Rear Spring for Nova

[LT1Nova]

I am going to buy some rear springs this winter and was wondering if anyone has any recommmendations. I want to use either Hotchkis or DSE. The front suspension is Hotchkis 1907 springs and swaybar.
The car has some factory replacement multileafs on it now and it rides terrible. I do like the current ride height.

Any suggestions?

[Fuelie Fan]

Do you have any pics of your nova? My rear springs are sagging like crazy, and I want to get some new ones, but I don't know which springs to get (stock, 1" 2" 3" lower) becuase I don't know where stock height is! Better yet, do you think you could measure the height at the rocker panel fore and aft of the rear tire?

As for your question, what shocks are you running? They play a large part in ride quality.

[dhardison]

Here's a couple side shots of my '70. The rear leafs are stock replacements from ESPO (http://www.espo.com). The front coils are factory (i.e. 34 year-old) with a all-steel BB. Measurements from the ground to the bottom of each fender lip is 24" rear and 23.75" front.

I have Hotchkis coils and leafs (when they come off of backorder) ready to replace the stock units. Hopefully they won't drop it too much more, as I like the current ride height





Dan

[Zefhix]

If you guys get ahold of John Calvert, (www.calvertracing.com) better know for his Cal-Trac bars, they have a pretty cool "mono" leaf setup. It's actually two leafs that meet in the middle with an adjustable amount of overlap between the two that affects ride height and spring rate...pretty cool stuff.

[72novadriver]

Here is a pic of my car with DSE 3" drop springs.
http://66.70.234.198/forum/attachmen...tid=1207&stc=1

[LT1Nova]

Here is a page with a bunch of pics.
http://www.lt1nova.com/np11.html


Here is a side shot, it does not have the protouring wheels and tires yet but it will. The rear tires are a little taller than the 17's I want.

[MarkM66]

Dan,

Can you give me the specs on the tire/wheels you're running?

Thanks

[dhardison]

Sure, here ya go...

FRONT
-------
American Racing Torq-Thrust II 505 Series Wheel
Size: 17" x 7"
Bolt Circle: 5 x 4.75"
Rear Spacing: 3.95"
BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDWS Tires
Tire - 235/45ZR17 (fits very well - rubs a little on inner fender well with wheel fully locked to right or left)

REAR
------
American Racing Torq-Thrust II 505 Series Wheel
Size: 17" x 8"
Bolt Circle: 5 x 4.75"
Rear Spacing: 4.75"
BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDWS Tires
Tire - 255/45ZR17 (easily could've fit 275/40s with rolled outer lip)

Dan

[LT1Nova]

I forgot to mention that I am running Monroe Monromatic shocks all the way around.

Dan - your nova looks great.

[MarkM66]

Sure, here ya go...

FRONT
-------
American Racing Torq-Thrust II 505 Series Wheel
Size: 17" x 7"
Bolt Circle: 5 x 4.75"
Rear Spacing: 3.95"
BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDWS Tires
Tire - 235/45ZR17 (fits very well - rubs a little on inner fender well with wheel fully locked to right or left)

REAR
------
American Racing Torq-Thrust II 505 Series Wheel
Size: 17" x 8"
Bolt Circle: 5 x 4.75"
Rear Spacing: 4.75"
BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDWS Tires
Tire - 255/45ZR17 (easily could've fit 275/40s with rolled outer lip)

Dan

Thanks.

I'm about to start a '70 Nova.

I want to put a 9.5" wheel in the rear, with a 275/40 17. I hope I can stuff it under there. I'll probably with close to 6" bs.

In the front, I'll probably go with an 8" wheel, with a 245/40 17, and 5" of bs.

[dhardison]

Thanks Jon. I was running Weld Pro Stars for a while before the P/T bug bit me. I'm envious of the LT1. How hard was the wiring to implement?

Dan

[dhardison]

Mark, good luck with that! ;-) Unless you mini-tub or relocate the leafs inward a bit you'll never get more than ~5" of b.s. on a stock rear set up. Trust me, I've tried...

On the front you can get away with 245/40/17s and 5" of b.s. if you remove the inner fender well. Otherwise expect some SERIOUS interference.

Dan

[MarkM66]

So do you think a 17x8 with 5" of backspacing would allow a 275/40 17 to fit?

[dhardison]

On the REAR, yes. I have a friend that's running the 4.75" b.s. 17x8 TTII with a 275/40/17 BFG G Force KDW. He says that there's only 1/8" between the sidewall and outer fender. The important thing with that size tire is to run tires with VERY stiff sidewalls so they don't flex and rub. Also be aware that Nova rears are almost NEVER centered with the body, so check the wheel/tire fitment on both sides. I switched to Mopar type spring perches to allow me to center the diff a little better.

On the front NO WAY you'll get 5" of b.s. That same friend has 17x8 - 4"b.s. on the front (vs. my 17x7 - 4"b.s.) and the most tire he could fit was a 235/45/17, same as me.

Dan

[MarkM66]

Thanks. Yeah, I was just wondering about the front.

[LT1Nova]

The LT1 swap went fine as soon as I bit the bullet and bought a Painless harness. I should have done that a couple of years ago and I woudl be way ahead today.

I thought I could use the original harness but I left some of it in the donor car and there is way more there than needed.

[72novadriver]

I test fitted a 265/30r19 size tire on a 8.5" wide wheel with 4 7/8 backspacing on the on the front of my nova and nothing rubbed even with the inner fender on.

[MrQuick]

is that with the inner wheel wells in? great info