66 Chevy II chassis help needed

[malbright]

So here is the deal..... I dont want to bore you but please read !!!

I have a 66 Nova and want the pro-touring look, stance, ride the whole deal. I have searched and searched for the best route for my car and have had no luck as of yet finding what I really want. Ive looked at the front clips and back halves, bolt in kits and Art-Morrison Max-G as well. So far I have found nothing that claims to give me the ride height and performance I am looking for. Front and rear clips just wont handle like a full chassis car will and the Max-G doesnt really fit in a Nova.

I have been to multiple chassis builders in my area (San Bernardino County, CA) with no luck on finding a chassis builder that either I can afford or does quality work. Now I understand you have to spend some dough to get the job done but Im sure Im not the only one who cant afford 50k just for a roller.

The question is??? Is there a solution to this out there? I am looking for a full framed chassis that can handle corners, sits low and looks good, but can be driven on the street. I do have money to go to a chassis guy and am looking basically for a roller with my body dropped on it. If ANYONE has any ideas big or small I am open to suggestions and I do have about 15-20k for the chassis portion.

I have looked at:

Chris Alstons, Art Morrison, TCI, Schwartz Performance and a few chassis shops in So Cal. I am in Yucaipa, CA if anyone knows of any one in my area. I am WILLING to travel, out of state if necessary for the right builder.

Thanks

Marc

[MCMLXIX]

Not sure about the cost but Rodger from Ironworks does awesome work. They're working on two Novas now that are detailed on this forum... Not sure on the cost but give them a call.... They're in Bakersfield CA, website info is below...

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=17108

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=46084

http://www.ironworksspeedandkustom.com/gallery/

[wiedemab]

I agree that Rodger and the folks at Ironworks would be a great choice. I'm not sure why you are saying that a AME Max G chassis would not work. They will specifically build the chassis for the car. I was considering an early Chevy II project several years ago and talked to Art Morisson about it and it wasn't going to be a problem.

John Parsons essentially built a custom "one-off" frame with many similarities to the Max G using an AME frame for II Much.

Good Luck - I love the '66 and '67 Novas

[wellis77]

I'm going to be ordering an AME G-Max next year myself and all the preliminary talks I've had with them, they can do what I want with respect to ride height (somewhere between 4" & 6") and if I wanted to go airbags, I could pretty much put it in the dirt if I desired.

[parsonsj]

Marc,

I've done what you are looking for, I think. Morrison worked with me on a custom chassis, and I made my own custom suspension with Morrison's engineering direction/support (Katz Tsubai). Check out my website for more details... it's in my signature.

I'd give Kevin Kosir at Morrison a call (x222) and see if he can find a builder for you with one of their chassis.

And... I've got a way for you to have a car that sounds exactly what you are looking for, for a lot less than having it built. See this thread:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=37075

jp

[John Wright]

Marc,

I've done what you are looking for, I think. Morrison worked with me on a custom chassis, and I made my own custom suspension with Morrison's engineering direction/support (Katz Tsubai). Check out my website for more details... it's in my signature.

I'd give Kevin Kosir at Morrison a call (x222) and see if he can find a builder for you with one of their chassis.

And... I've got a way for you to have a car that sounds exactly what you are looking for, for a lot less than having it built. See this thread:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=37075

jp

So are you offering him the front clip out from under your car?...LOL...j/k, I know what you meant.

[silver69camaro]

... and the Max-G doesnt really fit in a Nova.

We've done several for Novas, they fit great. It's the only way to get the car in the weeds and still be drivable.

[malbright]

Well the Max-G is one of the first set ups I looked at when starting to research my car. One of the questions and concerns I had was that the biggest tire for the rear was a 295 per AME. My other concern was (from the research Ive done, Im no expert so I may be wrong) but the canted 4 bar set up is not the best set up for corning.

Im new to alot of this so as many are I am in the education stages and Im getting alot of different info (prior to this board, I just joined) and I feel like Im just starting to get straight info. Thanks for the help so far and I encourage the cont. suggestions.

Marc

[parsonsj]

Marc,

Give Kevin a call, and ask them if they can substitute their 3 link setup for the canted 4 bar in the Max-G. That would be ideal.

jp

[LowBuckX]

Marc,

I've done what you are looking for, I think. Morrison worked with me on a custom chassis, and I made my own custom suspension with Morrison's engineering direction/support (Katz Tsubai). Check out my website for more details... it's in my signature.

