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

[Paul Precht]

Originally Posted by Lee Valentine

Paul a guy had one in 1968 , hung around speed parts center. I believe he might have been Ruth Hurd's first husband. Division 1 stock racer Ed Bednaz tried one in stock a few years ago when the factor was 325 H.P. it wasn't bad could be pretty good with lower factor. This also the engine the Bob Ingles started with in The Royal Plum.

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.

[Paul Ceasrine]

In 1968,

I remember that L-79 engine combination in the Chevelle with a 4-Speed only, but never in a Chevy II {Post/Coupe}.

Hot Rod Magazine had a stock one with 3.55 Gears, and 7" x 27" Casler Slicks running 14.60's @ 95 MPH.

Very impressive for that time period.

[spikeyz0]

I own one 1968 nova 327 325hp m20 12bolt 355 gear needs restoration teal blue bucket seat car very rare 1200 ever made.They were non ss cars so they were good sleepers

[Paul Ceasrine]

Now I see information on these 'sleepers'.

Only 1274 produced.

Only difference between the 1967 L-79 and 1968 L-79,
was the Intake and Carburetor, though Horsepower was still rated at 325 HP.

In late 1967, Super Stock & Drag Illustrated ran one in B/PS {Pure Stock}.

Results........... 14.10's @ 99 MPH

[ON TIME]

A buddy bought one new. It was black over black and he ordered his with bucket seats. It was a 325 HP with cast iron intake and Q-jet. When the car was a month old we installed headers and a solid lifter cam. We were suprised to find it had the hyd. cam P/N 3863151. The next month it had a 4:88 gear. The car was bought new at Troutwine Chevrolet. I went with him to get the car. He pulled off the lot launched the car hard and power shifted it thru the gears.

[k.pascoe]

Funny I went thru all the old 1968 Chevrolet brochures and the only place were the 325/327 is even listed as a option is on Chevelle wagons. 3 speed and 4 speed only no automatic.

[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.

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 327~325 HP 'L-79'

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

Manual Transmission '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.

[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.

[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