1970 Chevelle SS396 L78 CA Barn Find Walk Around

[@markbradley8252]

My younger brother bought a 1970 Chevelle ss, 396, 350 horse from the second owner in 1982. He passed away in 1985 in a car accident. We still have that car, it was his pride and joy. It has sat pretty much ever since. A few years ago I brought home to my house from my parents hoping to do some work on it. Busy with kids haven't done anything. Every time I look at it I think of him, and the cruising we did.

[@vargohoat9950]

keep it in good shape, and when its time, let it move on to a better place. id consider donating it to jay lenos collection if he doesnt have one

[@kevinklien90]

Mark Bradley I guess I’ll take it hehe

[@kevinkendall3122]

Sorry for your loss,my cousins 69 Camaro has remained unchanged since he was killed in May of 84,he was my little buddy

[@johnweaver1198]

Probably one of the best educational channels for car guys on YT. It ranks up there with Dennis Collins and his knowledge of Jeeps which is insane.....

[@michelsaarloos4392]

Glad to see there are still lovers of those nice rides

[@chatsworth777]

I built these cars at GMAD, Van Nuys. It's a shopping mall now. The big blocks were 402 and LS5 and LS6. If I remember correctly, the LS5 was a q-jet and the LS6 was a Holley. I think we still had the solid-lifter 402, 375 HP. I saw quite a few M-22s go down the line. We also built a SS454 Monte Carlo. A few had the LS6. If this car is original Holley, it would be the solid lifter 375 hp. We also got the 70 1/2 Z28 and Trans Am. There was a lot of racing going on in the back yard. I worked in soft trim, so the cars didn't have a drive train. The stupidest car we made was a bunch of '70 El Caminos with an LS6 and an open rear end. I left GMAD in '72.

[@gixxer1114]

+ Chatsworth777 I lived a block away from the plant growing up in the early 90's remember the 18wheelers hauling Camaros thru saticoy st day and night ..... surprisingly enough most people don't knowledge; why they named that mall "THE PLANT"

[@gerardcousineau3200]

El Camino have their charms '

[@philipnaclerio2578]

Those must have been the days😊 did you turn out any L89s? Was it even an option in late 69?

[@dannypalazzo1969]

Can you give any more info on LS6 Monte Carlos? I had one in high school but the muscle car world denies they existed in LS6 form. Mine was tripple black bucket seat car. Had the build sheet and I sure wish I'd have kept it.

[@coltchattam1927]

L34, L78 were 402. Ls5, Ls6 were 454.

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Richard it is the combination of the rarity plus the huge story of the storage lot. It is now 1 of 1 with the interest that follows it. And there is a good lead as well I'm following on the whereabouts of the original engine too.

[@gtlogan8858]

Any chance you found the original engine?

[@carbug2402]

Anybody arguing with these guy better have there facts straight....he diffidently knows what he’s talking about ....I respect people that talk about what they know...not what they think they know...sooo rookies shut up....class is in session

[@kevinkendall3122]

Had a cousin that worked at the Baltimore plant,he sure helped turn out some classics RIP Red✝️

[@michaelparadisis4076]

What a find ! Great video Patrick.

[@mikelafferty5158]

I like that 1990s GMC or Chevy truck off in the background there in this video thanks for sharing another great video my friend peace 😁👍

[@byronjones9299]

Very Creative Investigation, Of These Classic Muscle Cars, A.K.A. Chevy Chevelle 1970, Make And Model.........

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Yes it does Mr. Dimirsky good eye. Yes that was a pretty rare option. It is listed on the car's buildsheet as well.

[@Mr2004MCSS]

It also has another rare option that I see. The windshield washer monitoring system. That part you see on the video sticking out of the washer jar is the float system part of the system. It should have had a fiber optic line that went to an indicator eye bolted to the left of the steering column on the underside of the dash. My 70 Monte Carlo has this option and it was only available on some 70 model chevy cars.

