The L78 396 V8 engine was only available in the Chevrolet Nova for three years: 1968, 1969, and 1970. After that, the most you could get from the factory was a 350 V8 as the muscle car segment of the market was on the decline. This 1970 Nova is offered as an SS 396, but we don’t know if it’s the “real deal” or one of the many clones out there. It’s said to be a project car but looks largely complete. Located in Farmingdale, New York, this Chevy is offered without a reserve with an opening bid of $24,000 here on eBay, but there have been no takers so far.
An L78 engine produced 375 hp from the factory. In 1968, Chevrolet only put 667 of them in a Nova. That grew to 5,262 the next year, and down to 3,765 in 1970, the final year it was offered in the compact (but as a 402?). As was the case of the Chevelle (after 1968), it’s hard to identify a Nova Super Sport without documentation like a window sticker or build sheet. The seller provides neither with this car and doesn’t indicate authenticity. The seller’s car is not original in at least two ways: the cowl tag specifies a different shade of gold paint, and the car came with a bench seat while buckets are present now.
We’re told the seller bought this Chevy as a project and apparently did some work on it. But the financial pipeline has given out, so the automobile must move on. It “runs and drives” (but how well?) and has the following new parts: camshaft, lifters and push rods, rocker arms, brakes, shock absorbers, and fan. The car has also been treated to a tune-up. A few odds and ends still need attending to, but they sound like minor things.
This Chevy was treated to a repaint some years ago and we assume the body is in decent shape. There is no mention of any corrosion in the sheet metal or underneath. Other than the bucket seats, the interior looks like the basic Nova set-up I had in my 1970 that was finished in white over Autumn Gold. With a 4-speed manual transmission, 3:43 rear-end, and headers with dual exhaust, this car should be able to really “haul the mail” once it’s completed.
looks like the wrong heater box for an original BB nova
I looked at the heater box. I think your right. A friend of mine had a 70 SS Nova 396 but with a 350. The engine was replaced. He showed me the difference in the heater box. BB box was smaller and moved more to the fender to give the BB room. I didn’t know that. Being a Mopar guy you can tell the difference if someone is giving you a snow job. GM hard to tell unless you know your s*** on GM. For all we know it was a plane Nova with 250 under the hood. Buyer beware..🐻🇺🇸
real BB nova heater box is also center outlet and if you look closely it has a 10 bolt rear instead of a 12 bolt that would of been on a factory BB car…..seller isn’t saying its a real BB car but seems to be willing to let someone believe it is…..maybe he got the wool pulled over his eyes an now wants to dump it, who knows, no excuse for not being honest about it tho….
Big bear Mopar guy myself! 24.000 for this very poor resto no way
Dang it! The seller’s caught red handed! LOL! First comment of the post. Oh well, maybe they won’t notice on Fee Bay.
For sure..the heater box is not a 396.ss car..the hose locaters.are wrong..would be in the middle of the box away from the heads…not 375 car
I really miss my 396 ’70 Nova SS.
Too much $ for me for this imo.Glwts.
I agree 100%. This as well as many others on here. Unless a car is original, you’re just buying a USED CAR. People have completely lost their minds lately with what they will pay for a car that is made up of six other cars
Chances of pulling one over, or sneaking one by this BF crowd is practically zero lol. 🙌 🏁
No doubt…..for the money, I’d rather have the ’72 442 in the other article, warts and all, instead of this one.
Somebody took a pile of leftover parts and built a scam.
Hey..we know ss396 nova cars..they only made the. 3 years..we. can’t be faked out..r
It has a Saginaw transmission. It should have a Muncie. And yes it’s a 10bolt and should be a 12 bolt. Buyer beware and do your homework before buying!
I had a 1970 SS 396 Chevelle (real but with a hugely built 427) and a Sagin’ naw that was literally twisted in half. Big difference from a Vega ??? LOL. That 10 bolt really jumps out too. IIRC, Chevtolet used a 12 bolt in “anything” with a 4 barrel carb on up including any SBC from at least 1968 and up.
I had a 70 nova as 350 4 speed, it had a 12 bolt rear end, most the ss’s had a 12 bolt this one looks like a 10 bolt. Not adding up good for this car.
I’ve been researching the 396 in a Nova for years as I am currently one. Starting with a 74SS with a replacement 350. Here are the things I’ve found that are different:
Heater core piping moved farther to the passenger side. Not only requires new heater core, but new blower housing. NO AC EVER AVAILABLE W/396.
