I have taken pictures of the fuel line, which is single, with a tape measure next to it. It is a real SS, it has the paint code 72 (on the Trim Tag), which is Monaco Orange, which could only be had on an SS in '69. It did not come with air conditioning. It only has idiot lights on the dash. It is a 4 speed car, bucket seat, no console, standard steering wheel, built in Atlanta. It does not have the original motor and I have not found any build sheets. The last place I can look for that is on top of the gas tank, which looks to be original, but I am not holding out much hope. Anything else I can look at to determine whether it is an L78?
Is this car an L78? 1969
98form
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I have taken pictures of the fuel line, which is single, with a tape measure next to it. It is a real SS, it has the paint code 72 (on the Trim Tag), which is Monaco Orange, which could only be had on an SS in '69. It did not come with air conditioning. It only has idiot lights on the dash. It is a 4 speed car, bucket seat, no console, standard steering wheel, built in Atlanta. It does not have the original motor and I have not found any build sheets. The last place I can look for that is on top of the gas tank, which looks to be original, but I am not holding out much hope. Anything else I can look at to determine whether it is an L78?
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I found my build sheet glued to the inside of the driver side door panel.
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It's my understanding that only the L78 came with a single fuel line but some 69 experts here will deny or confirm that for you for sure. No L78 was offered with A/C, ALL 66-72 Chevelles came with warning lamps as standard equipment, gauges were always optional. When you say 'standard steering wheel' do you mean a standard SS wheel or does it say Malibu on it or have just a bowtie emblem?
Good luck finding a buildsheet for a 69 Atlanta car. Buildsheets (as they're commonly called) didn't begin appearing regularly until the 1970 model year although some were phased in during 1969. For Atlanta I've only seen a CAR SHIPPING ORDER which is essentially the same as a BODY BROADCAST COPY or CHASSIS BROADCAST COPY sheet and these don't give much information about options although the CHASSIS BROADCAST COPY sheet will list the engine code which would be of value here. See http://chevellestuff.net/1969/bs.htm for links to some 1969 examples.
Since the L78 was an optional engine for the SS396 equipment package I don't think there was anything else 'special' that had to be changed for that engine other than the fuel line but I could be wrong.
You'll get both sides of a discussion here but, from my perspective, it the original engine is gone what it WAS is of little importance. Being a paint code 72 car it is an SS396 car but beyond that...
Good luck finding a buildsheet for a 69 Atlanta car. Buildsheets (as they're commonly called) didn't begin appearing regularly until the 1970 model year although some were phased in during 1969. For Atlanta I've only seen a CAR SHIPPING ORDER which is essentially the same as a BODY BROADCAST COPY or CHASSIS BROADCAST COPY sheet and these don't give much information about options although the CHASSIS BROADCAST COPY sheet will list the engine code which would be of value here. See http://chevellestuff.net/1969/bs.htm for links to some 1969 examples.
Since the L78 was an optional engine for the SS396 equipment package I don't think there was anything else 'special' that had to be changed for that engine other than the fuel line but I could be wrong.
You'll get both sides of a discussion here but, from my perspective, it the original engine is gone what it WAS is of little importance. Being a paint code 72 car it is an SS396 car but beyond that...
Sorry for the confusion, I mean the standard SS steering wheel. It also has the SS trim above the glove box, and the SS badges on the car. SS hood as well. I have removed a lot of the interior trim and the car was most definitely Monaco Orange, or someone went to a lot of trouble to change it because it is behind the door panels, etc. and no trace of any other color. I know all of that can be added, but just wanted to share that info as well. The original rear is gone as well. The car needs restoration, fenders and quarters, but other wise is in good shape. Trunk and floor pan are good. Hood and trunk lid are good. The car had a black vinyl top and black interior according to the trim tag.
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How about checking the rear end codes.
