What's yer opinion on 427 Novas?

[442w30]

I thought I'd ask what the prevailing wisdom on 427 cars is.

It's been my understanding, as far as Yenkos are concerned, that some were sold as 427s, some as 396s, but there's a debate whether the 427 cars are COPOs - some think so, while some think they're transplants.

Has there been any documented, factory 427 Nova found? If not, is the debate settled, or it's still up in the air?

Your comments would be appreciated.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

No COPO 427 Novas, only dealer transplants - and to our knowledge all were 4 speeds.

[NapsterNova]

This is from the website
corvettes-musclecars.com (http://www.corvettes-musclecars.com/Supercars/69YenkoNova/index.htm)

http://www.corvettes-musclecars.com/Thumbs/69427YenkoNova.jpg
Yenko produced the 427 Nova in 1969 only. There were around thirty built with only seven or eight that are accounted for today. This is the very first one produced.

This 1969 Yenko Nova was a car described by Don Yenko in one of his last interviews as “a beast, almost lethal, a car that they should not have produced; as they were skirting the edge of product liability when they built this car”. The Nova was not a COPO high performance 427 motor from the factory. It was built with a transplanted 427 motor as Yenko did with the 1967 and 1968 Camaros.

Although GM put factory 427s in Camaro’s and Chevelles, it is known that the GM factory apparently would not put a COPO 427 motor in a Nova. Why not? The most obvious reason would be just as Don Yenko describes himself; using the word “lethal”, and a matter of liability. The body weight of the Nova was less than that of a Corvette. Stuffing a high performance L72 427 Corvette motor in a car of less body weight certainly had to result in tire-smoking performance. The Yenko Nova featured here has turned elapsed times of 10.90’s in the quarter mile. Of course it was with racing slicks, but few other modifications were necessary.

This Nova left the factory with a 396/375 HP, Muncie 4-speed, 4.11 12-bolt positraction, and power front disc brakes. It is Garnet Red with standard black vinyl trim. It was destined to be raced so it was ordered very basic, radio-delete, etc, having no comfort options which would have been just added weight to slow the car down. Yenko did their magic with transplanting the L72 427, Stewart Warner column mounted tach, SYC graphics and other high performance modifications. It would be safe to bet that since this was the first 427 Nova, it was built with an extra level of performance in mind.

[69hurstSC]

wasnt kevin at one time thinking his might of been a factory 427 car? i recall reading that on his forum a few years back.

[442w30]

[ QUOTE ]
It was built with a transplanted 427 motor as Yenko did with the 1967 and 1968 Camaros.

[/ QUOTE ]

But I thought a few '68 Yenkos have been found to be COPOs?

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

The majority of the '68 Yenko Camaro's are COPO 9737 cars which is a suspension/speedo COPO, not a 427 engine COPO. Most of them got converted to 427's, but some did not and remained 396's. Conversely, some '68 Yenko Camaros were not COPO 9737 cars, but were still converted to 427's. So, the scenario worked both ways for the '68 Yenko Camaros.

[442w30]

So what you're saying is that not one of the '68 Camaros ever came with the 427 engine from the factory, but some had an option package not unlike the COPO package in '69 that's called something like the "Sports" package and included the speedo?

[deuce-less]

i thought i remembered reading about a late production 68 camaro with documentation that did come from the factory with the 427...

one of the few known with factory documentation http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

it seems like the article spoke about some unusual stamp codes on the motor pad as well

[442w30]

I wanna say it was a Jerry Heasley article in the former, more authentic Musclecar Review.

[3macs1]

A little off subject for a minute but how do you guys class the big full size 68 that came with the L-72. I hear COPO camaro COPO nova but have seen Full size 425hp with COPO or MEMO right in the bottom of their cowl tag. Are they not true COPO also.Especially the original 4 door cop cars.

[ANDY M]

What about that dusk blue Camaro that got raffled off a few years ago? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
It was touted as the "Only one on the planet" '68 Yenko with factory docs that the L-72 was installed at the factory.
As for the Novas, whatever Marlin says. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Well.... in speaking to some prior owners of that 'One and only on the Planet' giveaway car (Fathom Blue to be exact), the car had been missing it's original engine block for many years. So, it's hard to back up the claim of it being a COPO 427 car. This car was YS-8008, 4speed, FB w/ black interior, #413665 sold new from Jay Kline in Minn. MN and had the 'hubs' option, ( http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif we think that's code for the Pontiac wheels).

The Ermine White '68 Yenko Camaro has a peculiar plate riveted in the door jam that says 'SPECIAL DRAG CAR' or something along those lines. I think the jury is still out on this one, as the owner has some convincing paperwork that a COPO 427 car could have snuck out the door as an 'export' model. However, I don't think anything has been confirmed - yet. This car has a red interior, is a 4speed, is stock number YS-8023 and was sold new at Branine Chev. in Mulvane, KS.

In regards to a specific engine stamping, I think you are referring to the 'MV' code. There are several examples of MV coded blocks, both that were recovered from transplanted cars and from those that were not transplanted, where the bore is a 396 bore - not a 427. Although earlier publications eluded to the MV code as a COPO 427 application in the Camaro, the actual blocks do not back that up claim.

[PeteLeathersac]

When L72's were factory installed in a chassis where it wasn't an RPO (such as A & F body cars...B body L72's were RPO), didn't they always get the heat-treated rear axle parts?. Why would it be necessay on some but not others?. If the L72 was factory installed and available through the Copo process in a Nova, wouldn't you expect the rear axle would've come with it?.
And whata'bout the unique cooling system parts...necessary on the Camaro but not the Nova?.

On the '68 MV suffix 396's, didn't they come w/ a different carb than the other L78's?.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
~ Pete

[bav70ss]

Marlin, have you ever received any info on the Bristol Motors transplants in Three Hills, Alberta? Bristol Motors ended up with the ZL1 Camaro that was sent to Canada. I have a friend with a Three Hills 69 Nova. He has papers showing the cost of a 427 transplant and other options. His L78 still has the dealer installed Doug Thorley headers. In 1970, Bristol Motors was transplanting LS6's. I spoke to a fellow in Calgary whose paperwork showed the LS6 but the Nova had a CE block after the LS6 was ventilated.
John.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Interesting information John, however, I have very little knowledge of Canadian dealers. Would love to see the papers for the Nova 427 transplant!!

[mc25t190]

It was the most wicked car i ever owned, without a doubt. If Don Yenko stated the car was "LETHAL", he might have agreed. To this day i don't know if anyone could mastermind a more potent combination, built by the dealer themselves and only 37 example's sold to the public.