RPO Four-Speed Big-Block '68-70 Nova SS Let us not forget the '68, '69, and '70 RPO manual transmission big-block Novas. The L34 350hp 396 sales were 234, 1,947, and 1,802; L78 375hp 396 sales ...

You had to have some insider knowledge to know that the most powerful 396 had become an option. The '69 Nova brochure shows the 350/300hp as the only available engine for the Nova SS option.

He thought they were '69 models. I was born in 1969 ... to look over the cars for himself. The Nova SS under the carport was orange, still wearing 396 badges on the front fenders.

More importantly, the late '60s heralded the availability of a 396-cubic-inch big block V8 in the Nova SS. Although even bigger big block motors like the 454-cubic-inch displacement V8 would be ...

In the other lane is a 1969 Chevy Nova SS396, which features the 396 cubic-inch V8 L78. As the video hosts points out, this V8 comes equipped with a range of exciting goodies, including a solid ...

In that light, the first optional engine offering for '69 Chevelle SS 396 customers was the upgraded L34 engine. It's very similar to the base engine except for an added steel crankshaft and a ...