ranma Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Working on my second '68 Chevelle, The first copy was built as a SS while this second '68 will be a lower trim level of Chevelle. I bought a Base model hood for a '68 Chevelle kit, but sadly it works only for the AMT 68/69 Chevelle's. So when the AMT 69 Chevelle get's to HL I'll get one to make a base '69 Chevelle.. The engine has not been glued to the frame, and is not quite finished either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classicgas Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 You could use hinges and keep the hood open if there are fit issues with the resin hood. From what I understand the SS hood was only available on the SS. I suppose you could model it as a day 2 vehicle. I really like that color. What is your interior color? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Are you staying with the big block ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodent Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 I hope someone will come out with the standard hood and a PE kit soon. I would like to build a Malibu L79. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Was L79 still available in '68? I thought '67 was the last year for them, and there were darn few of those. Although I do seem to remember that Bill Jenkins' '68 Nova, Grumpy's Toy V, was originally a factory L79 test mule before he put a 396 in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodent Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 8 hours ago, Snake45 said: Was L79 still available in '68? I thought '67 was the last year for them, and there were darn few of those. Although I do seem to remember that Bill Jenkins' '68 Nova, Grumpy's Toy V, was originally a factory L79 test mule before he put a 396 in it. http://www.superchevy.com/features/sucs-0732-chevy-l79-engine/ https://www.chevelles.com/forums/45-chevelle-tech/307270-68-chevelle-l79.html Apparently. Linkee number 2 shows a Concours L79 which has to be rarer than chicken lips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Yep , 1968 was the last model year for the L-79 . It's performance prowess was underrated in the brochures , though its actual performance was definitely still there . Here's an image of a '68 Chevy II with an L-79 which was being restored at Supercar Restorations in Pennsylvania ; the car was featured in MCACN . ... and a '68 Chevelle 300 Coupe L-79 from Nickey . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Cool! Thanks for the lessons, guys. As my old Dad used to say, "You learn something new every day if you're not careful." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTrucker Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Rich, even though they are not in the "official" records which the guys at Chevelles.com hold as gospel there were cars that were produced from the factory that are not reflected in their bible. I went round nd round with them when I was over there because I had a 1969 Chevelles Malibu WITH a factory big block and even had the documentation (ie build sheets and order forms from the dealer) because I was second owner having bought it off an AMC used car lot where the original owner traded it in! He ordered it new from the dealer with the 396 (actually the 401) 4speed with a 12 bolt posi to use to pull his two horse trailer. It was like they had took an SS and put all the Malibu interior and exterior trim and flat hood on it in place of the SS trim. But seeing I had sold the car back around 1978 I no longer had any of the paperwork. So because I could not produce it they screamed foul and said I was wrong (some said liar)! My wife's Uncle worked for GM for almost 40 years and he told me about a lot of oddball cars that were built in factory, some for execs and some for special customers. One he confirmed for me being a 1954 Chevy Belair with a 265 V8 factory ac and all power accessories! I asked about it because I picked that car up from a GM warehouse in Detroit and delivered it to a collector down near Henderson Kentucky back in 1989! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 13 minutes ago, OldTrucker said: Rich, even though they are not in the "official" records which the guys at Chevelles.com hold as gospel there were cars that were produced from the factory that are not reflected in their bible. I went round nd round with them when I was over there because I had a 1969 Chevelles Malibu WITH a factory big block and even had the documentation (ie build sheets and order forms from the dealer) because I was second owner having bought it off an AMC used car lot where the original owner traded it in! He ordered it new from the dealer with the 396 (actually the 401) 4speed with a 12 bolt posi to use to pull his two horse trailer. It was like they had took an SS and put all the Malibu interior and exterior trim and flat hood on it in place of the SS trim. But seeing I had sold the car back around 1978 I no longer had any of the paperwork. So because I could not produce it they screamed foul and said I was wrong (some said liar)! My wife's Uncle worked for GM for almost 40 years and he told me about a lot of oddball cars that were built in factory, some for execs and some for special customers. One he confirmed for me being a 1954 Chevy Belair with a 265 V8 factory ac and all power accessories! I asked about it because I picked that car up from a GM warehouse in Detroit and delivered it to a collector down near Henderson Kentucky back in 1989! Couple years ago, Hemmings Muscle Machines ran a story on a resto of a '69 SS396 and bigger than life, the chrome strip is running down the body side. Nothing about it was mentioned in the article. I was gonna write in crying FAKE! CLONE! TRIBUTE WANNABE! but now I'm glad I didn't--your story raises the possibility that such a thing was actually built. About 20 years ago when I was running in IPMS circles, I got into a discussion with one of the old-timers (a model airplane guy) about the new Revell Z16 kit and how it could only be accurately painted red, yellow, or black, and he swore to me that he had a 1965 Chevelle SS 396 ("original, original paint," and of course stored at his mother's house halfway across the country) and it was turquoise. I've always assumed he was mistaken and he had a '66, or he had a turquoise '65 SS with a common 327, or someone had swapped in a 396 before he bought it, or some other rational explanation for the story, but...who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranma Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 (edited) A 396 in a non SS. If you were a VIP and had the cash that is! Edited March 10, 2019 by ranma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 1 minute ago, ranma said: Yep, a 396 in a non SS. Well, the aftermarket wheels/tires on that one just screams Day Two or Clone to me. I'd need to see some documentation of some kind on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 1969 Chevelles could be ordered with any of the 396's via the SS Package , regardless of trim level . The one which comes to mind right off is the 300 Coupe with 325hp 396 / 3 speed manual ; there are also L-78's and , just as likely , 350hp-equipped models as well . That's allegedly the only year for the SS to be available on any Chevelle / Malibu (except wagons) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I've seen a wagon years ago that had a 396 with a cast iron 2- bbl intake manifold.... I think it was a '68.... I've seen pictures of that intake on the net a while back.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 A 2 bbl big block intake manifold sounds like a big truck part. The Big Block was offered in many large trucks with 366, 396, and 427 displacements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodent Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 396 with a 2-barrel was available in the full size cars and wagons in 1969 only. I believe it was rated at 265 HP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 1969-only two barrel 396 was a light duty truck engine . If there were any passenger car applications , it was likely dubbed "400" ( not to be confused with the small block 400 ) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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