65 L-78 cars

[Rex T.]

What are some of the more defining elements of a 65 396 car? I am looking at a 65 project that has what is supposed to be the "original" 396-425 engine (casting 3855962). The heads are from a 66 425 car, but the rest of the engine appears correct. What about the body / chassis? What are some of the tell tale signs to look for there? The rad support was replaced with a small block fuelie support. I does have a big block rear end and rear sway bar, 6500 redline tach w/80 lb oil gauge.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rex

[Joel T.]

Re: 65 L-78 cars

Rex,

Check the rear end date and code.. there were a separate set of codes for BB cars, That and the usual cutout/recess in the cradle up front, the battery in the right wheel well.

Those were the things I checked when I bought mine. If you have a correct 962 block 4 bolt block which has the correct Vin# and IF suffix that is a great find. Many of these cars lost the original blocks years ago.

Good luck,

Joel

[John S.]

Re: 65 L-78 cars

Rex,

Also check the following:

1. No ballast resistor on firewall
2. TI Amplifier mounted on the radiator core support right side)
3. Hood support on the passenger side
4. Voltage regulator mounted on the left hand side
5. Windshield washer bag mounted on the left fender, by the battery

[Duke W.]

Re: 65 L-78 cars

L-78 was not released until mid production, and I think the first sequence number has been determined, and it's somewhere near 11,000, but I have seen claimed "originals" with sequence numbers well under 10,000 including one that sold for big bucks at B-J about five years ago.

Duke

[Bill W.]

Re: 65 L-78 cars

Gas line.firewall rivits & brkts.gas linkage.wiring.springs, sway bars front & rear, left & rt fender wells, holes,supports & brkts, battery tray,...that should get you started... whats the vin....BILL

[Barbara S.]

Re: 65 L-78 cars

Hi John. It's possible that it's an original L78 car but with points added later. It seems that once a problem arose with the K66, alot of owners didn't want to mess with the TI and just switched to points. The problem then is trying to find an original '093 distributor. The amp is easy. I would look at the passenger side of the radiator support and make sure that the three holes are drilled in it for mounting the amp (if the amp in missing).

I just bought an L78 project car and went through this whole screening process.

It's a real plus if Rex's car has the original rear end, starter, alternator, fan shroud, exhaust manifolds and radiator support. The original engine is a real plus since mine was blown back in the '60's driving a quarter mile at a time. They are expensive components to purchase if you have to. When I sent my original starter to John Pirkle to be restored, John told me to insure the original core for $1500! If the project doesn't come with mostly original components, the cost to find them can really eat up your pocket book.

Tony

[John H.]

Re: 65 L-78 cars

The battery was accessed through the left (driver's side) inner fender, the same as all A/C cars; "right" is the passenger side.