1979 Nova G-Rated Suspension Question

[TXVTX]

Trying to build an Extreme-G 1979 Nova and am having difficulty in finding the right suspension components to fit. From what I've determined so far is that some of the control arms, links, etc... have common part numbers with the 1980-1981 Camaro. I'd like to fully replace all the stock components with new g-rated parts/kits.

The rear seems to have the exact deminsions as the 1969 Camaro so that part should be easy.

Does anyone either have direct experience with setting up this year/model with high tech g-rated parts or know of someone I can speak to who has?

Big Al

[jmarsa]

Hi there, there are only a few 4th Gen folks between here and pro-touring.com

Basically your right. Any trick for a 2nd Gen will work on the back. For the front it's really more of the same. Keep in mind 1st gen Camaro/2nd gen Nova spindles are called "short" ('67-'74) while '75 on are called tall, cause thier taller than the short. ;) Only look into tall spindle parts. Basically control arms, spindles, brake, and steering links are all swapable according to Hollinger (sp?). Search and read up on what the 2nd gen guys are doing. They're just getting some love from the aftermarket which helps us out.

My car will have a custom subframe and a HTH truck arm set up in back when it's done.

--JMarsa

[TXVTX]

...all swapable according to Hollinger (sp?). Search and read up on what the 2nd gen guys are doing.
--JMarsa

Appreciate the insights!

This is my first trek down the '79 Nova path and therefore not familar with Hollinger (no viable hits but could be sp as you suggest). Is this Nova considered a 2nd or 3rd gen?

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

[jmarsa]

The Hollinger manual I was refering was (not sure if they are still around) used to show what parts from one car fit another car. I must admit I mispoke and according to the Mitchell manual I have photo copied, the 2nd Gen Camaro/Firebird and 4th Gen Nova (ours) parts I mentioned are interchangable.

What is your budget and goal?

--JMarsa

[JayR]

Appreciate the insights!

This is my first trek down the '79 Nova path and therefore not familar with Hollinger (no viable hits but could be sp as you suggest). Is this Nova considered a 2nd or 3rd gen?

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.


You're looking for the Hollander Exchange Guide and it should be easy to find on Google.
Good luck with the X-Body. Those have a soft spot in my heart as my first car was a 77 Nova Rally. Silver with the cool stripes and the rare eggcrate grille. I'm partial but I gotta say it's the best 75-79 X-body there was.

[TXVTX]

You're looking for the Hollander Exchange Guide...
Most excellent...just found the book I'll need at this link:
http://www.hollander-auto-parts.com/products/prod_nova.html

May have to buy one for my son's '72 Chevelle.

[TXVTX]

The Hollinger manual I was refering was (not sure if they are still around) used to show what parts from one car fit another car. I must admit I mispoke and according to the Mitchell manual I have photo copied, the 2nd Gen Camaro/Firebird and 4th Gen Nova (ours) parts I mentioned are interchangable.

What is your budget and goal?

--JMarsa
This will be an interesting journey, however that Hollendar book will be very valuable!

The simply objective would be to approach as close to a 1G setup as possible while still being streetable. I'm thinking I would like to do the following:
Tubular upper and lower control arms
2" dropped spindles
Rack-n-pinion setup (may require some fab work)
Appropriate springs, shocks, sway bars
Lowered rear leaf springs
4 wheel disc conversion
Enhancing the frame (making more stiff)

This is a start. No idea on budget. The motor I'd like to put in there is a 427 SBC with a 4L80E tranny going to a custom 9" rear end. We'll put Recaro seats in and have the stock gauge setup upgraded with no external gauge plus a few other things. Figuring about 3 years for the project.

[69Nova]

To reach your goal you will probly need some serious rubber. Pulling a G on the is a great goal but you will need a well setup car as a whole.

Also I have heard drop spindles are horible for suspension geometry so I would research before you buy a set.

I love X-body cars(as if my screen name didnt give it away)so be sure and post updates because I want to see your progress.

[TXVTX]

Here's a recent photo of the car I'm starting with. This was my wifes aunts car (she can no longer drive). She worked for GM in CA and bought this new from the factory. This is all factory original condition:

http://www.xowners.com/images/1979Nova.jpg

[JayR]

Wow! That thing looks MINT! IMO, It would look WAY better with round headlights. It should be a simple swap with an earlier grille and lights. You might even be able to pick and choose various grilles from J&W Nova Parts.
You should also pick up all the issues of Popular Hot Rodding with their g/28 build up articles over the last 18 months or so if you haven't already. There's tons of valuable info as well as proven parts that should interchange with your project.

[TXVTX]

Thanks. My goal is to keep this looking factory original as possible on the outside...think stealth. I found the link on the G-28 buildup, ref: http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/index2.html
I'll read through this for idea's.

Thanks again,
Big Al

[69Nova]

Wow that car is perfect. What are you going to do with those wheels?

[JayR]

Thanks. My goal is to keep this looking factory original as possible on the outside...think stealth. I found the link on the G-28 buildup, ref: http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/index2.html
I'll read through this for idea's.

Thanks again,
Big Al

It would still look factory original, just factory original round headlights.

[TXVTX]

Wow that car is perfect. What are you going to do with those wheels?
Thanks. We're keeping the wheels and pretty much everything else (in storage). Never know when you'll want a numbers matching capability.

