Wanted- new max performance chassis for 70 Chevelle

[redsuperman]

Since I was persuaded to not buy a 1969 Camaro and instead finish my 1970 Chevelle, I need help locating parts for it. I am looking for a completely new chassis, preferably with mandrel bend frame rails, Corvette C5 IFS, and a three-link rear suspension. Also, would like splined front and rear anti-roll bars. It needs to fit without cutting up the car and/or floorpans.

[Proforged]

Since I was persuaded to not buy a 1969 Camaro and instead finish my 1970 Chevelle, I need help locating parts for it. I am looking for a completely new chassis, preferably with mandrel bend frame rails, Corvette C5 IFS, and a three-link rear suspension. Also, would like splined front and rear anti-roll bars. It needs to fit without cutting up the car and/or floorpans.

I would highly recommend the Roadster Shop. They do excellent work.

http://www.roadstershop.com/products...evelle-chassis

[dontlifttoshift]

Yep, what he said.

[mild2wildpaintngraphics]

X3.

[redsuperman]

Any thoughts on the Art Morrison GT-sport chassis?

http://www.artmorrison.com/chevelle.php



The RS Chassis is outside my budget.

[bret]

Any particular reason for changing out the oem chassis?

[redsuperman]

Any particular reason for changing out the oem chassis?

Hey, Bret I haven't seen you since the tech days at FoMoCo. Other than the lack of IFS and rack and pinion, the chevelle chassis suffers from the same inherent design problems as most perimeter frames (like pre-2002 Panther vehicles). I could solve most of the torsional issues with improved crossmembers with greater sectional area, but the front torque boxes need support. My frame has also been through the ringer with BIG, big block torque pulling at the front frame horn for 40 years. It only has 34,000 miles, but I'm sure half of that was a quarter-mile at a time. I figured by the time I made a fixed #1 crossmember, upgraded the #2 crossmember to my Panther design, boxed the frame rails, added a super-X #3 crossmember, supported the front torque boxes (see the A-M chassis above with the long mandrel bent 2x3 rails from the front to rear torque boxes), and added a 3-link panhard rear suspension, I would be $10,000 into parts and labor.

My plan is to keep the chassis and restore it to new, so I can always go back.

I'm fitting an Eric Legary EFI 1200hp BBC, so a solid foundation is key. We are building a demo vehicle for our new race fuel from recycled cardboard- no alcohol, 120 octane and no MTBE. We need to get the car together quickly and onto a chassis dyno. I figured I could run the body-less chassis on the dyno to finish the tuning.

But if you have a better idea, I'm open to suggestions.

[exwestracer]

I'm sorry, did you say race fuel from recycled CARDBOARD???

[bret]

Hey, Bret I haven't seen you since the tech days at FoMoCo. Other than the lack of IFS and rack and pinion, the chevelle chassis suffers from the same inherent design problems as most perimeter frames (like pre-2002 Panther vehicles). I could solve most of the torsional issues with improved crossmembers with greater sectional area, but the front torque boxes need support. My frame has also been through the ringer with BIG, big block torque pulling at the front frame horn for 40 years. It only has 34,000 miles, but I'm sure half of that was a quarter-mile at a time. I figured by the time I made a fixed #1 crossmember, upgraded the #2 crossmember to my Panther design, boxed the frame rails, added a super-X #3 crossmember, supported the front torque boxes (see the A-M chassis above with the long mandrel bent 2x3 rails from the front to rear torque boxes), and added a 3-link panhard rear suspension, I would be $10,000 into parts and labor.

My plan is to keep the chassis and restore it to new, so I can always go back.

I'm fitting an Eric Legary EFI 1200hp BBC, so a solid foundation is key. We are building a demo vehicle for our new race fuel from recycled cardboard- no alcohol, 120 octane and no MTBE. We need to get the car together quickly and onto a chassis dyno. I figured I could run the body-less chassis on the dyno to finish the tuning.

But if you have a better idea, I'm open to suggestions.

Drawing a blank on the Ford Tech thing...need more clues

Sounds like you're probably on the right track for your torque and application. With no driving experience with either ame or rs, I like the rs chassis. Nicely designed, sturdy and well manufactured, they are also easy to work with for customizations. Another option might be a Schwartz unit. Theyve built plenty of them.

