70 nova info

How can I tell if my 70 is a real ss with out the oringal paper work.I have all the ss trim and it looks very old so that makes me think it's a real ss.

There is no real way to tell without paper work for 68-71 cars. They started puting it in the vin in 72

Does it have the welded on brackets for a rear swaybar? Maybe someone can post a picture if you don't know what to look for. Most (no all) 70 SS novas had a rear swaybar with the F41 suspension option. If it has the brackets, it's either an SS, or a Yenko deuce.

The F41 sway bar made it's debut in the spring of 1970...it was a mid year change for the Novas....prior to that the F41 did not include the swaybar, just the other suspension upgrades.....all of the Deuces got the sway bar.

wilma

Should an 03B have the sway bar?

If its a 70, it should have had power disc brakes up front and a 12 bolt. they were STANDARD in 70 with SS package.

Tony, I would think that it should. I'm not sure that it's been nailed down when the rear swaybar setup on F41 started, but a lot of changes seemed to happen around Jan. That's when they changed from bolt on door hinges to weld on. Body weldments would, it seems to me, be done in a coordinated change over period.
While I know that not all 70s have the sway bar setup, my question about it could give him an immediate answer if they were there.

OK...Thanks.

One of the best ways to tell if its a SS car or not is the factory addition of the left rear tail pipe hanger frame reinforcement plate.Only dual exhaust cars got it and only SS cars got dual exhaust.

Only dual exhaust cars got it and only SS cars got dual exhaust.


I thought any V-8 could be ordered with a factory dual exhaust. It just didn't really happen that often.

I believe exhaust systems were engine specific.Single exhaust on engines all the way up to the 350 2V.And the 350 4V dual exhaust (L48)was only available on the SS.So any L48,L34 and L78 Nova should have the frame plate.

If its a 70, it should have had power disc brakes up front and a 12 bolt. they were STANDARD in 70 with SS package.

I believe the 12bolt was only used If the car was a factory BB OR it was a stick car. I believe the SB SS auto cars got the 10 bolt..

I could be wrong though...but I'm sure we discussed this on here before:p

I believe the 12bolt was only used If the car was a factory BB OR it was a stick car. I believe the SB SS auto cars got the 10 bolt..

I could be wrong though...but I'm sure we discussed this on here before:p

Correct.12 bolt up to 71 standard trans.and all BB.

I believe exhaust systems were engine specific.Single exhaust on engines all the way up to the 350 2V.And the 350 4V dual exhaust (L48)was only available on the SS.So any L48,L34 and L78 Nova should have the frame plate.

You are correct in that the SS package INCLUDED dual exhaust and would have the mounting plate on the other side.

However, duals were also optional on other V-8's (307, 350 2-barrel). It was RPO code N10.

All SS cars should have dual exhaust. Not all dual exhaust cars were an SS.

I also believe all 69-71 Nova SS cars had a 12-bolt rear, regardless of engine or transmission.

Thanks,Allen for the N10 info,I was not aware of it.Steve.

I believe the 12bolt was only used If the car was a factory BB OR it was a stick car. I believe the SB SS auto cars got the 10 bolt..

I could be wrong though...but I'm sure we discussed this on here before:p

I read on another board ALL SS Novas 68-70 got 12 bolt (not necessarily a posi). Possibly could be bad info, I don't know.

I DO KNOW, that power front disc brakes are STANDARD on SS from 69-72. So If your car has drums up front its not an SS.

The N10 was a rare option in it's own right.

I read on another board ALL SS Novas 68-70 got 12 bolt (not necessarily a posi). Possibly could be bad info, I don't know.

I DO KNOW, that power front disc brakes are STANDARD on SS from 69-72. So If your car has drums up front its not an SS.

I could be wrong too, I'm sure it was discussed here and the person with the info was Scott from the Nova Resource site...BUT it was long enough ago my memmory could be off and I'm sure the original thread is long gone...:p

So I guess my '70 Nova w/ the 350 (L48),350 TurboHydramatic,w/floor console (no gauge package),but has Power front Disc Brakes,no power steering, and has the 10 bolt rear w/ no F41 suspension is NOT an SS then? It could be possible because you can easily swap all those above mentioned items out, but I will live with the fact that my bill of sale,broadcast sheet,title,VIN on dash,VIN on engine block all line up to being legit. If not, oh well.....I still have my favorite car of all time!

Is you rear axle code the same as your broad cast sheet?:confused:

I've always heard Novas could be ordered any way you wanted,with the exception of BB only came SS and 69 on the disc brakes were a must order with BB.Other then that you could order up a Nova with any combo.

It doesn't specify that it has a code for the 10 bolt on the sheet, it's a 10 bolt underneath though, and maybe I only have a partial broadcast sheet. I have heard there are sections of the sheet found in various locations in the 68-72 Nova/Chevy II.

See if you can get the code off the right rear axle tube on the front side.I don't doubt you,it'sjust good info to know.;)

So I guess my '70 Nova w/ the 350 (L48),350 TurboHydramatic,w/floor console (no gauge package),but has Power front Disc Brakes,no power steering, and has the 10 bolt rear w/ no F41 suspension is NOT an SS then? It could be possible because you can easily swap all those above mentioned items out, but I will live with the fact that my bill of sale,broadcast sheet,title,VIN on dash,VIN on engine block all line up to being legit. If not, oh well.....I still have my favorite car of all time!

Does your date code on the rear line up with everything else? I could be wrong on that one bit of a 350/TH350 getting a 10-bolt. I didn't think so, but you never know.

If you have the original L48 engine with matching VIN, that's an SS-only engine.

I will get the codes this weekend. If I find them, can you break down the codes for me? This is weird.

Post the codes here and we'll either post links or just translate them for you!

There is a # stamped in the front pass side of the block behind the alternator I think the last 5 or 6 digits should match your VIN.

Nova, your car could be an exception to the rule, as I never say never, but it would be the first 70 SS nova I've ever heard of with a factory installed 10 bolt.
On the brake issue. Some 68 SS's had power drum brakes. All the Gibb novas too if I remember correctly.

the finned drum brakes were standard on 1968 SS Novas...

the Nova resource website has a pretty extensive list of what came on specific model year SS cars...and I believe we have a copy of that info in our originality forum

One of the best ways to tell if its a SS car or not is the factory addition of the left rear tail pipe hanger frame reinforcement plate.Only dual exhaust cars got it and only SS cars got dual exhaust.

Can you get a pic of the tail pipe hanger and the sway bar mounts on a nova.This ia all I know about my nova.it was a 350ci 4bl/th350 trans/2.73 non posi 8.2 10 bolt/colem shift/ps/finned 4 wheel manule drum brakes/mono leaf..The codes for the rear are screwed up so bad you can not read them.My car had two hangers on the rear frame rails.They look to be oringal but not for sure.

your '70 has finned drum brakes all the way around? unless someone swapped in drums on the front (which was done rarely...but unlikely) it is likely not a factory SS car cause as far as I know disc brakes were standard on '70 SS cars...Of course this is JMHO:)