[Slow Ride]

I'm also building up a 4th gen X-body. I had a '78 Nova back in college and regretted selling it the first day after it was gone. Sooo, I finally bought a '77 Pontiac Ventura the other day to start a pro-touring type build to go with my drag race inspired 454 BBC powered S-10 Blazer.

[Marcus SC&C]

Hey nice clean Nova! It reminds me of the `75 Nova my Mom had many years ago. It was the luxo version with the small 1/4 windows,thick padded half top and deluxe interior. Sounds gross today but it was pretty nice back then. Had a factory 350 too.

At any rate the front subframe and suspension parts are identical to `70-`78 2nd gen F body (Camaro,Firebird), `79-`81 parts will also fit but the body mounts on the subframe are in a different location. Things like the big WS6 Trans Am sway bar and fast ratio steering box will bolt right on. The geometry of these cars is fairly decent out of the box so you have a good foundation to start on. The rear of the car is the same as `67-`69 Camaro/Firebird. So you know where to get parts for that end.

Now I`ll take a stab at your list.

*Tubular arms are okay but make sure you`re getting them for the right reasons. Do a bunch of research here and on other sites before you part with your hard earned money. We have some packages for them that improve the geometry and let you run more modern alignment specs.

*Again,do some reading up on this. Drop spindles have several downsides and no real upside. You`re better off dropping it with a set of good performance springs. You`ll get better geometry,the same low stance and higher wheel rate for flatter cornering too.

*This chassis doesn`t lend itself well at all to the *proper* installation of a rack and pinion. The short answer is that you have to reconfigure the whole subframe to make it work properly. They actually have a pretty good steering setup that works quite well with a good fast ratio box.

*Everything else on the list is a great idea. 1st thing,a good set of subframe connectors!

Mark SC&C

[TXVTX]

Mark, really appreciate the feedback, this is a tremendous help to me!

Hey nice clean Nova! It reminds me of the `75 Nova my Mom had many years ago. It was the luxo version with the small 1/4 windows,thick padded half top and deluxe interior. Sounds gross today but it was pretty nice back then. Had a factory 350 too.

At any rate the front subframe and suspension parts are identical to `70-`78 2nd gen F body (Camaro,Firebird), `79-`81 parts will also fit but the body mounts on the subframe are in a different location. Things like the big WS6 Trans Am sway bar and fast ratio steering box will bolt right on. The geometry of these cars is fairly decent out of the box so you have a good foundation to start on. The rear of the car is the same as `67-`69 Camaro/Firebird. So you know where to get parts for that end.

Now I`ll take a stab at your list.

*Tubular arms are okay but make sure you`re getting them for the right reasons. Do a bunch of research here and on other sites before you part with your hard earned money. We have some packages for them that improve the geometry and let you run more modern alignment specs.

*Again,do some reading up on this. Drop spindles have several downsides and no real upside. You`re better off dropping it with a set of good performance springs. You`ll get better geometry,the same low stance and higher wheel rate for flatter cornering too.

*This chassis doesn`t lend itself well at all to the *proper* installation of a rack and pinion. The short answer is that you have to reconfigure the whole subframe to make it work properly. They actually have a pretty good steering setup that works quite well with a good fast ratio box.

*Everything else on the list is a great idea. 1st thing,a good set of subframe connectors!

Mark SC&C

[andy]

Hi, I know that I can help you out here. I have a 1977 Nova Concours. Ihave the interior gutted, for my cage install. I got the 2" front coils from Hotchkis and the 1.5" leafs from them also. They are all for the 70-81 Camaro. I went full Energy Suspension bushings. The subframe bushings were also replaced with aluminum pieces from Moroso. The only problem that I encountered was the spring plate holes on the rear end need to be drilled out a little. Also, the front sat a little higher than the rear so I cut exactly 1 coil from the tops of the coil springs. I do have the motor in and it has been sitting for about a month. It is not too low with the 15" rally's on it. If anyone would like to see pics, let me know how to post them and I will do so. I hope this is some help to you. Later, Andy

[jmarsa]

Pics are always good.

--JMarsa

[andy]

I'll get the pics posted on here tomorrow. It may be late because I race dirt latemodels and we race tomorrow night.

[TXVTX]

Hey Andy, I think we found a place that will be a big help.
Looks like we're going to use Martz Chassis and put a whole
new front end setup as well as a new rear end setup. They are
the only place I've found that will directly work on a 4th gen Nova.

http://www.martzchassis.net/rallyrr.gif

http://www.martzchassis.net/rear%201.jpg

We have to completely strip the car of motor, trans and interior then transport it to PA to Martz Chassis. Looks like I'll be selling the original 6 cylinder with 3 speed automatic trans (85K original miles) plus other parts. While its there I have them install a custom 6 point cage along with tying the two subframes together. Since the chassis will be customized I'll more than like run Corvette 18x9.5 rims all the way around. :eek:

[jmarsa]

I've spoken to Wayne several times and he'll do a 4th Gen Nova as well. The specs are nearly the same as a Camaro. I sent him diagrams once.

Bottom line is that given a few basic measurements any good chassis builder should be able to build it to your specs.

You could also just send your subframe to a builder and have built what you want, alot cheaper than the whole car too!

--JMarsa