My personal experience is with a stock chassis. It responds nicely to a minimum of bolt on components, including a bolt on Tigercage to increase the torsional rigidity. We've seen significant success in autocross and road course events with this configuration...being at least as fast as the chassied cars.
For the guy with a bit more time than money, and something south of a 1200hp motor...it's a damn viable option.

[raustinss]

I agree bret.....can I get a free cage now lol..superman check out a Canadian company in winnepeg man. They called hpi customs and make a frame brace kit...increases. Torsional ridgity by 100% its includes boxing plates, crossmembers driveshaft hoop and exhaust hangers. Installs in a day and is 1000$ roughly. That with one of brets cages for safety..looks and further stiffening you won't be anywhere near 10k. Which leaves lots for reinforcing the rear control arm mounts. I've heard of some guys adding a piece of tubing across the rear shock mount as well. Nothing against roadster shop or art Morrison they're just pricey that's all

[clementime56]

the shop i run has a new 2009 or so roadster shop chassis for sale.dse front suspension and the rest is rs triangular 4 bar. It is complete from exhaust with small block chevy headers, brake lines, poweder coated black with silver suspension, gears, 14 inch wilwood brakes all 4 corners. let me know if you are interested i can get some pictures of it up.

[redsuperman]

I am looking to upgrade the steering to rack and pinion as well.

I agree bret.....can I get a free cage now lol..superman check out a Canadian company in winnepeg man. They called hpi customs and make a frame brace kit...increases. Torsional ridgity by 100% its includes boxing plates, crossmembers driveshaft hoop and exhaust hangers. Installs in a day and is 1000$ roughly. That with one of brets cages for safety..looks and further stiffening you won't be anywhere near 10k. Which leaves lots for reinforcing the rear control arm mounts. I've heard of some guys adding a piece of tubing across the rear shock mount as well. Nothing against roadster shop or art Morrison they're just pricey that's all

[coolwelder62]

Since I was persuaded to not buy a 1969 Camaro and instead finish my 1970 Chevelle, I need help locating parts for it. I am looking for a completely new chassis, preferably with mandrel bend frame rails, Corvette C5 IFS, and a three-link rear suspension. Also, would like splined front and rear anti-roll bars. It needs to fit without cutting up the car and/or floorpans.

Do you have any fabrication skill's.I would go with the RS Chassis if it is in the budget.You could spend some time and rework your stock chassis W/ABC performance chassis componets,& qualtiy ridetech suspension setup.

[DarkoNova]

I'm sorry, did you say race fuel from recycled CARDBOARD???

Yeah, what?

Not to derail the thread, but redsuperman, can you divulge a litte more info about this fuel? Sounds pretty sweet!

[Tyler Beauregard]

It sounds like you have a few unrealistic requirements in terms of budget, no cutting and suspension design.

Getting a 3 link under the factory trunk and floor is going to be a comprimise of suspension design, and having mandral bent chassis rails is going to cost some cash to aquire.

If you are good at welding and don't mind cutting a tiny bit, give Rodger over at Ironworks Speed and Kustom a call about their weld together A body chassis. Has many of the things you are looking for with a price that the do it yourselfer can handle.

Tyler

[coolwelder62]

It sounds like you have a few unrealistic requirements in terms of budget, no cutting and suspension design.

Getting a 3 link under the factory trunk and floor is going to be a comprimise of suspension design, and having mandral bent chassis rails is going to cost some cash to aquire.

If you are good at welding and don't mind cutting a tiny bit, give Rodger over at Ironworks Speed and Kustom a call about their weld together A body chassis. Has many of the things you are looking for with a price that the do it yourselfer can handle.

Tyler

The Ironworks chassis is Awesome.But Rodger doesn't want to sell it unwelded, UNLESS you have the skill's to complete it.

[raustinss]

Superman...trz in Florida as well as others have rack and pinion kits some bolt on while some weld in...anything I've seen spears quite nice and we'll engineered prices would be no more then 2500$ if memory serves me correct. They all seem to have similar appearance so I'd gather that one company makes them allot one company engineered them and others copied it. Best of luck again.

Ryan