I'd give Kevin Kosir at Morrison a call (x222) and see if he can find a builder for you with one of their chassis.

And... I've got a way for you to have a car that sounds exactly what you are looking for, for a lot less than having it built. See this thread:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=37075

jp

Hey dont be posting that thread everywhere. Im trying to hit the Mega Millions to buy IIMuch.

[wellis77]

Definitely give Kevin a call, he's extremely helpful. I have to give him a call soon myself because I too am concerned about the 4 link. I'm thinking possibly an IRS but am not 100% yet. He's awesome though!

[JRouche]

Boy!! Nice budget. Im sure AM can work with you. A lil diff but I have their 2x4" framed rear clip with 4-link. That dude can handle any tire size out there. And when I ordered it I could set it up for any ride hight. JR

[malbright]

Alot of great suggestions and I ended speaking with matt jones over at AME who is one of their engineers and we spoke in great length of their products and what fits. It seems as if most are in agreeance on the AME (short of going all out at an outfit like ironworks... impressive by the way) product and what they have to offer. AME just seems to be the one stop shop again short of an outfit like ironworks.

I am looking to make a car ride on the street, handle on the track, look good and still be relatively affordable.... haha funny right. AME possibly might have some new products out later this year that will work for my car so Im gonna keep up the research, and am always still open for suggestions. Thanks to all who have shared so far as trials and experiences are the best to learn from.

If anyone has any pics of a 66-67 Nova with an AME set up in it please do post or I can give my email. I would love to see some project pics.

Thanks

[malbright]

I have to give him a call soon myself because I too am concerned about the 4 link. I'm thinking possibly an IRS but am not 100% yet.



I dont know if this quote was gonna come out right but Matt at AME said the 4-bar will work just fine for cornering and handeling. Its only when it goes into a bind that its an issue and if I remember correctly from out conversation its not until 6 degrees that its an issue and it wont go that far even under hard cornering.

Matt if you see this correct me if Im wrong but I think thats what we talked about.

Marc

[wellis77]

Haven't spoken with Kevin yet but through other research found that if I want to do IRS on an AME chassis, I "think" I'm on my own and would have to order the chassis minus the rear. Not sure I'm up to that but have only begun researching that possibility.

On another note, I found another company in Pennsylvania that does full chassis manufacturing. Chassis' are a bit different but they offer a 2x4 full perimiter chassis, IFS and 4 Link rear. Haven't spoken with them yet but there prices seem to be a bit better, http://autoweldchassis.com/index2.ivnu. I'm not about to cheap out to save a few bucks but I am always interested in options and what others have to offer.

I've contacted Schwartz and at this point they don't have a chassis for my car but are meeting with a guy in the near future who may be doing mine. Benefit of them is I could drive to pick it up since they are in Illinois.

[MoparCar]

I may be misinformed (if so please correct me!), but I think the Autoweld is only a basic MII front suspension which in my mind doesn't do justice to a full frame/chassis build. Also the Schwartz may not be able to be ordered with "your" desired ride height since it is a bolt on affair? If I were to do a full chassis I would want the most advanced suspension geometry and options (splined sway bars, watts or panhard, etc.) with a good history of the company, plus the abilitity to order my ride height and options for my particular project. I'd want to be able to have a lowered COG, low/moderate ride height, coil over and or air option, and the frame rails at the basic correct height front and rear to help ease the transition to the core support and rear crossmember and bumpers.

Only my thought of course,
Wes

[parsonsj]

Here's some photos of how I did mine:

http://www.iimuchfabrication.com/Cage/

[silver69camaro]

Matt if you see this correct me if Im wrong but I think thats what we talked about.

Marc

That's correct. Our triangulated four-bar wont bind until about 6 degrees of roll, which is twice the amount the body will actually roll. Our four-link would bind much sooner, depending on the frame width. Three links open doors for improvements that track cars can take advantage of, but street guys wont notice a difference at all. We only use it to fit larger tires, since it can be narrowed more than a triangulated 4-bar.

[novanutcase]

Ironworks isn't far from you. Go up and check them out along with the projects they have going on. At the very least you'll get an eyefull of great ideas for your car!!!

John