[@paulgrae6120]

I want it

[@cali2468]

Hmm...very interesting .

[@robspring81]

As a 70 SS 396 owner, I would love for you to write a book and put all that knowledge to paper!

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Ive heard of some VanNuys built car having buildsheets hidden in the seats. A specific example had it between the seat cover and foam in one of the bucket seats. You would have to cut the hog rings and pull back the cover to find it. They aren't where you can see them but if present they are usually in excellent shape. About the 396/402 question. All 1970 Chevelles SS396 cars were actually 402 cubic inch displacement. The ever so famous and successful SS396 slogan remained since SS402 just didnt sound as cool as SS396 which was such a solid seller since 1966. Therefore SS396 remained on the car even though the car actually had a 402 cubic inch engine. A correct 1970 Chevelle SS396 engine block has casting number 3969854 and they have a standard bore of 4.125 in. coupled with a 3.76 stroke equates to 402 cubic inches. "396" blocks in previous years have a standard bore of 4.094 with the same 3.76 stroke which equates to 396 cubic inches. Therefore a 396 bored .030 over has the same bore as a std bore 402 block. I hope this clears up your confusion.

[@dannygirvan422]

Great find- superb explanatory video.

[@arandomcayote8638]

Lucky find! still looks pretty pristine to me!

[@georgemcgillicuddy3498]

I love it . I had an LS5 in Cortez Silver with Black stripes and a & a L34 350hp " 396 " that was Cranberry Red with Tuxedo Black stripes . MISS them both . Still wish I had another one . Thanks for sharing this video .

[@no1dirtbag]

George McGillicuddy

[@jh5881]

You sir, have never met a Chevelle you didn't like. :-)

[@lesmawson7298]

What’s it look like now?🤔🤔🤔

[@garymcmuffin6116]

Let's all agree that no vinyl top is the best part

[@larryblack1944]

Looks like a lot of work to fully restore. Have fun!

[@Vaughnbarnes]

Nice truck in the background to!

[@nickrice7535]

Glad you got this one.. 👍

[@1973miniclubman]

U find some seriously wicked rides dude

[@brianglade848]

Very very nice fish fry Patrick....very nice

[@mustangmarty8491]

Gotta say you have one of the best car channels, keep up the good work. And i say this and I'm a Mustang owner..lol But I've had all kinds if muscle cars I like them all.🇺🇸

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Mustang Marty thank you for your support. I try to provide content that is very informative and interesting.

[@milla698]

Dam your good at finding these great cars.

[@rondpert5167]

'70 Chevelles were very popular in my town. One friend had a L78, 4 speed that was Black Cherry with white roof, stripes and interior. Of course there was the triple black LS6. My best friend bought new a L34 automatic that was Misty Turquoise with black top, stripes and interior. He had order Cowl Induction, but it arrived without it, so the dealer refunded the dealer's cost. In 1971, an old man in town had a brand new bronze Chevelle 350 with cowl induction. (?) I don't know how he got that, but I kidded my friend that that's where his hood went.

[@MrDjh66]

Great story chatsworth you were so lucky to work there I wish I could have I have a 73 transam with 33k original miles

[@nickrice7535]

I bought two 70 Chevelle SS396s from California in the late 80s among others and shipped them to Michgan. Also a 70 SS454 ElCamino

[@Haddeed]

Great Video. Thanks For Sharing. 👍👍👍

[@crazykellywfo4240]

Nice car......treat that ole' Huney with LOVE.

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Hey I'll take that. Sounding like ole Matthew McConaughey to you is definitely a compliment to me. Two true southern boys. He actually is just a couple months older.

[@eddiedickinson6731]

Patrick G. Nichols Chevelle Supercars & Supersports jj

[@Sparkinrailz]

And Matthew drove a 1970 S.S. in the Dazed and Confused Movie. Brought back memories for me. My 1970 454 S.S. had the same tach and the Malibu door panels. Raised cowl induction hood with no flapper and no stripes, 4:10 posi with extra low first gear turbo 400. All original. This was a Texas car, where Matthew is from too.

