Ready for the HRPT! - 4-wheel discs and Hotchkis suspension FINALLY installed

[dhardison]

Well this past weekend I finally completed my Touring-Classics 4-wheel disc and Hotchkis suspension install. I also had to replace my Pertronix ignition module after I smoked it while adjusting the valves (live-n-learn).

I took the car out for an extended ride and MAN it handles/brakes 100% better than with the stock components!! I'm VERY pleased! Except for a few small odds-ends I'm ready for the HRPT!

I thought I'd share some pics of the end result. It was a little overcast so the pics aren't the greatest but nonetheless here they are.

http://www.danhardison.com/nova/DSC00896.JPG
http://www.danhardison.com/nova/DSC00899.JPG
http://www.danhardison.com/nova/DSC00900.JPG
http://www.danhardison.com/nova/DSC00907.JPG
http://www.danhardison.com/nova/DSC00914.JPG

Dan

[rocketrod]

Looks great keep the pics coming!!

[73novaguy]

Hey Dan, the car is looking awesome! Mine might have to come down a bit in the front, to get a little better stance like yours, but I am gonna drive it first to see if the springs settle down any! Love the car Dan. It was nice to have ours come to frution in the same week!

[dhardison]

Thanks Rod & Justin! The rear sits about 1" too low for my taste, but it is what it is for now. I'm tired of wrenching and am ready to start driving her again.

Dan

[MarkM66]

I think it sits great as is. Good luck on the Power Tour. I'll look for it at the Springfield stop.

[CAMAROBOY69]

That is awesome news to hear and your stance is perfect.

[dhardison]

Thanks guys! I hope to meet up with some Pro-Touring.com regulars on the PT as well.

Dan

[MrQuick]

Hey Dan, that looks perfect. Did you paint your emblems blue or am I trippin? I think you missing something....front spoiler would look great on that.

[dhardison]

Nah Vince you're definitely "trippin" :seizure: LOL!

Here's another closer pic of the front with the chrome emblem.

http://www.danhardison.com/discs/DSC00869.JPG

Actually I was thinking of a front spoiler like this one, but it might be a little short.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~showpic~0000132a~AACBA~~~

Thanks,
Dan

[ViperBlue68]

Car looks sweet! :icon996: Stance is perfect I wouldnt change a thing....I wish my dad woulda kept his 70 it was olive green...

[dhardison]

Thanks J.T.! I use to have an olive green '72 Nova & '67 Imp myself. Green on green makes one helluva sleeper!

Dan

[mdprovee]

I like the stance Dan, you did a good job. Congrats on getting to drive it.

Mike

[dhardison]

Thanks Mike! The steering box is AWESOME! So much better than the worn out factory box.

Dan

[zbugger]

What?!?!?! You think the rear sits too low?!?!?! IT'S PERFECT!!!!! You are a lucky S.O.B. to have a car that badass!!! I love it. Great work. Now go out and enjoy it.

[dhardison]

Thanks Allen! I can't wait to get it out on the Power Tour in a couple weeks.

Dan

[Van B]

Dan,

I'll be looking for you at the Indy stop. Unfortunately that will probably be the last for me before I head back home. I'll be in a pewter C5 coupe with Fikse FM10 wheels unless something changes.

Jeff

[dhardison]

Great! Look forward to seeing you Jeff.

Dan

[Steve68]

Dan, looks great, I wish my 70 SS did'nt have holes all over it, but I think I'll start the body in August, I still need a tail panel, how far are you going on the PT, I'll be in Kississmee

[dhardison]

Thanks Steve! We're starting in Indy and going all the way to Kississmee.

Dan

[colt zantop]

lookin good!!

[69bigblock]

Looks really good Dan.. great pics

[796spdbu]

Hey dan,
First off the car is sweet.I have a 72'ss that is the same color(i think)that i have had since i was 17,and know im 27.Any ways i was going for the full DSE kit front to rear.I have already started disassembly.But if i had seen your car first then i would have changed my mind.I mean damn,i should have kept to the K.I.S.S.(keep it simple stupid) theory.Then i could have afforded the hotchkis kit by know and could be enjoying the car.Oh well this site will do that to you.But any way damn fine car.Hope mine turns out that nice.

[dhardison]

Thanks Colt and 69BB!

796spdbu, thanks as well. The color is factory GM LeMans blue. The full DSE kit will be VERY nice, but it does take some work (and $$$$). When I started the PT treatment I never intended for a full out road race-type car, just some thing that I can auto-cross occassionally and that performs well on the street (and occassional 1/4 mile passes). I'd love to see some pics of your '72SS, disassembled or not.

Dan

[73novaguy]

I'll second that! I love to see Nova pics, wether or not they are in peices or not!

[Steve68]

Dan, I look for you in Kissame, that's what we call it here, I don't know if I'll drive mine or not, Steve

[Piet]

Pretty!

[dhardison]

Same here Steve, see ya there.

Piet, thanks! Not quite the adjective I'd use my "manly" BB Nova, but I guess since most cars have women's names she can be "pretty". :)

Dan

[Roger Poirier]

The stance looks just right........ The car looks nice........

Are you going to change those side 396 emblems to 454?

R.P.

[dhardison]

Thanks R.P.! I thought of changing them to 454, but the only ones I've found are of poor quality. Maybe I'll change them out with 250 (6 cyl) badges..... ;-)

Dan

[796spdbu]

Dan ill try to get my digi camrea out and take some pics of it.It is the same lemans blue.I really like the look of the 17x11 wheels with 315/35 tires.If it wasnt for that I'd would have went with the smaller size.I just hope it turns out looking as good as yours.You nailed the stance.It is all hotchkis suspension.Did you trim coils or add any block to the springs.It is sweet.

Greg

[dhardison]

Greg, You were able to fit 17x11 315/35s under your '72 Nova?? What type mods did that take?

Yeah it's all Hotchkis suspension. I did cut a full coil off the front but no blocks in the rear.

Thanks!
Dan

[796spdbu]

Dan, sorry if i was misleaading.What I did, was sell my tranny and 3:73 10-bolt rear axle when my engine went bad.I knew that i liked the idea of 17x11 and 315/17 rear wheel and tire package.I knew i wanted a 9" or 12-bolt rear,with a over drive tranny.The reason I sold all my stuff was to help fund the DSE parts.As of right know i havnt ordered any thing yet.What i have come up with is,I can buy AFco springs cheaper then hotchkis,Ican get the rear springs a little cheaper also,both of which I can get in variuos spring rates.I think i will order the deep tub kit this week coming up,just to get started.I think i can get the rest of the suspension figured out as soon as i get a plan.I really like the coil over kit from DSE.I think i can get similar results from AFco,as they offer coil overs.I'm not tring to shun DSE on some of there parts and not others, but i have a friend in the dirt track biz and he can get me some smoking deals on AFco parts.If i could get DSE stuff for what he can sell AFco to me for then i would go with DSE on all my parts.I know there is a diffence in koni and afco, but i dont thing ill ever drive that hard to notice.But after I have seen your car,Iwish i still had the origanal parts because i would have done it the same way as you did.I'll post pics as soon as i start on the car.i'm really hoping to compete for the street machine of the year next year in columbus.I hope it will give my shop some help getting started.