Nice 70 SS396 Nova on Ebay - Page 2

Allen · #11 03-04-2003, 08:23 PM

Yes, Ron, I'm quickly finding that out. It's an expensive lesson to learn when I committed to buying a restored "correct" 7040205 carb after realizing my carb was replaced somewhere in the Nova's 133K mile life and is now runing a '75 Q-jet (anybody need one?). Chuck (Yountto) is supposed to be getting back to me on a water pump.

After that, I'm thinking I'll stop the obsession. I all ready have lots of NOS trim and some other parts stashed away. When the time comes, I'm going to try to avoid being concerned about the color of bolt heads and whether or not my disk brake calipers are correct.... especially considering one froze up on me several years ago and I swapped it for a remanufactured unit just to get it rolling again quickly!

Maybe I'll have to follow that "Day 2" label... especially since I'm not giving up my Hooker headers (original manifolds are stashed away) and Hurst shifter (original shifter is now garage decoration). [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/

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RonNova396L34 · #12 03-04-2003, 10:40 PM

I spent some time looking for another photo for you NNN members. Look at the September 1997 issue on the NNN giveaway car. Look at page 17. I know it is taken from a little different angle but look how much of the brake booster you can see. Also look at Rowdy Rat's 69 BB Nova in the June 2000 issue of Nova Times page 8. You can form your own opinion.
Ron [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

Allen · #13 03-04-2003, 11:37 PM

Okay Ron (a.k.a. Eagle Eyes [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img] ), how does the picture link for my engine compare? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

RonNova396L34 · #14 03-05-2003, 12:13 AM

Allen,
I think the first link is best for what we're talking about. Look at how much of your booster you can see. Do you have a photo like that from the front only further out. Try to line up the air cleaner stud with the hood latch hole or the back portion of the hood. I think you can also see the passenger side valve cover is further over to the heater core. Hence moving the heater core to the center of the box. I think your's looks fine Allen.
Ron [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

55chevy · #15 03-05-2003, 01:03 AM

Ron, I think you definitly may have something there with the offsets. Good eye! Would dropping a big block on small block frame mounts cause that? I didn't realize the big block cars were offset. How is the offset achieved and how does it affect tranny and driveshaft alignment? I'm a former NNN member and have been in a few issues of the Times myself, so I can be trusted with the "privileged" information. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Ed

RonNova396L34 · #16 03-05-2003, 01:15 AM

Ed,
I'm going out on a limb here and I think bbdon knows more on that. The BB motor mounts move the engine further to the passenger side I believe to clear the power brake booster. I think you can use small block mounts on a BB motor and that is what I believe happens. The motor sits too far to the driver's side. Correct me if I'm wrong here guys. The BB mounts are different than the SB mounts!
The BB radiator supports are different than the SB radiator supports. I just wish I could post some pictures. Darn it again. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img] Ron

69rsz28 · #17 03-05-2003, 01:23 AM

Ron,
Here's a pic of a 1970 L78 SS that I found on the net. It's supposed to be an all #'s matching car. I don't know much about it but was talking to a guy at a car show and he said he used the same mounts when he swapped a BB into his SB Nova. I always thought you were supposed to change them.

RonNova396L34 · #18 03-05-2003, 01:30 AM

Richard,
It looks to me like he used a smaller brake booster and the master cylinder is not correct. That would make sense as to the brake system changes. Anybody else think the booster is smaller?

Is the car you posted the one that was switched? The brake stuff isn't original. I really haven't "eyed" it other than the brake stuff.
Ron [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

Allen · #19 03-05-2003, 02:04 AM

As I understand it, the purpose of the different motor mounts for the big block was the provide some exhaust clearance around the steering box. The mounts shift the engine over and up slightly to improve the clearance for the exhaust manifolds & pipes. No doubt it helps the spacing with the power brake booster as well.

Similarly, the heater core outlets were shifted closer to the fender to reduce the tight fit and awkward hose routing.

To accomodate the engine shift, the transmission crossmember is also different and has the mounting holes off center. This is to keep the engine and tranny in line. Check out the link below for the last one that was on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...44942&rd=1

As far as between the tranny and rear end, that isn't an issue since the U-joints deal with the slight mis-alignment.

Since the 67-69 Camaro and 68-74 Nova share a common subframe and firewall layout, the same logic applies to the big block Camaros.

**Mr70** · #20 03-05-2003, 02:09 AM

That Blue L-78 Nova picture looks like the one at Midwest car Exchange somewhat.
In 1998 I was at SuperChevy Joliet Il.I met Jeremy Newton,he won the NNN Shadow grey Nova giveaway.Then a man pulls up in a 19K Survivor Mile 1970 triple Black L-78 Nova.He is the Orignal owner and lives here in Illinois.I took his name and number and contacted him recently.He is very quiet,but had a very respectable car.I was in awe of it's condition.I hope to see him again soon this summer.