[@johnjoole2258]

Cool car drive it like that!

[@roystoys3099]

I Would Do A Mechanical Restoration With Minimal Cosmetic Changes & Rock It Just Like That!! I Love The Sun Kissed Paint!! Great Car!!

[@carloforbes7202]

That's a keeper for sure!!!

[@edgarrocha2452]

Nice video Matthew Mcconaughey

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

To answer your question 72nova500hp. It is technically not a VIN. Its is what is considered a vin sequence stamping. It isn't pop riveted or anything it's just stamped in the metal. The same type stamp like appears on engines for warranty purposes. It begins with the number 1 for Chevrolet motor division, followed by 0 for 1970, the L for assembly plant which is Van Nuys Los Angeles, and then the last 6 of the VIN. Hope this helps.

[@gatesyslots]

Sweet car, I have a 1970 short bed chevy truck barn find. It was purchased from the original owner in Georgia. I'll try to share it.

[@SteveTheFordGuy985]

Show us the truck please.

[@gatesyslots]

i sold it to a local guy last month, he plans to do a frame off resto on it. I just bought another one from California with only 40k original miles. It's being transported as we speak!

[@MrRudyhj]

Just curious if there's any interest in 70 Malibus......I know the money and attention is always favor an SS, but it's always nice to find a clean Malibu that haven't been cloned, and you really don't find many untouched or unmolested examples anymore. I bought my 70 in 2016 from the Seattle WA area, and it too is a Van Nuys build. I dropped the fuel tank and found a well preserved build sheet. I'm the third owner, and though it's not 100% original, it still wears cranberry red with a black vinyl top and interior. No, it's not a priceless collector, but that's just fine by me.

[@michaelcuff5780]

I remember these cars some of them stated that it was a 396 bored out to a 402 right under the hood.

[@rickskolfield4370]

What was the condition of the build sheet when the tank was dropped?

[@Dad-jk2wd]

Sweet find

[@waynejohnting2954]

An amazing find

[@ClassicGBodyGarage]

Sounds this car found the right owner.

[@vargohoat9950]

a friend of mine had one of these, not the fastest muscle car but really fun all the same

[@terribleTed-ln6cm]

What a beauty of a find ! I can't believe it took them 3 months to sell this baby , i would have bought this Chevelle had I knew it was for sale. ...any follow up videos on this car ?

[@sergeantmasson3669]

The last production year for the 396 was 1969. In 1970 some Chevrolet cars were produced with the 396SS badge but they actually had 402 engines instead of true 396s.

[@72Z15SS]

Build sheets can be found anywhere! I found one under the back seat, and the front passenger bucket seat in my 72 SS.

[@larryspiller6633]

Friend your voice sounds like Willie Nelson. That is a good thing. Peace,

[@tukamote6185]

The GM Van Nuys plant is now a shopping center called "The Plant" lol yeah and is 4 hours away from Tulare the grape vine takes most of the time there is a towing service that will tow your car up the vine for 200 bucks both ways north to south is the worse .

[@markpinciotti3705]

Are there any 2021 updates on this vehicle. I'd love to see it restored

[@marcoceccarelli6415]

good for you it's a beautiful car. fix it up and drive it.

[@johng2779]

all lot of barn find ls 6 454 chevelle like they made so many of those . therr r more nkw than in 1970 lol

[@michaelcuff5780]

Silver paint is mostly metal flake so the paint doesnt stand up to the elements very well

[@larrylomascolo6289]

like the car and the coke machines

[@acts2211]

This just came up in my KZbin feed today. Has this car been restored?

[@deanbean6240]

These here numbers match the numbers that match these numbers that make them there numbers right for this here car .

