The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Nova Front Clip

Here's one for the Rodders (or any 70's Chevy expert):
I was working on my rig today, finally getting the drivetrain (305 SBC/350TH) onto the frame. The PO had a early '70's Nova front clip grafted on. I have assumed the donor Nova had a V8, but am not certain. In looking at the alignment, I think the bolted Nova transmission mount crossmember is positioned incorrectly on the frame. Should it be bolted onto the bottom edge of the frame side rails or should the crossmember sit atop the frame? It makes sense to me for sitting atop for strength, but the tranny sit's high this way.

Thanks in advance for any help. Hoping to post pics soon.

Is it possible to call the PO and ask? If not, then having the cross member underneath the frame rail will work. The bolts holding it to the frame should be at least 3/8", two on each side. I would use flat washers for added strengths.

Thanks Sean-

I will try to ask the PO, but he had bartered some of the frame work out to another friend. In the past he hasn't been to knowlegdeable on these issues. I thought I would ask the members with years of Chevy blood if they knew.

51 phatboy, what i would do is pull trans cross member out support rear of trans with jack, measure front of engine center of vibration damper to frame rails with engine bolted down on engine mounts, measure rear of tail shaft center to frame rails to make sure it is centered, after engine trans is centered in frame, put level on carb top or intake manifold jack up or down rear of tail shaft until level is level, this will tell ya where trans mount should be , adjust motor mount, trans mounts to align engine trans square in frame, also check rear axle, drive shaft alignment so it is straight from front to rear, also check degree of rear axle to trans drive shaft fit, you may have to modify trans mount or buy hot rod trans mount to get good fit,
Hope this helps, also mit check engine trans swaps
hot rod web pages, I believe most trans mounts on frame vehicle bolt to the top and bottom rail of frame and are adjustible to some extent mit try measure frame rails check salvage yards for suitable donor trans mount that will fit better than what you have. maybe someone else will jump in with better Idea. good luck

jbennett
40 burb

JB-

Many thanks for your input. One step forward, two steps sideways to check on other vehicles in the boneyard! :p

Another chapter in my Nova front clip adventure:

The stock 68-72 Nova drum brake spindles were set to be replaced with disk brake Camaro spindles. There are articles about this swap on the net. I managed to grab some for free while picking up a transmission. Now it looks like they won't bolt on, as the Camaro spindles are front steer and the stock Nova spindle is rear.

Can anyone help me on the disk swap? I have to get the drum brake spindle stamped part number to ask someone with a Hollander guide to check it out? Anyone with experience?

As always, thanks in advance for any help you can lend-

51phatboy, you're gonna want spindles from an early ('67-'69) Camaro or your era ('68-'72) Nova. The early and late (front-steer/rear-steer) spindles won't exchange. There are conversion kits available, I believe, to swap the drums you have for discs. Try here:

www.classicperform.com

They offer all kinds of stuff for this type of conversion. Best of luck.

Regards,
Wannabe

wannabe-

You're up late tonight! Thanks for the input.

The Classic conversion kits are $uper $weet, but spendy. Do you know if later Novas offered a disk brake option with spindles that will bolt on the ball-joint/steering box option that my PO intalled? If so, any other info (like part #'s) would be helpful as my front end is airborne until I solve this problem or resign myself to front drums.

Looks like I have some later Camaro spindles for the swap meet...

51-hello again. Sorry, but I believe the later Nova (and clone) cars used the same subframe as the later Camaro (e.g. front-steer as opposed to the earlier rear-steer like you have). This topic was debated here awhile ago and this was one of the problems I mentioned-disc brakes just weren't that common on the earlier style. While I still see quite a few of the older style Novas, Camaros, etc. in boneyards even here in the rustbelt, those rare disc brake spindles are the first thing to go! Another option for you to pursue would be to get friendly with the counter person at your local wrecking yard-many of these places have computer networking available for parts location. Drop by on a slow Wednesday afternoon, talk nice and you might just get lucky if they can locate the necessary spindles. Wish you the best of luck.

Regards,
Wannabe

Wannabe-

Many thanks for your great insight. I appreciate any reason to visit the boneyards!