New Guy Here
 

Hi Guys, I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself,I hope this forum is ok to do this in, I own a Fathom Blue w/ Dk blue vinyl top 70 Nova L78,4-speed,3:73(originally 3:55) it is a survivor,mostly original,even the paint,owned it since Oct. 75.With no intentions of selling,it is a part of me. I have recently started to restore it with my abilities.I have collected many parts for it over the years,mostly discontinued parts now.I am sure glad I did .I haven't driven the car since 85 been in the garage,I only wish it was a temperature controlled one,and has collected some minor rust from sitting.It will never be a #'s matching ,because way back in 76 I had to replace the block,from a 68 Chevelle L78 ,had it bored and used the original pistons,heads,etc. I still have the original block,but was told back then it could not be align bored,looked like a winding road.I wish I could maybe someday,that's why I kept it.I also sold the trans M21,when I upgraded to a M22.around 79-81 But mostly everything else is original.I am looking for a radiator support ,cause mine is rotted on the left lower portion,anyone know of a decent one please let me know. Well that's it for now. I have been monitoring the site for some time and deceided to join.You guys are just great from all the info I have absorbed.Keep up the good work and thanks

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome! Glad to see another Nova guy on this site! They are coming out of the woodwork and it's about time! It's very nice to know that someone has an original Nova with a Dk Blue vinyl top! Let's see some pics! Don't be affraid to ask questions. There are a lot of knowledgeable Nova Guru's on here as well as a lot of great people in general! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gifAll are willing to help in just about any way they can. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gifWhat part of the NorthEast are you from?

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome to the site. Lots of Nova guys here to help. And we love pictures. Especially of cars that have been tucked away so long.

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome and always hang onto the original block anyways! Just clean it up and set it on an engine stand with a nice new paint job and keep it.You can always say you have the matching numbers engine block! You also might want to check at some REPUTABLE engine repair shops maybe the other shop just didn't feel comfortable messing with it. By the way threr are some really wonderful people on this site and one or two not so wonderful! LOL I will let them guess who they are! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome
I too would like to see pix of your Nova.Sounds like it has much to say.
I would look into having your original block align bored today too,as there has been some great progress in the past few decades with this.

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome--nova guy's are always welcome https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome!

I would suggest repairing your original core support, it's usually not too difficult - especially compared to finding a legit BB replacement!

Love that Fathom Blue! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome Charlie...your car sounds great!.

Being you've referred to it as a survivor w/ original paint, is the overall paint decent and you're retaining it and/or partially repainting or is complete paint part of your resto plan?.

Have you had any success digging into the interior looking for a broadcast sheet etc and/or do you have any original documents?.

The original block repair comments are good advice but if it leaves your hands make sure to tie a tag to the block and black sharpie the deck both noting DO NOT RESURFACE or something to that effect..
No matter how well a front counter guy may seem to understand your concerns of keeping the deck stampings, the guy operating the equipment may routinely deck first before any other machining is done or measure the surface and deem it necessary even though the work order doesn't include it..
Best may be to speak first-hand to the machine operator the day the work is scheduled!!!

Amazing how many real L78 Novas and long time owners have appeared here of late!!!

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif
~ Pete
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome Charlie! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Great story Charlie. Welcome to the best site on the net!

You're popping in at the perfect time because Novas are really the hot ticket now. They're FINALLY getting the respect they deserve. Sounds like a cool car, and let me jump on the bandwagon with the others who have recommended hanging on to any and all original pieces you have for the car. Good or bad; they're still original to the car and can only add to the history and value down the road.

If you have pix but aren't comfortable posting them, feel free to forward them to any of us and we'll be happy to help out.

Re: New Guy Here
 

Thanks guys for all the nice comments.Iwill take the advice on the rad. support and try and maybe redo mine with the oem small block one I have. I will try and put up a couple of pictures I just took.My garage is very narrow and very hard to take pictures,just remember I just started to work on it,haven't touched the car in 10 years,so excuse the dust,etc.
Charlie

Re: New Guy Here
 

another

Re: New Guy Here
 

more

Re: New Guy Here
 

original mileage

Re: New Guy Here
 

the fender I just took off on sunday

Re: New Guy Here
 

The last,is my engine compartment,the short block is in,have alot of cleaning up to do again and painting.Can't wait though to get it running again,hopefully by the end of summer.
Charlie

Re: New Guy Here
 

Nice car. Cool guages. Don't get too crazy painting if its original. Its amazing how nice things will clean up with the right products and techniques. Things are only original once.