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Dam dude. Your grammar is seriously in need of attention.

[@deanbean6240]

@@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674 I was just kidding around man, my grammar is just simply remarkable. Nice cars I just don't care about all the matching numbers personally

[@leonardbresler5687]

Hi , how meny were 4 speed el caminos . My carcas has one plastic and one metal inner wheelwheel . Took rt half buildsheet from top of tank . Leonard .

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Its looking like this will go to auction in 2017.

[@robertowens1898]

Without the original engine, will you restomod it or just make it a daily driver? Also, awesome floors.

[@blackericdenice]

Where is this car now?

[@Tom-cy5em]

Great fine a very rare car are you going to restore it ?

[@michaelgrubbs1618]

I don't think a lot of people know how to look past surface patina. For me the most important is the rust Factor on these old cars

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

You might wanna recheck your facts Mr. Knight

[@greeniembush4106]

Love your video I'am try to have hope thank you.

[@markjamison9677]

What’s the plan Patrick did you restore the car sell or store it .

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

We all have opinions. Hmm wonder why it made the cover of CarCraft and was getting 20k hits every 5 seconds. Feel free tell us about your so special find. Love to see it.

[@windowclean100]

Second week in November 1970 sounds like it was born on my birthday

[@gregh7457]

youngster still. 1970 is like ancient history to some of these muscle car collectors LOL. I remember when these cars were scorned for being gas guzzlers and parked. My dad picked me up from school in 70 in a brand new 69 model ss 4 speed blig block camaro. Back in those days you could test drive them overnight. He ended up getting a puke green RS with a black vinyl roof ,automatic, and 350 engine. It did have a cool fm radio where the dial would flip the numbers when you changed from am to fm. I remember soon after buying it, they recalled it to have cables installed around the engine mounts LOL. Anyone remember that recall?

[@windowclean100]

Yeah I had a 69 Oldsmobile cutlass 72 Chevelle and 72 nova all those are ancient history too

[@RiffMusic1970]

This car had to be born November 1969, not November 1970.

[@robsonaraujo860]

Lindo demais 👍 eu sou o comentário brasileiro que você procura 😁 abraço Araçatuba SP

[@bobsilver3983]

Cool car...I just got my 1968 Lemans HO running. It sat since 1999....I bought it from the original owner. Love the garage/barn find cars!!! Are you going to restore the Chevelle, or get it roadworthy and leave it as a barn find car?

[@oldstuffnow1]

Bob Silver thousands of these were made everyone thinks every car they find is rare actually all cars only thousands were made. your car at least 75K to 100K to do it right

[@steveelliott241]

there seems to be lots of these cars around

[@ralphreich9636]

So correct if I'm wrong you bought the car Pat?

[@no1dirtbag]

you didn't mention anything about the low washer fluid level with the auxiliary lighting it look like it had that

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

no1dirtbag can’t make a movie

[@slashnduffrock]

so are you planning on restoring it?

[@gregoryolson1782]

No peak at build sheet??

[@stevefranklin9920]

I’m not a Chevrolet afficianado but the shifter/console sure looks like an automatic to me. I know it came as a standard shift as per the obvious clutch pedal and your reference to the build sheet. Where in Tennessee is your shop? Next time I visit my daughter and son-in-law, I’d sure like to see your cars!

[@FindItFixIt]

did u find the original motor

[@rockabillyrods83169]

did you ever find the original engine for it??

[@bigdaveonbass]

I haven’t read all the way through the comments, but I don’t believe you addressed what engine was in the engine bay in the absence of the original L78.

[@TheHotRod1961]

I would put a windshild in it ,get it running and put it in a Barn find car show.

[@garlitzhyperformancegarage8818]

Not only California 70 Chevelles had plastic inner fenders my Malibu was built in Michigan and had plastic inner fenders

[@thegreenerthemeaner]

Likely the engine was a warranty replacement. Some people were abusive despite having the best parts brought together to make a very robust and powerful combination.

