PDA

View Full Version : Gasser's ~ Edumacate me on the suspension ~



awsomeears
07-12-2008, 11:07 PM
In the next few years I would really like to pick up a 62 - 63 nova and go for the gasser look, either purchase one or do the work myself. I have no clue how the suspension setups are made or fabbed up ?

Links ? Forums ?

- Brad -

Russ Jerome
07-13-2008, 06:59 PM
They were setup to try and transfer all the weight to the rear
wheels hard as they could, those old bias tires were so bad
they went to GREAT lengths to do this. A word of caution is
this will be your sunny sunday only car unless you engineer
it very well.

Solid front axle from an old van or pickup, complete with leaf
springs to get the front end 8" higher...seriously they were
nuts back then. You have to fabricate a safe linkage from your
gearbox to the spinle, bump steer is an issue as well as geting
those 40yr old front brakes to work correctly.

A politicaly correct rear setup would be a ladder bar setup but
to the lamen a much better 4 link would look correct. Ladder
bars are dated but anybody or there mom could hook it up to
work ok.

Steering and brakes will be the hardest to do on your first attempt
I would think. There are countless forums out there that discuss
exactly these points.I've had years of formal training on steering,
suspension and brakes, these things are nightmares not welded
correctly or without a sound understanding on geometry and chassis
design. If you score an old ride have a trusting freind there to check
the welds and design (flaws).

jbiscuit
07-14-2008, 07:51 AM
Check out the Jalopy Journal site...there are a lot of guys on there building gassers