1969 CHEVELLE SS 396 L78 375HP (NUMBERS MATCHING ENGINE, TRANS, & REAR END)

1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 L78 375HP Description

There were an astonishing number of Chevelles produced in 1969 with total production numbers reaching over 505,000 are over 1/2 million in the 1969 model year alone, totals according to Dale Macintosh (Chevelle expert and author of many books and manuals on Chevelles and site owner moderator of Chevellestuff.net). However, only around 9,000 Chevelle El Caminos were built with SS option in 1969. It gets better, only around 1000 were produced in 1969 with L78 375hp engine option. Only around 165 of these handful of cars were equipped with the TH400 heavy duty transmission and paired with theinfamousL78 solid lifter 4-bolt main engine with all forged rotating assembly, high flow large valve square port heads, higher compression ratio pistons, high lift cam, winters aluminum high rise intake manifold and Holley dual feed double pumper 780cfm carburetor. This data in production numbers is taken fromDan Carr'sposter totals. He is known as one of the most knowledgeable people on '68 - '72 El Camino's.
When I bought this car, I did not realize how rare the El Camino is with L78 and the TH400. I received a phone call from a family member of mine who was looking at the car out of town and asked me if I would be interested. Upon reviewing of the engine stamping, 12 bolt rear end and other indicators, I told my family member to make arrangements purchase. I then later drove to the location of the car, paid for it, and had a trucking company tow it back to my home town. I knew enough from past Chevrolet muscle cars I owned that the double plugs on side of block it was 4-bolt main, and looking to theengine stampingI had a high level of certainty the car was born an L78 car. I suspectedthis was a good find, but at the time did not know much about El Caminos, or how rare these options on this car really were.
The priorownerof this rare special car who is around 65 years old decided to let it go at a price that was undervalued in my opinion, all things considered.Considering that there were only around 300-400 Copo Chevelles produced for 1969, the ultra low prduction number of only 165 L78 El Caminos with TH400 is more rare than even the COPO! I was able to buy this car at a very attractive price. I supect this was becauseit had a mechanical problem (that I have now fixed), and it seems the old man did not want to deal with it. I also suspect he did not realize how rare of a car he had. I actually did not learn until a few days ago that they only produced 165 automatic L78 El Camino Chevelles in 1969, I have owned the car for over a year.
This Chevelle has numbers matching KF code engine, TH400transmissionwith CX code, and rear end with KK code. The car's VIN is present on both the engine and transmission. Rear end is date coded correct casting number 12 bolt with KK code ( decodes: 4.10:1 ~12-bolt Positraction (L78/396). The wheels are YA code GM, YA decodes as 1969 Chevelle. This car has some others special unique options such as tilt wheel, factory tinted window glass, F41 special heavy duty suspension with boxed control arms, power steering, power brakes, and more!
The car was spent most of its life in Arizona (I have a copy of Arizona state registration on this car proving it was Arizona car). I was told all original body panels and floor boards, and it does appear to be the case. The car has the nicest floor boards and frame that I have ever seen on a 1960's vintage Chevelle. The prior owner recently before selling the car replaced ball joints, shocks, coil springs, tie rod ends, and more. Also, a new main wiring harness has been installed in the car, new SS door panels and new dash pad.
This car was built /assembled at the GM Kansas City plant in the 3rd week of July 1969 and delivered to a small town Chevrolet dealership on State street in Manhattan, Illinois (Consumers Hardware and Auto) before being transported out to the southwest part the the USA. The small town GM dealership was also a hardware company with more than one business on State street and was bought out by Ace Hardware after a fire burned down the GM Chevrolet dealership many years ago.
I own a full engine machine shop with restoration center and Superflow engine dyno. When I bought the car I removed the 375hp engine and transmission. I completely rebuilt the engine now installed along with refurbishing transmission that is now installed. When I say refurbished, I mean new forged pistons, torque plate honing of cylinders, competition valve job on $28,000 Sunnen head machine, new stainless valves and hp valve springs, new cam and solid lifters, new timing set etc. I also rebalanced crankshaft on our digital balancer down to less than 1 gram imbalance on each end . Most cranks are off 20-50 grams. I broke in engine around 1 week ago and have put around 100 miles on the engine. The cam was broke in with zinc and ran at 2500rpm for the first 30 minutes of stating engine to lap lifters to cam and seat rings. Do not let the 375hp rating fool you on, this GM rating was underrated intentionally for insurance purposes, recording horsepower at only around 4000rpm. We have dynoed a few of this L78 solid lifter engines that are capable of making peak power to around 7,000 rpm, and they are actually over 500hp. Horsepower is calculated in this formula (torque x RPM / 5252). So, with high reving solid lifters and higher duration camshaft, GM was able to underate the output by publishing output at a very low RPM.
When I removed the engine around a month ago, I painted the entire frame and floors of the car in enamel with hardener with air compressor and professional paint gun to make it look rotisserie quality when you look under the car and so it would hold up for many years to come and not rust. The car already was painted nicely on the under body but I went the extra distance to make it even better, including painting sway bars, steering components, etc in the correct silver color and not black like it rolled off the GM line in 1969. When I purchased this car from the prior owner provided paperwork stating this car was born a 375hp L78 car and 60,000 odometer miles on the car. Below is a lot of valuable information on the car. Window sticker and NCRS data report included with the car along with engine blue print / build sheet and balance card. I will get some better photos of the car in the next day or two in a more open area and of car on lift so you can see how nice the under carriage of the car really is. I also am going to work this week at water sanding the paint on the car that is quite decent and buffing with compound. This will make a huge difference in the pop on the paint and will update photos after this paint improvement is performed. I also intend to adjust some body panel fitment, and when paint is super detailed install the D96 factory option side stripe kit, if time allows.
Respected valuation guide Hagarty average value for 1969 El Camino with L78 375hp is over $40,000 usd. However, this valuation does not take into account the limited production of L78 with TH400 automatic transmission and other options. Special cars as we all have seen at Barret Jackson can exceed the average value guide valuation sometimes many times over. Example: Mecum auction Lot number F159 in 2017 in Kissimmee Florida a 1969 El Camino 396 375hp with aluminum heads sold for $140,000 bid. I can supply GM winters casting aluminum heads for an additional charge if you desire these aluminum heads over the 840 casting heads now on the engine. I am able to sell this car for much less than book value making it a sound investment for a collector or a person who wants to have a rare muscle car to drive and enjoy for a few years and then be able to sell for profit, that is, if car is taken care of and collector car economy stays on pace as it has with these cars now going up thousands in value each decade. I can likely offer free shipping by truck transport anywhere in the continental USA if purchase price is satisfactory to me in relation to the buy it now price. I can also offer discounted or potentially free international shipping worldwide or to Hawaii or Alaska, depending on the final sale price.
DETAILED INFORMATION:

