromMakeT rack=true)

[Kim_Howie]

Interesting feedback??? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[jasonL78]

I didn't see that. With a car like that don't you think you would include proof in the description. It would only make the sale faster.

[PeteLeathersac]

Cool car if it's genuine! .

With his feedback situation, you'd think the guy'd start a new eBay account before selling it? .
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
~ Pete

[Kim_Howie]

68 big blocks are hard to doc. The engine sounds correct as far as the casting #s and suffix.

[69LM1]

No Disc Brakes? Were the L78 Nova SS's different than the camaros in that you did not get Disc's with the SS package?
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
Rich

[Stefano]

Discs were an option on the SS Camaro in 1967 and 68.

[SuperNovaSS]

68 Camaro SS cars did not get disc brakes standard either.

[WILMASBOYL78]

667 L78 Novas poduced in 1968....documented, real cars are very rare..how many have you ever seen??(not counting the Gibb cars).....HD frt. drums were std. with the BB Novas in 68..disc's were an upgrade. Drums had the large fins for cooling, all were power assist. This car has been around for awhile http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif...recently from Florida. If you need info send a PM.

wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

**68 brochure and other literature lists power brakes as an option..but I have never seen a 68 BB Nova without power assist. The 396 was a late 68 intro and few people even knew it was available.

[1968 nova ss]

68 L-78 came with power drum brakes as described in the previous posts.disc brakes wew offered as the J-52 options /which were 4 pistons calipers brakes.the block suffix appear to be correct.But a protect-plate or doc.from a previous owner would help ;either way a cool car.chris Teed/owner of a documented 68 nova ss 396/350 hp 1 of 234 produced

[WILMASBOYL78]

Chris, how are things going down in the palm trees?? How is the other 68 project coming along?? Hope you can make the mini-nats again.

tom http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[1968 nova ss]

Tom,I will be at the mini nats.The matador red 68 nova ss cloned L-89 car is slow going.Have most of the date coded motor parts;just need to get it going ;keep ya posted.Chris

[Schonyenko2]

I didn't see the trim tag, but may have missed it. What's the build date? I'm thinking they only ran 2 runs on L78s. One about the same time as the Gibb cars.

[deuce-less]

what dates would you expect to see on the trim tag?
in light of two only runs...

thx, alan http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[jasonL78]

Correct me If I'm wrong but I was told BB were built during april to july of 68 the end of the production run. My car is a 05D car. It does have the J52 disk brake option on the broadcast sheet that I have for my car. I asked for a picture of the cowl tag we will see if he puts it up on the auction. He did e-mail me back and said he has no paper work on the car.

Jason

[WILMASBOYL78]

[ QUOTE ]
I didn't see the trim tag, but may have missed it. What's the build date? I'm thinking they only ran 2 runs on L78s. One about the same time as the Gibb cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

Schony is correct about the second run of L78 Nova's..my 68 is a first week of July car 07A which falls right in with Gibb cars. These 68's are a rare bird....don't know why more haven't surfaced. My understanding is that all the cars came with an M-22 trans. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif Would like to hear from other 68L78 4spd car owners...might be fun to compare notes.

wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Schonyenko2]

I had not heard that about the M22 trans. Interesting.

[Kim_Howie]

The earliest L-78 I seen is 5A There may some 4A cars but I never seen one. I have seen 5 L-78 that were not Gibb cars. Very rare.

[deuce-less]

the owner is not very excited about providing any casting dates or pic's of stamps on the motor and trans....

[Kim_Howie]

I would say the motor is correct the 440 block was used from about may on. the 323 block was used before the 440 block. Both seem to be rare blocks. they made about the same amount of 69 375 Hp with the 272 block as the 68 375 HP But the 272 is easy to find but the 440 don't seem to be found.

[jasonL78]

Tom according to this link at nova resources only 167 68 novas had the m22,1,495 had the m21 and 5,399 had the m20 transmission. This is just something I came across.
http://novaresource.org/production.htm

Jason

[Terminator]

At least cosmetically it seems it may be a fake. The hood is missing the louver support brackets underneath and the steering wheel horn has the outline of where the original shield type emblem used to be, where it now has the "SS".

