If it was a 325hp 396 I'd put your L78 in it, 4.10 gears and IMO you'll get better $ than with a 454
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- Thread starter JohnC
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I would not want a 396 375 hp unless it was original.
The engine that you have is the ticket IMHO; with an OD trans
Derek69SS
Veteran Member
The car was 325hp or 350hp from what I can tell. I don't have the #s matching engine, but I do have a correct ED coded '68 350hp 396 I can include with the sale. That engine needs a full rebuild though, and I think making the car driveable would be more value than selling non-running. I think there would be more buyers for a running & driving BB/4spd car with the wrong drivetrain than a non-running one with the "right" parts that all need rebuilding, but I might try that first, as it would be much easier and quicker.
The L78 I'll offer first to the guy who owns the Nova that it originally came out of.
Wes Eisenshenk tracked it down, and I am in contact with him... can reunite car with its born-with engine and make his car a #s matching L78 car!!!
kmakar
Janitor
Ahhh, I thought the engine you bought in the estate sale was the L78 and it was born with that car. Yep, I'd drop the 454, make it a good driver, and I'd keep the L78 for myself for another project down the road. I agree most buyers would want a good running car and deal with the rest themselves.
If you're already in contact with the car owner that the L78 matches his car that is the best way to go, mating the L78 back to the orig car if you already have a running 454 drop it in and sell a running BB 4spd 68 Chevelle
if you already have a running 454 drop it in and sell a running BB 4spd 68 Chevelle
Derek69SS
Veteran Member
Yup, with the option for the buyer to get a '68 dated ED code 350hp/manual 396 from a Leeds built Chevelle with it... Have correct heads, intake, distributor, etc to all sell with it for extra money. All a few months too early for this car though, but right year, code, and assembly plant.If you're already in contact with the car owner that the L78 matches his car that is the best way to go, mating the L78 back to the orig car
Do you know which Muncie is in it?
Derek69SS
Veteran Member
Not yet, but I'm hoping it's an M22 from the Nova, so I can get top money out of it.
I also have a '68 M20 out of a L79 El Camino on the shelf... that could go in it if needed.
Wouldn’t you put the M22 with the L78 for the guy with the Nova? If he’s interested?Not yet, but I'm hoping it's an M22 from the Nova, so I can get top money out of it.
I also have a '68 M20 out of a L79 El Camino on the shelf... that could go in it if needed.
Derek69SS
Veteran Member
Yes, anything that's from his car he will have first dibs.
Man could you imagine ordering a new Nova with the L78 option 
I realize the Yenco etc were top dogs but not everyone had access to those, friend has a 70 Nova with an L88 & M22 that’s rebuilt with some goodies that’s a Real hand full 
Heck any of the Chevys with the L78 option were a handful, a very good friend had a 69 396SS Chevelle Daytona Yellow with an L78 that was Bad Azz!
I realize the Yenco etc were top dogs but not everyone had access to those, friend has a 70 Nova with an L88 & M22 that’s rebuilt with some goodies that’s a Real hand full Heck any of the Chevys with the L78 option were a handful, a very good friend had a 69 396SS Chevelle Daytona Yellow with an L78 that was Bad Azz!
A friend of mine from Team Camaro (Fred Ficarra) bought a brand new L89 69 Camaro (375 hp 396 with aluminum heads).Man could you imagine ordering a new Nova with the L78 option
He only had it one year when he took out the 396 and swapped in a 427.
He was still racing a 454 in 2015 with those same Winters aluminum heads. His Camaro was going 10.7 in the 1/4 mile.
That Camaro had an 8 track player factory installed in the console.
I visited and filmed him at Bremerton Raceway while I was working at Weyerhauser in Longview Washington. Fred passed about 3 years ago.
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Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
Wife called me, lawn tractor wouldn't start. I get home, started right up. I went to take the trash to the collection site, loaded the Durango and noticed the drivers window was down. Dang regulator fell apart. I took the Excursion with the trash to the collection site. Got home, wife was sitting by the garage, belt broke.
I pulled it in the garage, changed the belt but noticed it was not running right. At 500 hours I have never worked on the carb, ordered an Amazon one. Wife continued mowing and I took the window regulator out. I went to Advance Auto with the old part and my 2016 receipt for the warranty. The first Advance store didn't know what to do with a return so I went to the one that I normally go to, exchanged with no problem. I ran out of daylight but back into the garage to finish installing lawnmower belt shields.
I pulled it in the garage, changed the belt but noticed it was not running right. At 500 hours I have never worked on the carb, ordered an Amazon one. Wife continued mowing and I took the window regulator out. I went to Advance Auto with the old part and my 2016 receipt for the warranty. The first Advance store didn't know what to do with a return so I went to the one that I normally go to, exchanged with no problem. I ran out of daylight but back into the garage to finish installing lawnmower belt shields.
Sorry to hear about your friend passing away but sounds like one Helluva CamaroA friend of mine from Team Camaro (Fred Ficarra) bought a brand new L89 69 Camaro (375 hp 396 with aluminum heads).
He only had it one year when he took out the 396 and swapped in a 427.
He was still racing a 454 in 2015 with those same Winters aluminum heads. His Camaro was going 10.7 in the 1/4 mile.
That Camaro had an 8 track player factory installed in the console.
I visited and filmed him racing while I was working at Weyerhauser in Longview Washington. Fred passed about 3 years ago.
That Lifetime warranty is a great thing and I’ll bet most people don’t save the receipt so the parts stores make out even better, I still save some receipts but I was at the Napa store I usually buy from and guy behind counter said he could look up my acct or profile? From my phone number and I didn’t need the receipt but I still save them when in the $30+ range
Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
When I had a Sunbird I saved the lifetime brake shoe receipt. 10 years later they had to give me new brake shoes. A lot of parts stores quit offering lifetime warranties because of people like me.That Lifetime warranty is a great thing and I’ll bet most people don’t save the receipt so the parts stores make out even better, I still save some receipts but I was at the Napa store I usually buy from and guy behind counter said he could look up my acct or profile? From my phone number and I didn’t need the receipt but I still save them when in the $30+ range
Sears used to have a lifetime battery.....no more Sears though. Interstate had one too, no more. Not even sure where to buy Interstate?? Snap-on tools and Mac are lifetime, but try to track a truck down if you're not a shop. Bitter, yeah, when things go to shit during my lifetime, I yearn for the good old days when..........off I go. Sorry.
I bet there's somebody on here that knows Kettbo (George Kettler) who owned a 72 El Camino and was on OTC for years.
He also was a friend of Fred's.
Fred is on the left. I don't know the other guy
I put together a 454 using Kettbos info from his 454 but forgot what the 454 he had was in, El Camino maybe? Doesn't he also have a Vette and a 68 Camaro?