(1969 Chevelle El Camino SS 396)

Total '69 El Camino with the Super Sport option was 9717 units. Breaking down the L-78 option was 835 with manual trans (all models of manual trans) and 165 Automatic's (Cited: El Camino Central.com)

Engine Block Stamped on Pad: T0507KF* KF code meaning 396 375hp L78 w/ automatic TH400

Block VIN Stamping Near Oil Filter: 19K473454 (Kansas City Plant VIN stamping, Not on Pad)

TH400 3-Speed Automatic w/ Special CX Code Serial #2148 Date Coded Data Plate

* CX Trans Decode: 396,427 solid lifter engines only (375hp-425hp-430hp-435hp) COPO, Chevelle, Camaro, Corvette, Nova (*high shift point)

Transmission VIN Stamping: 19K473454

12-bolt Rear Axle Assembly Code: KK (4.10:1 Posi L78/396)

DATE CODING:

Trim tag Car Assembly Date Kansas Plant: (07C July 3rd week 1969)

Block is dated C-6-9 (March 6th, 1969)

Engine block assembly dated May 7th, 1969

Heads dated C-24-9 and C-28-9 (March 24th 28th, 1969)

Intake Manifold dated C-8-9 (March 8th, 1969)

Alternator dated 9-C-9 (March 9th, 1969)

Distributor Dated 9-E-20 (May 20th, 1969)

Rear End Casting Date: C-6-9 (March 6th, 1969)