[@jxtonemo8159]

Dude my 70 1/2 RS Z/28 had the build sheet right under the passenger side rear seat not under the seat cover! It was ripped by the stamped steel hook that grabs the frame of the seat and i wish i still had it today worst mistake i ever made

[@markbradley8252]

You said it does not have the original engine in it. I was curious what engine is in it. Is it an L34?

[@brianglade848]

Alright alright alright

[@Jgeneraledger23]

If you paid less than $10G's for this, we're going to be extremely jealous :P

[@72nova372]

You said they tried to get to the VIN # under the heater box and you can see the bolts are gone as well as the plastic inner fender well, but did they get them or what?? I did not know that's where chevy put the firewall vin# on a Chevelle. Camaro's and Nova's, they put them on the wall next to the master cylinder with 2 pop rivets and the other of coarse under the windshield driver side and the 6 digit told you what year it was. So did they get the vin# or what? I hope not, being the original motor is gone. Nice car though!!

[@rhondashortride4196]

how much for the cars in the barn?

[@robertcasserly9967]

How much do you think that car is worth sitting there? And how much you think it would cost to restore?

[@MrX-zu2qe]

So it was in a storage lot BARN FIND over used term - means you found it in a BARN but really it was a facebook find. Nice project ride though

[@SteveKluver]

Thank you for this Patrick! Quick question if I could please. What is the backstory as to these 396's really being 402's. My Dad replaced a scorched piston in his car, which he bought new.. Got it all back together, and it had a rattle right away. Only finding out later, after it was re-torn down, that indeed, it was a 402. Was every '70 396, really a 402?

[@tjclt250r]

yes every 1970 and on 396 was really a 402

[@SteveKluver]

Thank you Timothy Cote

[@agleicher8362]

I saw a Ford Comet, factory soup coming into a junkyard in 29 6 months ago,

[@garybrinker4522]

I'd rather have a Comet/Cyclone than this junkie Chevy 😎

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Hey Rick. Sounds like a really nice car. I really like the original untouched examples especially Cranberry red. They are my favorite. To answer your question, some Van Nuys built cars were also known to have buildsheets places inside the seat cover itself. You would need to remove some hog rings and look thoroughly throughout the front and back seats. They were hidden pretty good on the examples that I witnessed. I understand with an all original car like yours, disassembling the seats will be a tedious task but worth the effort if you are successful. Please send me some pictures if you like. You may text them to 9312419908. Thanks and good luck man.

[@ericwilkerson4954]

I have a 69 I haven’t looked at the vin in sometime all of the trim says Malibu but the vin says it’s a 136 and has front disc brakes power steering and air always thought front disc came only with ss

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Sold already

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

Car brought 30k at auction in Scottsdale

[@gregh7457]

what did you buy it for?

[@mariofrat5055]

Yeah, lets hear how much you paid its not like its a biggie anymore. I like hearing good guys get good scores!! Plus it was openly for sale....

[@jaylongton]

2,500

[@GibbyB45]

Tach looks to me like a 5700 rpm rev limit, what do you think, look at it gain. Not 6500 rpm.

[@KChev76]

Take a closer look. there are two colors: 5700 - 6500 = yellow 6500 - 7000 = orange

[@josephdeffendoll3056]

It's a 6500 tach

[@christolbert4628]

That silver might be my favorite. But, being a Georgia fan, cranberry red is nice, also.

[@jimd2101]

Silver is a boring color

[@patrickglennnicholsmusclec1674]

I'm not real sure. I'm not real knowledgeable on AMC cars. It sounds like a pretty cool find though. Of course there is a market for everything so do your research. Good luck.

[@user-kz3oi2zd3r]

Patrick G. Nichols Chevelle Supercars & Supersports thank you!

[@paulgrae6120]

I would restore the interior and drive as is. I like it

[@greattribulation]

How much u want for it?