1970 Nova ?L78--pics
 

Several years ago, I bought a 1970 Nova from an older gentleman locally who had owned the car since 2000. His story was that it was a true L78 that was restored in 1988-1992, driven by prior owner to shows for 4 years, and then parked until he bought it. It had then sat in his barn for 15 yrs until I bought it in 2017. My son and I spent many weekends refurbishing the car and have driven the hell out of it since.

I had suspicion car was a true L78 but could not prove it without paperwork etc. and the price we agreed on reflected that. Both me and the seller were happy.

As my son and I refurbished the car, I found more and more L78 specific pieces suggesting it was a true L78. I have listed the parts below

Fast forward to two weeks ago. I have stayed in touch with the prior owner and he called me and told me he had found several pics of the car from 1988 before it was refurbished by prior owner as well as an album of pics during resto. To say my son and I were excited to pic these up was an understatement. Interestingly, pics seem to reveal a single 3/8 fuel line, L78 core support, etc. I would like to see what people much more knowledgable about these cars think. Financially, I could care less--I have no plans to sell the car and when I am old it will go to my son. It is simply for historical purposes.

Do you think this was originally an L78? Any other clues you are seeing in pics?

Build date 10c
Block cast H-20-9 3969854 4 bolt main No application code found on front pad. Very faint VIN stamping found matching car VIN
Heads 3964291 I-11-9
Rear CBT 1015 cast I-?-9
Dist 1112000 J-10-9
Intake 3963569
Alt 1100837
Rad 3 row ZE tag
TH400 tag CW 262 (which I believe translates to Sept 19)
carb Holley 4492 982

Pics that follow are from 1988 before resto as well as during resto from 88-92

70 L78 Nova...
 

The info you have posted points towards on an original L78 car with the TH400 trans. I think you have a typo for the block casting number...should be an 854 block, you repeated the cylinder head number.

the radiator tag [ZE] is a winner and a hard to find item...all the other stuff [carb/dist/tranny] lines up pretty good. Somebody added a small block radiator top plate...all the BB cars had a rubber flap with plastic pins [70].

Engine bay photo shows the low profile intake and other BB features...

does it have a 5 blade fan???

if you check the trans near the shift linkage you may find the VIN on the pan rail...later cars had them on the bell housing.

looks like a cool car...more photos pleae :beers:

Thank you for the reply!

Yes, you are correct. I have fixed the block number. It is a 854 block

The original fan was not with the car

I have searched for VIN on trans and cannot find anything. However, trans is in car and visualization is very limited, especially if it is on bellhousing

I have uploaded several more pics. The first 3 are of the car prior to restoration in 1988-1989. It appears to have been a pretty solid car, certainly not from NY most likely. Price for car was $5000--1970 Nova L78 52,000 miles is noted on back of pic. From the before pics, it does not seem like full quarters needed to be done. However, the owner at the time did not appear to want any patch panels and thus quarters were replaced as well as wheel houses with NOS GM at the time sometime in the 1990-92 timeframe--on back of the pics he states " no shortcuts, any panel with rust was replaced with full replacement panel from Chevy dealer" He tabulates on back of final pic that he so far had spent over $20,000 at the time in paint, bodywork, mechanicals etc not including original cost of car. The restoration seems to have been a high quality job, and the car is an absolute joy and blast to drive. No squeaks, rattles, and everything still closes nice and tight and solid. Paint is still very nice almost 30yrs later with no bubbling, rust, etc. The engine is a torque monster and smokes the tires through all gears and turns the car sideways when floored--it has not been rebuilt since 93. The sound of the mechanical lifters at idle is pure and utter joy!

I have tried to track down the owner of car during the restoration but he appears deceased unfortunately

Last pic is the car back from paint in 93-94. I will upload recent pics of the car tomorrow

My son and I put a lot of time into this car and getting an album out of nowhere showing the cars history along with notes on the back of the pics outlining the restoration from the owner at the time has been an absolute joy. Funny, I was in 8th grade when this car was being restored

Here are pics sometime in 1988-89 prior to restoration

Car getting its GM wheelhouses and quarters bought from local Chevy dealer per notes. You can see the GM sticker on the wheelhouse

Final pic is car back from paint sometime in 1992ish--its born with color Fathom Blue. Paint almost 30yrs later shines just as nice with no rust or bubbling.

IF it is a factory 396 car, odds are very good that it would be a L78. Didn't they make 10x more L78 then the L34 350Hp cars? A L34 if far more rarer then L78s in a Nova.

70 L78 Nova...
 

The ratio was about 2 to 1...1800 L34 cars, 3700 L78 cars.

This car looks like the real deal in every respect...BB radiator support with the large opening and small holes for the rubber flap.

#regarding the search for the trans VIN...first the tag with the CW code is very important...the L78 got this tranny. If you look on the driver's side pan rail near the shift arm you will likely find the VIN stamp. It is typically stamped on the flat surface, so you need to clean the area and use a mirror to see it. One of our later build L78/th400 cars had the VIN on the pass side bellhousing lip up high near the back of the motor. I still think you will find it near the shift arm...you may also see the CW ink stamp [in pink] on the transmission housing...of course it may require some cleaning to see it. Does the tranny have the 6 lug convertor??

'

Cool car also great original parts but best is how you restored it w/ your lad!
Do you have any early history or NCRS report w/ result of Dealer shipped to new?:hmmm:
:beers:
~ Pete

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What a great Nova!! It is also the right color to have. My L34 is also F/Blue with same exterior trim. Lets see some updated today pics...

Thanks for the comments guys! Here are some recent pics. Trying to put together a set of poverty caps for the Spring

Great build. The partial vin stamp on my 70Z/28 CW trans is where WILMA pointed out. I know New York is a big place, but where in New York are you. I’m on Long Island. My best friend has the twin of this car with a black vinyl roof. Awesome color!
Buddy