Question about a 68 nova
 

Hello everyone,
I'm new poster long time reader. There are some very knowledgable people in here so i thought I would ask this question here. My friend has a 68 Nova thats a drag car. About 2 year ago it went on the back bumper and came down pretty hard. It had to have the frame straighten and everything was ok for a little while. Well the frame is moving again. What i need to know is, Does anyone know the measurement between the front shocks? Maybe someone out there is in a middle of a resto and can measure this for us.
Thanks
Brian

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

It will be the same as any 67,68,69 camaro Hope this helps

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

Anyone have that measurement?

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

I have two frames separated from cars right now and can get it for you tonight if someone else doesn't get it before then (and if I don't forget).

Lynn

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

that would be great thanks
Brian

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

If the frame was straightened, how is it moving? Did you drop it hard again? If it was straightened correctly , it shouldn't be moving unless it's cracked and flexing, or moving at the mounts. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/confused.gif

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

Brian:

Almost forgot you. Late night tonight. From shock hole to hole, center to center, is 35.5 inches.

Measuring the inside of upper control arm mount, from side to side is 30.5 inches.

Hope this helps.

BTW, while measuring these two frames I noticed something I had never noticed before. On the driver's side only, by the upper shock hole is another hole, slightly smaller. Any ideas what that is for?

Lynn

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

Not sure if this will help or not. Got this from the 1968 Chassis Service Manual

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/157...Dimensions.JPG

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

[ QUOTE ]
If the frame was straightened, how is it moving? Did you drop it hard again? If it was straightened correctly , it shouldn't be moving unless it's cracked and flexing, or moving at the mounts. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The car has about another 150 passes on it since this has happened. It has not come down "hard" again. But it does pull the wheels about 4 foot in the air till about the 60' clocks. There was never alot of room between the header and the control arm on the pass side. After the "hard landing" the header was touching. After it was fixed there was about the same amount of room. But it seems it is closing the gap again. I can just slide a dollar bill between them now.

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

You may need to have it repulled/straightened, then weld in some gussett stiffeners to keep it from moving. Sounds like you're making good hp. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

Lynn,
Thanks for the measurements, I will call my friend to let him know right now. He wasn't goin to get involved with this problem right now. But last week the pickup fell off the oil pump and cavatated and wiped the bearings out in the motor. So since its out might as well address the problem. We were thinking about putting a new front half in the car but he doesn't want to spend the money right now. It is ashame that he has this problem with the car. It is one of the nicest and straightest BLACK "racecars" I have seen.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...2/IMG_0721.jpg http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...2/IMG_0670.jpg

The car is also an oringal 396 4speed car.

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

Uhhh ...never saw a Camaro/Nova subframe that looked like that diagrahm https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif Looks more like a Corvette.

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

[ QUOTE ]
You may need to have it repulled/straightened, then weld in some gussett stiffeners to keep it from moving. Sounds like you're making good hp. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The car has been 9.41 @ 141mph. And this has only been about 15 passes on the new setup. For some unknown reason he never changed the oil pump https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/confused.gif Which is why its back apart at this time. But it not bad for a 3200lbs car. It a 496 BBC 400th and still has the oringal 12 bolt ( just shortened ). And this was all motor. I wish my car ran as good. Mine a 79 malibu @ 2800lbs w/a 468 PG setup. I have been 9.71 @ 135mph. I guess i need more motor https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

John, Never noticed that it shows a full solid frame and was labeled for Camaro and Chevy II. This one shows the Front Sub Frame but it says its for the Corvettes, go figure!!!

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/157...ameDiagram.JPG

Re: Question about a 68 nova
 

Well its measures 35.5 inches like you say yours is. So maybe it has not moved and our eyes are playing tricks on us. We're goin to keep a close eye on it now.