70 l89 NOVA?

[WILMASBOYL78]

The 1970 production of the Nova started with VIN 100001...so this VIN would represent the number 81,000 car in the production sequence. The assembly date on the engine is 'early'...based on my assessment. Eg; our 1970 4 spd L78 has a cowl tag date of 12C...engine assembled 11/25...about a month prior to the build. Our VIN is 210xxx, so it is later than this unit by approx. 30,000 cars. We would need some other reference points from fall of 69 Novas to narrow down an exact time frame, but it could be done with fairly good accuracy.

It would be reasonable to expect that the 854 blocks were cast and the initial supply of engines assembled prior to the 70 model year really taking off. Also, the early date of the block could be perceived to support the idea that there were some early production aluminum head motors [like the Chevelle] and then the option was cancelled [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

Someone suggested running an NCRS or Canadian docs on the VIN...that would really help narrow down the ship date and see how that ties into the other facts...provided the data is a available.

The L89 Nova may be the 'Bigfoot' of the car hobby...clues occasionally surface and folks get excited. Having an actual block to examine is certainly a plus...I'm sure there are enough experts here that can confirm if the broach marks/stampings are legit. I have additional L78 examples that can be used for comparison if needed.

Stay tuned..

-wilma

[Verne_Frantz]

Logically, what would be the chances that someone would restamp a block and then let it sit around a machine shop for years without it going into a car?

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

[BLACKLS5]

I had a Red '70 SS advertised here last year with a vin of W149859 and a build date on the cowl tag of 10A.

[L78steve]

For it to be a True 70 L89 it would have to be a very early assembly which it is. It probably sat around until someone ordered it hence the later VIN.
Would be nice if it turned out to be real.

[BLACKLS5]

If we take my 10A 149859 vin and Toms 12C 210xxx vin I'm guessing it would be from a 11B or 11C car by doing the math. I don't want to be a downer but I'm still skeptical on the pad stamp being original. Maybe that would explain the car being gone. It never existed, at least in L89 form.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Does the assembly date and stamp match any of the Chevelle L89 info that may be available...?? That might help dial it in a little better since these motors were probably made in one batch with the CKP in Tonowanda and then ended up at the assembly plant for the final install.

-wilma

[Lynn]

Never mind.

[marxjunk]

c'mon Lynn....whats on your mind..i want to hear everyones opinion...good or bad..

[SS427]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does the assembly date and stamp match any of the Chevelle L89 info that may be available...??</div></div>

The only real 70 L89 Chevelle that I know of was assembled 11/13/69 and is coded CKT. The Tonawanda stamp is different than the one shown here as far as some of the fonts. I do not have the engine assembly date handy at the moment.

[camarojoe]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Verne_Frantz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Logically, what would be the chances that someone would restamp a block and then let it sit around a machine shop for years without it going into a car?

Verne [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] </div></div>

My thoughts as well. It's not like there's a fresh resto 70 nova this is going into, and it seems the heads from it are on some other car and aren't even for sale... I take it the guy who owns this block has no idea the numbers on it are even anything special or the only one anyone's ever seen. I don't know what to look for, but this sure doesn't sound like a scenario for a block to have been restamped. Heck, there isn't even a car for it to go into.