[WILMASBOYL78]

[ QUOTE ]
Tom according to this link at nova resources only 167 68 novas had the m22,1,495 had the m21 and 5,399 had the m20 transmission. This is just something I came across.
http://novaresource.org/production.htm

Jason

[/ QUOTE ]

I was going on info I got from the original owner of my 68 L78 car...we have never taken the trans off the engine or looked inside to see what it is. He told me that all those cars came the M-22...may just be an old theory....I will find out!

wilma

[Schonyenko2]

Unfortunatly there's probably few left with the original drive train. You need to check for the other clues like the BB radiator support, BBheater box, 3/8 single fuel line, etc. Most of these bad boys had a hard life.

[Kim_Howie]

I blew up the dash part and the emb. on the dash doesn't look like the SS emb. it should have.

[deuce-less]

body number wrn 100204....
production started at 100000....
date 07C...

how could july production be number 204??

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Something doesn't jive with that combo, what's the vin?

[Kim_Howie]

w379565 this car should be 7c or 7d car. body #should be 96xxxx

[69LM1]

[ QUOTE ]
68 Camaro SS cars did not get disc brakes standard either.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the clarification.
Rich

[Tommy]

My 68 SS is an 07B build date. I don't have Power brakes. It came with finned drums. I think Mark Fuss's 68 has manual brakes also (thinking way back to his cars write up in NNN magazine). I also have an M21 in my car but haven't checked the numbers on the trans. I spoke with someone here once that had A gibb/Harrell Nova that had A vin exactly 1000 below my cars# and were both 07B cars. I can't remember who it was now though. If it wasn't Ray M. it was one of Dennis Hartwigs car.

Tommy

[1968 nova ss]

tommy you are correct ;some did come with manual drum brakes and Mark fuss car is a manual drum brake car also;
i just have not seen many of the manual brake cars.thanks for the correction.Chris

[Kim_Howie]

Vin# started at 100000 not body #s. The Gibb cars have 4 sets of body #s My green Car body# # is 96369 some were 6xxxxx and some were 9xxxxx.

[deuce-less]

interestingly enough, www.novaresource.com (http://www.novaresource.com) shows the body numbers starting at 100001 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[copo-2]

[ QUOTE ]
interestingly enough, www.novaresource.com (http://www.novaresource.com) shows the body numbers starting at 100001 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Kim Howie and I have been sharing information on the 68 Novas for several years. In regard to the Fisher Body numbers of documented 68 L-78 Novas, I was just looking at some notes I have here at work. I notice JasonL78 made an earlier post of his L-78 Nova as being a 05D (4th week of May). In my notes, I have record of an 06A L-78 Nova that was probably built 1 week later, but since I don't have a 68 calendar, I can't be for sure June only had 4 weeks? Although this discussion is questioning a 68 Nova on e-bay, for most part this discussion is the kind that can be helpful to all interested?

Kim Howie and I have in the past few years been collecting some data on the 68 L-78 Novas. Looking at some of the notes I have here at work shows that the Fisher Body numbers range from a 06A build date of 820xx to a 07B car with a 969xx. This is the range for an approx. 6 week period. What I find interesting about this, is the fact concerning the 50 Gibb COPO's that were built 07A and 07B. The body numbers of these cars I have referenced start with 963xx and range to 969xx in a 2 week run. The variation could be even more as the stated partial early body number is only that of car #14? My personal car is #37, 07B built, and has a 966xx body number. Car #44, just 7 cars later of the Gibb order, the body number jumps to 969xx. I believe many have been confused about consecutive body numbers for a long time, but this shows, at least in this case, they can vary quite a lot in a short period of time? So in reference to the car discussed, we have documentation of cars with Vin#'s that start with 373xxx that reach the 97000 plateau, my personal feeling, by comparing the notes I have and the time period involved, is that a 6 figure body number may exist? Like Kim stated earlier, it could be a 07C build date, but I would guess it to be be a 07D?However, this is not saying the car is a true L-78?

I believe that the standard transmission for the L-78 Nova was an M-21 with the M-22 as an option? As stated, before, standard brakes for the L-78 Nova was HD power assisted drums, finned fronts. Disc brakes were an added option for 68 SS Novas. Fuel lines were a single 3/8 inch on the L-78's, and the radiator support had a larger opening for the HD radiators.

