1968 'Chevy II' 327/325 HP 'L-79'

[bigsixman]

[QUOTE=Paul Ceasrine;410477]1968 327~325 HP 'L-79'

Was available in the,
* Chevy Nova
* Chevelle {300 ~ Malibu ~ Station Wagon ~ El Camino}

4-Speed 'Only' with 12-Bolt Posi-Rear

The same Engine in the Corvette was rated at 350 HP, due to a better
Exhaust System and a Rochester Carburetor #7028219 which had
different internals. Everything else was the same Pistons, Camshaft, Cylinder Heads and Cast Iron Intake Manifold.

Paul: My 68 Chevrolet engine power teams shows that the L-79 Nova had the M-13 3 Spd, M-20 4 spd and the M-21 4 spd available. All three transmission options show the 3.31 rear gear as the Std ratio.The vette shows only the two 4 spds being available. My info was printed in November 1967

[Paul Ceasrine]

Big-Six-Man,

You are correct, my error.

I meant to post 'Manual Transmission Only' with the 1968 L-79.

[Paul Ceasrine]

A Sleeper

1968 Nomad L-79 327-325 HP

Fit nicely into 'G/Stock' {11.00 - 11.49 Wt/Hp} in 1968

Production Numbers state that only '65' were built with this combination.

[bigsixman]

The 68 chevelle Nomad wagon is rare. We had a 69 chevelle wagon in my home town that had a 350/255 hp with a M-20 4 spd, 3.31 12 bolt combo. These were very unusual cars that nobody paid much attention to when they were new.

[k.pascoe]

Originally Posted by bigsixman

You are correct about the L-79 only being offered with the 3 spd and 4 spd manuals, but the motor was also offered in the nova and the corvette also.

I agree, I was just pointing out you had to be in "the know" in order to order one of these small block screamers.

[bigsixman]

Originally Posted by k.pascoe

I agree, I was just pointing out you had to be in "the know" in order to order one of these small block screamers.

k.pascoe: I think the dealers discouraged "odd ball" combinations when they were selling vehicles because they were concerned about potential resale issues for their customer, or that they may end up with the car down the road at trade in time and they did not want to deal with a manual transmission or a big motor. I know that at the three local dealers in my small town, discouraging some equipment options was very common.

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 327~325 HP 'L-79' ~ Production Numbers

Chevy II Nova.................................. 1274

Corvette.......................................... ... 9440

Chevelle.......................................... ... 4082
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe....... 3414
Chevelle Malibu {Convertible}........ 156
El Camino............................................ 214
Nomad............................................. ....... 65
Malibu Station Wagon........................ 23
Chevelle 300 {Sedan}......................... 86
Chevelle 300 Deluxe........................ 134


1968 Chevelle 300 {Sedan}

Only 2919 of these built with a V-8. Only '86' with the 327-325 HP 'L-79'

The 'stripped down' Chevelle, with no bells and whistles.

[Ghost Missle]

Originally Posted by Paul Precht

Back around 77 or so I worked in a machine shop with Ritchie Zul that was building destroked big blocks for Bob Ingles Pro Stock, 366ci with 348 cranks. I did the block work and was pretty excited as a 22 year old kid to have any part in the building of a Pro Stock engine, open headers in a small dyno room, LOUD.

A good friend bought one of those motors from Ritchie Zul. The cylinder heads were bizarre.
A lot of epoxy in there and you might be missing one of your storm door screens as well.

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 Chevrolet Cars with the 327-325 HP 'L-79' in the NHRA 1968

* Corvette 'Coupe' {350 HP}.................C/Stock {9.00 - 9.49 Wt/Hp}

* Corvette 'Convertible' {350 HP}.......D/Stock {9.50 - 9.99 Wt/Hp}

* Chevy II Nova......................................D/Stock {9.50 - 9.99 Wt/Hp}

* Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe..........E/Stock {10.00 - 10.49 Wt/Hp}

* Chevelle 300 {Sedan}.........................E/Stock {10.00 - 10.49 Wt/Hp}

* Chevelle 300 Deluxe...........................E/Stock {10.00 - 10.49 Wt/Hp}

* Chevelle El Camino...........................E/Stock {10.00 - 10.49 Wt/Hp}

* Chevelle Malibu {Convertible}.........F/Stock {10.50 - 10.99 Wt/Hp}

* Chevelle Nomad..................................G/Stock {11.00 - 11.49 Wt/Hp}

* Chevelle Malibu Station Wagon......G/Stock {11.00 - 11.49 Wt/Hp}

[Jim Parsons]

According to Doug Byoce in his book “Grumpy’s Toys” the 1968 Nova bill owned and mostly driven by Ed Hedrick as a SS/D was originally a L-79 car. Chevrolet engineering used it as a test mule and rather than scrap it gave it to Bill as Chevy wanted the new body style” to be seen in action by the young people”. He never ran the car with the L-79 engine as it was swapped out for a 396.

I have a NOVA restoration friend who found one and is redoing it. According to him and the National Nova Club there are only a few verified one left so very rare car.

Jim Parsons