Re: New Guy Here
 

I though I would tell you guys a little history story of my car,I"ll do a short version though. My car has always been a local car.It was bought from a local chevy dealer.Was ordered in Sept. 1969 ,built 1st week of nov. 69 (11A on trim plate), when dealer received the car the guy who ordered it had to pass on it,could not afford it,price was to high.I believe it was $4400.00 new(somebody told me,don't remember now,maybe it was the 1st owner since I do know him) Car sat on the lot until the summer of 1970. 1st owner purchased it and owned it for about 1 year. 2nd owner bought it from him, then 2nd owner was killed in an accident(not in my car though)car sat for about 12-18 months.His wife finally sold it to owner #3. Owner #3 then liked the car very much and sent it to Motion Performance for dyno tuning and did some local drag racing,not much.Now in late 73 traded it in for a 70 1/2 Z/28 LT-1 Camaro that was traded in at another local dealer.Owner #4 comes along.He cherished this car very much,had a local high performance genuis(also a friend of mine for many years) work on it for weekend street races and local drag strip.Was a very hard car to beat here locally on the street ,I consider it a king then (was called a freak car meaning unbelievably fast and mostly won on the street against most anything),Has many class winnings and trophies at the track.He would not give up any of those trophies to me when he sold it,still has them.Car ran 12:97 and 13:00 consistantly on street tires.There was nothing around that could touch it. Yet it was still all stock except for headers. I remember watching it around the town getting on it and he was always a person to put the hammer down,what a show.I even remember once someone bet him he couldn't smoke the tires in all 4 gears for $50.00 and he got his $50,00,what a show that was.I was about 16 then and still will never forget that. He then rebuilt the engine(why I don't know,didn't need it,maybe just to refresh it)and changed the cam to a L-88.He never drove the car during the week,had another car,only came out on weekend nights. Then he was forced to sell it cause he was losing his license(I wonder why !) Then I came along as the 5th owner when the car was just about 5 years old.Since I knew this car very well and his brother I went to school with told me one day when I was over his house, he was going to sell it I jumped on it and found the cash to buy it in a hurry.I was now the proud owner of a king(that felt so good especially since I was only 17. The block was changed in 76 cause I had to lend the car to my same friend's cousin 1 day to get home and,well I think you can figure out what happened next.Wish I never was that nice that day. Anyway got the car running again and had a great time with it,later changed the cam to a ZL-1,drove it for 5 years that way and finally deceided it was too much for me ,required maintence went up and so I deceided to go back to stock.Also took it to Englishtown a few times and Car Craft street machine Nationals in Syracuse NY on a trailer in 84 or 85 and then stopped driving it and sat in the garage,and here we are today,starting to get it together after years of sitting.I have had the gas tank down and the back seat out over the years and never found a build sheet,oh well! Hope you liked the little story of my cars history the short version.How many of you guys know your car's history ?
Charlie

Re: New Guy Here
 

[ QUOTE ]
Don't get too crazy painting if its original. Its amazing how nice things will clean up with the right products and techniques. Things are only original once.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's some great advice. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Good stuff Charlie. Those are some great stories. I can see why you are passionate about your Nova. Welcome aboard! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Thanks for the great advice,my plans are to clean it up the best I can,but it will most likely have to be repainted.There are alot of chips and small parking lot dings in the paint from where it was parked before I owned it and some more since then.plus the rear quarters around the wheel openings are a little rotted,I think that is from when I 1st got it,I had to drive it through the winter the 1st year. I do have new 1/4's I bought for it back in the early 80's. I probably could get away with just repairing them or something.I'll have to wait and see when I get it running.I know what you all mean about leaving it with original paint. I'll have to wait and deceide then,right now can't afford to paint it anyway.

Re: New Guy Here
 

I was talking about the underhood paint etc. also. Cleaning can go a long way. Great story. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif


Jason

Re: New Guy Here
 

Great storries Charlie - A lifetime keeper!

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Where in up state NY are you from? Cool story and great car!

Re: New Guy Here
 

Sounds like a great car. Like the other guys said - don't paint anything, even the outside. They are only original once, and are hard to find in that condition.

Tell us more about the Motion angle.

Also, nice clock - tells me that it's a non-gauge car, but could have a console - which is likely with bucket seats, but not required. So, is it a bucket non-console car? That would be cool, as you don't see that very often. Looks like you'll need some TCS stuff too! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

I know what you mean about driving them, I brought my Yenko to work today - perfect weather - what a blast!

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

PS: forgot to add, you will most likely find a broadcast sheet (not a build sheet) in the bottom cushion of the back seat, passenger side. It is about 5x8 and it will be tucked waaaay up in there, and you will probably need to remove some hog rings to get it out. The '70 sheets don't have as much info on them as the '68-'69's, but since you have an early car there is a chance that you might find the engine code still on there. It's some great info though, so take another look!

