[PWRtrip]

Had a '70 nova SS 396/375 B&M turbo400trans (second owner)
Had bench seats,no carpet (rubber mats) and column shifter
mods were:L-88 cam,after market intake,4:56 gear and headers
ran 12:20s on street tires (H6014s I believe)
Question is,was bench seats and column shift common for a SS ?
The guy I bought it from had ordered it the same time his buddy ordered a '70 nova w/L-88 (stripped down version/all blue)one of those COPO cars I believe and wondered if my nova could have been some special order.
Well I'm rambling so thanks for any response

 

[taz3]

This was very possible to get, there are no options that only the SS could have that a standard model could not except BB, even disc brakes were optional except on the BB cars.

 

[WILMASBOYL78]

bench seat...column shift..

As Taz pointed out the interior options had nothing to do with the engine or SS package....there were a fair number of bench seat BB cars with column shift th400. We have 2 in the garage this was not a COPO package and there were no factory L88 Novas...perhaps you meant L78 ??

The L78 with the th400 was a more consistent car at the drags...just put it in drive and let the tranny do the job. Nothing else quite like those high shift point turbos....love 'em

wilma

 

[justin72nova]

So you could get a M20 4 speed in a 250 straight six for 72?

 

[taz3]

If the M20 was still available, yes you could.

You could have ordered a M22 with a 4 cylinder and 12 bolt in 69 if that's what you wanted.:yes:

Of my 3 69's each one has an oddity about it, the L78 #'s car has no exterior options, except the badging that came with the SS package, 0 exterior trim, but completely optioned interior, guages tach, buckets, the whole 9 yards, the second L78 car only got the L78 12 bolt and 4 spd and no other options selected (it was bought to be raced judging by the scars in the floor) and my 4 door has multi leaf a couple of exterior and interior options, A/C, but no radio, it's also a 350 car with a PG.

 

[WILMASBOYL78]

engine/tranny combos....

Taz, I dug out a copy of a 69 brochure....4 speed trans was only available with the V-8 models. I would imagine that the low horse 307 and 255hp/350 might have received a Saginaw tranny and the Muncies were used on the L-48, L-34 and L-78 models. Perhaps someone has a copy of a dealer order guide for 69 and could detail the options. I would think this would have carried thru with other years. They do list a "special 3 speed" for the 350 engines...this would be the HD 3 speed Muncie which was the base std. trans for the larger V-8 applications. This is a good topic...hopefully others have some additional input.

wilma

 

[taz3]

That's good to know, hopefully someone has order guide, thanks for the clarification.:yes:

 

[PWRtrip]

'70 nova pic

few pics were taken back then...no way to share like today
real sleeper

 

[PWRtrip]

As Taz pointed out the interior options had nothing to do with the engine or SS package....there were a fair number of bench seat BB cars with column shift th400. We have 2 in the garage this was not a COPO package and there were no factory L88 Novas...perhaps you meant L78 ??

The L78 with the th400 was a more consistent car at the drags...just put it in drive and let the tranny do the job. Nothing else quite like those high shift point turbos....love 'em

wilma

might be wrong about the yr.(1970)just about the time this wild sounding, dark blue, plain looking Nova appeared.
note:this was in KC home of Dicky Harrel's shop
http://www.classicnovas.net/features/harrell/index.htm

 

[justin72nova]

Taz, I dug out a copy of a 69 brochure....4 speed trans was only available with the V-8 models. I would imagine that the low horse 307 and 255hp/350 might have received a Saginaw tranny and the Muncies were used on the L-48, L-34 and L-78 models. Perhaps someone has a copy of a dealer order guide for 69 and could detail the options. I would think this would have carried thru with other years. They do list a "special 3 speed" for the 350 engines...this would be the HD 3 speed Muncie which was the base std. trans for the larger V-8 applications. This is a good topic...hopefully others have some additional input.

wilma

But what about 72? I know in 73 you could get almost everything on a car without it being an SS or having a V8.

 

[Schonyenko2]

Do you think it might have been a 68 nova your friend had? **** Harrell did transplant some L72 427s into COPO 396 68 novas.

 

[lt1mike]

Do you have any photos of your friends car?

Mike

 

[68MotionL88Nova]

Mark Fuss 's 68 Dark Blue Nova SS **** Harrell L88 427 was found I believe in the Oklahoma area.Car is originally a Rare 68 Nova SS 396 car ,bench seat,Turbo 400 auto on the column.Mark still has the car.I believe the car was converted to a DH L88 427 early in 1969.