Special Offer Twin Mercruiser 454 Custom Sport Boat - BAJA 290 Custom Graphics
Select® Restoration Projects
- 1963 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova
Start Slideshow Full Screen
Front Clip Build Muscle Car Restoration
Chevy II Nova owners are so predominately into “the spirit of the American Hot Rod” that markets are developing to supply their demand for performance equipment.
One of our Army medivac helicopter pilots, nicknamed Weatherman, wanted a piece of the Chevy II fun so he found a sweet little ’63 hardtop coupe.
The Chevy II was introduced in 1962 and was not available with a V8 until 1964. It is most likely the engineers originally had no intentions of these cars ever having a V8 power plant. One of the many products being mass-produced for these cars is a bolt in front sub-frame, which cures many problems that afflict the Chevy II. The stock Chevy II sub-frames require forward sump oil pans, have bolted cross members, have inner fenders that double as shock towers and consume engine compartment space and have suspension and steering inconsistent with performance and handling. The factory front sub-frame unbolts from the car with four bolts on each rail and three more on the upper firewall on each side. With a couple of fender bolts, brake lines and steering box detached, the whole front clip rolls away, literally.
Here’s how the Chevy II benefits from the new sub-frame. The frame itself is strong tube construction and is welded for a more consistent geometry. The cross member is fabricated in a manner that allows traditional rear oil sump pans with rear pickups to be used. The front suspension is a coil over shock type with traditional upper and lower tube type A plates. Our kit had the optional sway bar, which required drilling and tapping the frame to be installed. This total package is a big plus that changes the way these cars handle and creates engine space for exotic power plants in the process.
The conversion to rack and pinion steering had three obvious benefits. Weight loss is substantial by removing the cast iron steering box and all of the steel drag link assembly. Safety is increased by better handling and by removing a steering box with it’s solid steering shaft that has nothing to collapse between the box and the steering wheel.
Our kit provided a shaft the length of the steering column, a short shaft with U-joints on each end connecting the column to the rack and pinion. Handling is much more precise with the rack and pinion and it’s forward of the spindle position is superior. Out kit also came with five lug rotors and disc brakes. The four lug pattern drums on this pre-V8 car, and single reservoir master cylinder were heaped in the suicide pile with the steering box and shaft.
With the added engine compartment room, improved handling and braking, Weatherman is now forecasting winds in excess of 100 MPH.