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Tank pickups for cars with a return line will have a fitting for the return line on the pickup. Single line cars will have just the 3/8" line fitting on the pickup. Also the fuel line mounting clips along the frame will be a double clip for cars with a return line. Each clip holds both supply and return lines. A single clip of course for a single supply line. IMO a verified SS such as this one with a single 3/8" fuel line would very likely be an L78 or COPO L72 IF the fuel line, etc., are original, but no way to prove it beyond a doubt without docs.
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Gentlemen, without going into too much detail as I am still trying to confirm the info it appears Jay's 69 Chevelle may infact be an L-78 based on an original dealer shipping doc that I have a copy of from my 1969 Chevelle data collecting. I am currently working to get Jay in touch with the Dealer document owner to try and effect reuniting the doc with the body. more to follow, just wanted to identify a potential success story from my data tracking and collection that identifies what the car originally had. Hope everyone is doing well, take care Andy
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Andy, you don't happen to have info on a triple green 69 L78 hardtop with a vin ending in 380904 do you? I am currently doing a 69 that I believe is an original L78 car as it has the single fuel line, and an L78 tach (posted some questions about it earlier). Similar to the OP's car this one is missing the original engine, trans, and rear and it seems that mice got to just about every area of the interior, so no paperwork survived.
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Guys, Jay checked his CONVIN and confirmed that his car's VIN does match the paper work I have a copy of, the trim tag had been changed at some point but his car is an actual 72-72, L78, M21, 3.55 Posi, SS (Z25) Chevelle with Parchment (Bench seat) interior. We are awaiting contact with the owner of the original shipping document that I have a copy of so I can get Jay in touch with him for possible reuniting with the car.
I have to say being able to do this is about as exciting for me as I'm sure it is for Jay to find out this info...I certainly hope I can help others in the future, on another note, I have obtained about 400 dealer invoices from a source and will be going through them when I return from overseas (early May)....more to follow on that.
Tom, can you email me at am764 with the assembly plant and trim tag info and I will certainly check to see if I have any info available.
Congrats to Jay on his car....i'm sure it will be a good one when he is complete. take care everyone Andy
I have to say being able to do this is about as exciting for me as I'm sure it is for Jay to find out this info...I certainly hope I can help others in the future, on another note, I have obtained about 400 dealer invoices from a source and will be going through them when I return from overseas (early May)....more to follow on that.
Tom, can you email me at am764 with the assembly plant and trim tag info and I will certainly check to see if I have any info available.
Congrats to Jay on his car....i'm sure it will be a good one when he is complete. take care everyone Andy
I owe a huge thank you to Andy for helping me figure out what is and isn't correct on my car. I would never have been able to verify any of this information without his record keeping. I was extremely excited when he told he actually had some information on my car. Maybe I will be really lucky and he will have a dealer invoice for my car as well. Thanks again Andy!!!
Thanks again Andy!!!
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Well done Andy :thumbsup:
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Thanks Jay and Don, I do what I can. Unfortunately I am not always able to have the success we had here but I continue to collect information and keep an eye out for docs. The document Jay got was basically a pic of the dealer document of the info that would have been on the window sticker. He will be trying to contact the dealer, who retains the original doc and try to work that out but he has a copy now that helps him with his Chevelle. I hope everyone is doing well, it is truly a pleasure to help someone like this even though I am overseas supporting our troops as a contractor, As always I will accept any and all data related to 1969 chevelles, from documents to orphaned parts with CONVINs that is what makes this possible-the sharing of info.....I hope to continue to provide assistance to fellow Chevelle owners...take care Andy
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The dealer was Staplefords Chev & Olds, Dupont Blvd, St Georges DE ID No: 15-650. The original owner appears to have lived in Wilmington DE based on info written on the document dated 7/2/69.
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Andy , what is a CONVIN and how many cars' "dealer shipping documents" do you have? ... I'm sorry if this has already all been covered, I'm just curious ... also, what do you mean by "The trim tag had been changed at some point" ??
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