Re: New Guy Here
 

I've had the lower cushion of the back seat out years ago and never saw a broadcast sheet,unless it is on the upper part.Will have to look there when i get a chance.kind of hard to do now in the garage.
As for the Motion angle, I only know a little.
The owner at that time figured it would be the best to dyno tune it,and with the good rep Motion had to send it there. so the car had headers put on and went there for a complete dyno tuning and when returned it was like a different car I was told,a lot faster.don't have any knowledge of what they did actually.I do know when it returned it had a Motion decal on the right hand valve cover and right rear 1/4 window.I remember seeing the car around then and looking at it when it was hanging out in the local shopping center where all they fast cars grouped together on friday nights. I still have the valve covers somewhere .As it was now beating all the other fast cars on the steet it wasn't a good thing to display on the car giving out a hint of what was going on under the hood and it was gone from the window not too long afterwards. I think this is also why the valve covers where changed to black M/T's too.I was given the original valve covers when I bought the car though. I believe this when it got the local nickname of being a freak car(wonder why) .This was somewhere in 1973. That's about all I know about the Motion angle.The car also when ran at the local track it ran A/S.
So thinking about what you guys are saying is to leave it alone even with the rust? Hmmmm,,Well maybe I should just do spot repair then and clean it up.I will have to change that fender though ,has damage on the very front from my father many years ago and I did replace that fender once when I got it cause yours truly hit the back of a 73 Chevelle wagon's bumper not looking where i was going.Very minor damage,should have repaired that,but didn't then was a stupid teenager and wanted it replaced. Oh well You guys have really got my adrenalin going to get on this car now.
Hopefully this weekend I can do something,just got my w/pmp .intake and header gaskets,have to paint the heads and install. forward we go. But 1st have to do some cleaning up in that engine compartment Moving forward is always a good thing Thanks guys appreciate the motivation you are giving me. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
Charlie
Charlie

Re: New Guy Here
 

Just out of curiosity, what heads, and pistons are you running with that ZL1 cam?
Neat piece. Very cool. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: New Guy Here
 

Welcome.

Re: New Guy Here
 

Great Car. Sounds just like the one I had. Same color/roof etc. Bought mine from a guy from Brooklyn NY. The L78 Nova's were sick fast.As a 19 year old kid at E town the car went low 13's. I had no idea what I was doing. Eventually it went 12.4. Thats w/headers and a weiend intake, re-curve and re-tread slicks. Easily a 11.99 with a few more items and a good driver. Good Luck

Re: New Guy Here
 

Mr Nova what part of NY are you from? I am just outside of Albany!

Jason

Re: New Guy Here
 

I knew this would pop up about the ZL-1 cam.Cause since I mentioned it,I wasn't going to say anything at 1st but I just wanted to tell some of the history right,but for some of you guys that know their big blocks I knew it would throw up a red flag and be brought up. I no longer have it in the car.I put it back to a stock cam.That was just too much for local driving ,but I did have in there for about 5 years.Took it to the street machine nationals in Syracuse NY with it in there,many problems on the side of the roads up there on the saturday day night doing quick maintence.Now it was starting to bother me more. Now when I originally installed it I was thinking I was going to have a problem and sure enough I did.I think you guys know what I am talking about here,this is why you are asking. I did not change anything,original heads and pistons. After about a week of thinking what would be the best way to approach this,I then did a week or more of strenious and tiring work and it was a success. Car was alot faster than with the previous L-88 cam that was in there, from when I bought it.I just wanted to experiment with my abilities and brainstorm idea at the time. So yes it is possible to do just requires some modification,with keeping the original pistons and heads.I did change to 7/16 pushrods at the time. Standard rockers w/polylocks, no roller rockers or nothing else.Was fun to drive on occasion but kinda a pain and then not being a teenager no more I guess it was starting to get to be more of a pain to drive knowing when you got home or next time before you take it out you had to give it the once over or take your chances of it not running up to par if you where suddenly involved in a street race.See at time i was going to set it up for the track,but other things steered me away,just left it like that for that time,and later could no longer deal with it and wanted it to be more of a cruiser,since alot of other fast cars started poping up on the street with blowers ,and No2 so I went another direction to detune it and enjoy it to where I could drive it without do the maintence of plugs,carb adjust,timing,you guys know the drill.
I'm in the Hudson valley area outside of poughkeepsie.

Re: New Guy Here
 

Not sure if you ever seen my 68 L78 nova around your parts but it was from down your way. I would love to find any more information on past owners. It might have been raced at Dover. Check the link and let me know!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show...e/7#Post210864


Jason