!!!SOLD!!!
Needed
the cash to buy my dream car... A Turbo Buick!!!
This page
is going to be left up for informational purposes only... since I did do
a great deal of research. :)
Here is the beginning of a new life for my SS: a very rare and special L89 396.
What is it
that makes the L89 so rare and special? What makes it so rare is that according
to a very reliable source: approximately 2200 of these were installed in
various cars ranging from Chevelles to Novas.
Here is the
very incomplete list I have collected, but it gives some insight:
Year Model
# Cost
1968 Camaro
272 $868.95
1969 Camaro
311 $710.95
1969 Nova
SS YSC 9
???
1969 Chevelle
SS 400 $647.75
1970 Chevelle
SS 18
???
and there
are many more... But how many have lasted the years???
Why so special? In a nut shell it was the cylinder heads (casting #3919842.; 68-69; aluminum rectangle port; closed chamber used on 396 & 427; L88 & L89) and the intake manifold (casting #3933163 also used on the L88 427 and L89 396 in 68-69 ). Essentially the L89 was a 375hp L78 (11:1 compression; forged everything) with the above options slapped on it. the L89 retained the L78's very unrealistic 375hp rating which was way out of whack once the aluminum hit the engine bay.
the valve covers are finned cast aluminum valve covers made by Cal-Customs (p/n 40-2100)... a classic touch which will remain (assuming no interference is found once the new cam is installed).
So now you are wondering what is to become of the baby rat? Well the intended and incomplete parts list is below.
So what does this all mean? It translates (hopefully) to 500 to 600 horsepower @ 7000+ rpm at the crank! And how does this change E.T.s? to the tune of mid 11's @ 120 (again pure speculation) on slicks. And in general I will be able to stomp any "Super Car" (in a straight line only)!
Some of the
interesting parts that have shown up during teardown:
Windage tray
(has a crack and will need welding)
Lifter valley
pan (may not work with new roller lifters)
Heli-coiled
everything in the heads
Elongated
oil pan
more to come...
the good news:
Bearings showed
normal wear patterns
Nothing broken
into pieces
the bad news:
Severe detonation
on #8 piston face (have to replace)
Harmonic balancer
will not come off (ruined puller, may require heat)
Won't stop
dripping fluids!
Look at the size of those ports! Should make Rev'n easy. Here you can see the oil pan and valley pan... the reason that you can't see the lifters! All together this should make a wild combo for the street... heck I want to be one of if not the fastest daily driven car in my city... that may be a stretch... but it is a goal!