Like Kim mentioned in a post about the earliest build dates of the L-78 Novas, I too have not run onto any April build cars that can be documented, however, from the archives of NHRA, they have information from the engineering department of GM,that on the 23rd day of April, 1968, the 50th L-78 Nova had been produced. This was addressed to NHRA's Tech committte. Another document from GM, dated May 3 1968, shows a total of 73 L-78 Novas as being built.

Just wanted to share these notes that might be useful later on to those interested.

Ray

[Schonyenko2]

I was hopping that you would chime in here Ray.

[Hotrodpaul]

I noticed that the seller does not show any engine and trans stamp pads, trim tag pics, and so on. Also, there appears to be a tach on the dash next to the speedo. A pic of the tach would show a particular redline (6K on the L78??) and may help document the car.

When selling my 69 Camaro L-78, I tried to include as many pics of the L-78 spec items as I could to give the prospective buyer as much info as possible.

Paul

[jasonL78]

I am kind of confused are we talking cowl tag numbers or vin numbers. I will get mine and post them.

[Kim_Howie]

How can the body #s start at 100000 & the july cars only be at 966xx. If they started at 100000 and the total nova's built was 184,000 the last body # would have to be around 284xxx. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

This is good info Kim and Ray, I did not know that the body numbers were that low - that far into the build year!

[Kim_Howie]

Alan did you talk to this guy about the vin #?? If he said it was 1000204, it could be. I haven't seen any cars past 7b date so this could be correct. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[jasonL78]

My car was 4th in sequence Friday May 31 1968. I found this information on the top left hand side of my broadcast sheet. With Sunday being the first day of the week May had 4 weeks in 1968 and June had 5 weeks. Not sure if the plant would do this or would they go by work weeks Monday-Friday. If that is the case May had 5 weeks and June had 4 weeks in 1968. Ray is correct on my car it is a 05D car and the fisher body number is 7939X. My vin is 3468XX

Something I was thinking about after I read all the post on body numbers. Did they post date the bodies. If July cars are just shy of 100,000 how did they complete another 85,000 cars when the 69 bodies were most likely being sold late in that year. Didn't they introduce the new models in the fall back then. I am new to all this just throwing an idea out there.

Jason

[deuce-less]

i have a pic of the trim tag and the engine stamping....
i ask chuck 427 king to take a peek at them to get his take
on how they appear to him...
i have ask for more specific info, although it seems to be a bit slow in comming, the gentleman act's somewhat uneducated about the car http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

his statement... 'the dealer told me it was numbers matching' and i had my friend who is a knowlegeable guy double check the numbers, although when ask for a complete list of the pertinent numbers, nothing yet... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[427king]

ALAN, Do you have to buy every L78 you see??!!!!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[deuce-less]

chuck, i would make an exception in the case of a certain scuncio black L-88 car....

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Can-I-Have-It.gif

[427king]

[ QUOTE ]
chuck, i would make an exception in the case of a certain scuncio black L-88 car....



[/ QUOTE ] My crystal ball tells me it will end up in Nevada in the near future http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Mike]

This has nothing to do with this particular car but I was recently leafing through some of my old mags and came across a Muscle Car Review Mag from 2000 (August, I think)that had a photo of a Neal Robbins from NY racing a '68 396/375, with a turbo 400 Chevy II against a HEMI car.I think it was a pure stock race. Anybody know anything about the car? Was it a Gibb COPO Nova, a real 68 L-78 or a clone? The car looks kind of odd with weird looking hubcaps on it.

Thanks,
Mike

[Chevy454]

Oh Marlin, I believe this one's for you... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Supposedly a real L78 4sp car, but the owner installed the beer-can heads, the TH400, and the poverty caps. The TH400 is out of a Camper-Special, I guess to get the 6bolt converter style of trans. He still has it, but never claims it to be an original L89 car. Nice car, has blue bench interior.

[WILMASBOYL78]

[ QUOTE ]
ALAN, Do you have to buy every L78 you see??!!!!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

They used to ask me that same question...

wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif