1970 Nova ?L78--pics

[WILMASBOYL78]

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

[Kayli69]

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

[Kayli69]

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.