Carburetor dated May 9-E-3 (May 6th, 1969)

Rear Axle Tube Assembly Date: 0319B (March, 19th, 1969 2nd Shift)

Transmission Date Code: 395 (January 29th, 1969) 395th day from Jan 1, 1968)

CASTING NUMBER/PART NUMBER QUICK REFERENCE:

Engine Block #3955272

Cylinder Head #3919840

Intake Manifold #3933163

Carburetor GM 3959164-GE List 4346 (Holley Dual Feed 4 barrel 780cfm)

Distributor #1111499

Alternator #1100837

Transmission CX Code

Rear Axle GM # 3959038(Rear axle for 1969 Chevelle late build car only ~ Matches 07C Build Date of this car)

Correct 3959164-GE LIST 4346 9E3 carburetor is included with sale of car freshly rebuilt and tuned set up with correct power valve, jetting, etc !

DISCLAIMER: THIS CAR IS BEING SOLD AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY. ITS IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IN PERSON BY APPOINTMENT. I GUARANTEE NOTHING AS "ORIGINAL" OR "BORN TO THE CAR". WHILE IT APPEARS THIS CAR HAS A LOT OF "ORIGINAL" ATTRIBUTES, MANY PARTS WERE TAKEN OFF OF THESE OLD CARS OVER THE DECADES AND REPLACED AND/OR MODIFIED FOR VARIOUS REASONS. JUST BECAUSE A CAR HAS THE CORRECT DATE CODED PART NUMBER PART ON IT WHETHER IT BE A TIRE WHEEL OR AN ENGINE PULLEY, ETC THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WITH COMPLETE CERTAINTY IF IT IS TRULY "ORIGINAL" OR "BORN TO THE CAR". MOST IF NOT ALL OF THESE OLD CARS DO NOT HAVE THE ORIGINAL AIR IN THE TIRES SO TO SPEAK. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT WAS REPRESENTED AS A L78 375HP SS 396. HOWEVER, THIS CAR IS BEING SOLD AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY WITH NO PRESENT OPTIONS ON THE CAR GUARANTEED AS "ORIGINAL" OR "BORN TO THE CAR". I AM OFFERING THIS CAR AROUND $10,000 UNDER HAGARTY AVERAGE VALUE, AND PRICE IS NEGOTIABLE. IF I WERE GOING TO TRY TO GUARANTEESOME OR PART OF THE CAR OR "ORIGINAL" OR CERTAIN OPTIONS "BORN TO THE CAR" AND TAKE ON THIS LIABILITY, I WOULD EXPECT A LOT MORE MONEY OUT OF THE CAR. WITH THAT SAID, I ONLY REPRESENT THE CAR WITH THE PRESENT OPTIONS IT HAS NOW IN 2017, I DO NOT GUARANTEE ANY OPTIONS ON THE CAR ASORIGINALOR BORN TO THE CAR! I HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO GIVE ANY POTENTIAL BUYER LOTS OF INFORMATION ON THE CAR AS TO ITS PRESENT CONDITION AND STATUS HERE AND NOW IN 2017, ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH DATA TO ITS PRESENT OPTIONS AND FEATURES. INDIANA STATE LAW STATE LAW REQUIRES TITLE TO SHOW VEHICLES OF THIS AGE AS "EXEMPT" MILEAGE ON TITLE, CAR IS BEING SOLD AS MILEAGE EXEMPT WITH NO GUARANTEE TO ACTUAL MILEAGE. $2000 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT DUE WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT, AND REMAINING BALANCE DUE WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS.


Note:
Indiana law requires sales tax be collected at a rate of 7% depending on whether or not I as the seller arrange for the vehicle transport to an out of state purchaser. If I arrange the transport of the vehicle for an non-Indiana resident, I am not required to collect sales tax. Inquire for details. Any sales tax I am required by Indiana state law to collect is due over and above the sale price of the car based on the sale price of the car. If I hire the auto-transport, I am only required to provide an ST-108NR and am not required to collect sales tax. If you have a valid dealers resale licence there would be no sales tax implications, no matter the circumstances, simply dealer reassignment of title.