The 305 4 bbl from what I know isn't a factory option on the 78 impala. I also own a 78 impala 2 door with a 305 4 bbl.
I just checked the owners manual of my 79 impala, your right a 305 came only with the 2 barrel stock, the 350 with the 4 barrel. I guess you engine or your carb and intake aren't original.
A boyhood friend who has done well financially recently gave his mother's 1978 Impala coupe. It is in near factory condition. He even had new tires, battery, belts and hoses, and a new radiator installed. Is that a friend, or what?
What a great website. My 1978 Impala has 78,000 original miles and is a 4 door. 305 automatic. Probably most were. It's a great driving and handling car. I agree with all the comments. I thought to myself, these guys are describing my Impala. I found her in the weeds, where she sat for quite a while. When I asked for the keys, she started right up. I've replaced a few mechanical items, but like the EverReady Bunny, she just keeps going. I use 89 or 91 octane, as she doesn't like 87 at all. That's OK, I bought her for 700 bucks, and she has paid it all back. I really do love my car, and like so many others in here, I'll keep her. She is truly a classic. Along with all the other comments, I'll put my chariot up against anything new, and for lots of reasons my Chevy will come through shining. Thanks again for a great website. Hope to hear from some of you guys out there, and I'm glad there are a few of us who recognize class.
I am 16 years old, and my grandpa gave me his old 1978 2dr coupe with a 305. He gave it to me and put it in the garage about 12 years ago, and tomorrow I get to go and fix it up and drive it around a little. It's good to here that this is such a dependable car, and I hope to love it as much as you folk seem to.
When I met my husband, he drove a '78 Impala Coupe, rust, nearly completely consumed floor pan and all. He loved the power and the fact that he could almost stand in the engine compartment to work on it (Can't quite do that with our '99 GA) Right before we got married, it died and due to economics, he had to let someone junk it. Now, almost 8 years later, he still mourns this car. I have to admit, it did squat and smooth out around 90 MPH-by far the best ride I have had at those speeds. My plan is to find one that he can now restore to his heart's content.
I had a chance to get my Grandmothers 78 2-Door Coupe 4 years ago. It has the 305 in it, but runs great and still has plenty of power, I can't tell any difference in the power since I drove it back in 78.I hope someday to repaint it I don't really like the color. With 134,000 on it, it has weathered quit a bit. I thought about painting it Black I don't know yet. Glad to see more people than me enjoy these 78 Impala's.Don't junk them restore them.
This past summer o4', I purchased what I thought for 800$ would be a car I would drive till I could find a better classic car... I was wrong its none other than a 78 impala 2 door. and after a day or two a driving it around I fell in love. the 305 with the 350 turbo behind it won't burn a lot of cars out there, but after I put a for barrel on top it help quite a bit for a more enjoyable driving experience. this summer I'm gonna put a crate 350 of some kind in. the body is clean and deep red. the interior is too. I just ripped out the 8 track for a cd player. it has 88 thousand miles a still feels like new. the owner before me had duel pipes put on which was a selling point for me, they make a little noise, but not much, I'm thinking flo masters. Keep the American car alive.
These are great cars. I currently own 4 of them all coupes and all from estate sales of old ladies (seriously). Got a dark blue one with the straight six and 38K miles, a tan one with a 305 and 53K miles, a light blue one with 47K miles and a 350, and my trusty "beater" which I call Bessie, that has 147K miles at least on the original 305. A little rust on Bessie, but I have to drive something in the winter!
I also own a '78 Impala, 4 door. I love this car. I recently hit a deer with it and only did minor damage. I was fortunate enough to find the parts I needed to fix it. My next project is to swap the engine out for something with a little more power. I'll never sell my car. Hopefully I will not have to go through the pain of rebuilding her again.
I have a 78 Impala 2 door and had it since it was new. The only bad thing was the paint holding up. Well over 500k miles now on the same 305 engine. I have never been in the engine, just replaced the transmission. My Speedo doesn't work and I'm tryin to find new gauges. Lately I have been getting so many offers to buy it, I found out that there were only 4000 78 Coupes made, so there must not be many left out there now.
There were 33,990 1978 Impala coupes built in 1978, so it's not all that rare.
I have a '78 impala 4-door with the 250 c.i.d. straight six; I'm trying to find out exactly how rare it is to have that car with the L6 motor... I've heard from some big-time Chevy guys that Chevrolet just didn't put that motor in cars very often (they mostly put them in trucks)
So, if anybody can find the numbers, let me know how many '78s were made with the in line 6.
Thanks.
I saw a Popular Mechanics owner survey article that came out in 1977 that stated about 3% of the owners surveyed with 77 Impala/Caprices had the L6. So while that may not be how many were built, it gives a rough estimate. I found that there were 661,661 1977 Impala/Caprices built, so that figures to about 19,850 with the L6.
Hi.
I have a '78 Impala, 4 door, 305 Automatic, and am looking for parts, especially interior. Besides Ebay, I've had no luck finding a good source. I'm in the Northeast, so there aren't many good bone yards with rust free parts for exterior.
Any advice is appreciated.
If anybody has a parts car, and is interested in selling items, please email me at thousandhurts@yahoo.com.
Thanks
Dave.