Different motor mount stands that move the engine to the passenger side about 1/2 inch and down a little to allow clearing for steering box.
Model specific exhaust manifolds. some folks use headers, but do not use the 396 emgine stands. Tht usually requires a notch in a header pipe to clear steering.
Tranny cross member that moves tail shaft to match the shift of engine position to the right
Everything WILL bolt up without the changes, but it screws up the driveshaft geometry.
Different radiator support for 23″ radiator, and shift of motor to the pax side. Can cut the stock radiator support, there are actually creases on the stock support to show you where. No room for a fan clutch, so all have fan bolted to water pump.
If anybody out there really wants more info I can provide part numbers and pictures.
Excellent info. I own an original 70 SS Nova for the last 35 years. Matching numbers 350 300hp, 4 spd, 12 bolt posi. Car has factory front an rear sway bars also. Nice original driving car. Enjoy heaing the facts you mentioned in your comments. Thanks
Like the other car companies, missing the boat with the economy model as the 1970 Nova, Duster and Maverick.
The 70’s style econo boxes could have been.
Imagine a 70 SS Nova LT1 M22 and a 12 bolt.
Or a 70 Duster with the 340 6 barrel, Maverick boss 302. Most likely they didn’t want these three to kick the tar out of their big block brothers.
You don’t have to imagine that Nova. That’s a Yenko Deuce.
I said by the companies, of course after market was fun but being stock that way, would have captured the thunder. Mr norm added 6 barrels, super chargers or what ever you wanted. And again if the actual factories did it would have been better. $ buys anything, but an actual plant built Nova, Duster or Maverick would be incredible.
Had a 70 Duster 340 when they were new. Ordered it sight unseen ‘cause salesman told be w/bucket seats had 1” more head room. Loved that car! Fast, kinda sneaky and insurance companies hadn’t caught onto them yet. Faster than Roadrunner & not as often seen.
The 68…72 nova has the same 1969 camaro subframe and rearend..as the camaro.for 3 years..lots of stuff interchangeable but the 396 is heavier motor..requires heavy front springs on the nova and a 12 bolt rear end..some of these were automatic cars too
Excellent info. I own an original 70 SS Nova for the last 35 years. Matching numbers 350 300hp, 4 spd, 12 bolt posi. Car has factory front an rear sway bars also. Nice original driving car. Enjoy heaing the facts you mentioned in your comments. Thanks
I ordered a new 70 Duster 340 sight unseen. I’m tall. Sat in one in showroom (bench seat), head hit the ceiling, Salesman said “Bucket seats sit an inch lower”. Told him order one just the way I want it, if my head hits the ceiling you keep it! He was right…fit fine. Insurance companies hadn’t caught onto the 340 Duster so insurance was reasonable. Comfortable, fast, kinda sneaky, and way cheaper than even the Roadrunner. 4 spd, 3.73 gears, would run in 14s comfortably. Wish I still had it. Woulda bought a 70 Nova 396 if I coulda gotten insurance.
Another reason car companies didn’t want to do this is warranty claims, I knew of several guys back in the day that abused their new rides, they’d jump in with cold drivetrains & beat on them, I used to cringe.
A 10 bolt rear, Saginaw transmission, small block heater box. That’s a mighty bold opening bid for a one piece at a time Nova
If it’s a real 375 motor car…it had a 373 12 bolt rear end in the car..that’s one way to tell its a 375 car
Who knows if the engine is really a 375 hp?
You’ve gotta love the coolant overflow bottle he added that blocks off half the airflow thru the radiator.
Not an original big block! Heater core tubes do not come out behind the passenger side head on a big block.
I want to thank all of you who post comments on here. Over the year I have learned valuable info on my car I wouldn’t have known without these comment’s. You all are truly professionals in your own right. Thank you again. My car is a 1979 Monte carlo with a 454 stuffed in with a 3 speed . Makes around 375 hp. It’s not all 100% yet, but it blows the doors off most anything I line up with at the traffic lights. Lots of fun. I’ll send pictures in when it’s 100%. And again, thank you all. Please keep it up…
Big block in a nova!even if its not an original bb car that would be fine by me.i would slap 350 badges on it do a little “hustle”at the races.most wouldnt even think of a 396 underneath the hoodmild mannered in appearance.a real ” sleeper”
My neighbor had one that he had bought new, I was a kid and a gearhead so I was all over it. Maroon with a black bucket seat interior, console with the gauges, 396/375hp four speed, Rally wheels, and a lot more I don’t recall. I rode in it some and it ran pretty well.