Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems

bill dedman · 08-12-2011, 07:07 PM

Can someone with experience and knowledge of the geometry that creates the problems with these cars in terms of high-speed handling with the stock suspension components, and what it takes to fix it. (Pre '68' cars.)

Thanks for any information!!!

gsa612 · 08-12-2011, 07:49 PM

Search Eddie Rezac on the members list, he makes a kit for early Chevy II's. 402 443-8424 . gsa612

bill dedman · 08-13-2011, 05:20 AM

Thanks. I have a friend who thinks that problem is a figment of somebody's imagination.

What do you think?

Bob Pagano · 08-13-2011, 07:38 AM

Fix it before he get hurt or loses the car against the wall

bill dedman · 08-13-2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Pagano

Fix it before he get hurt or loses the car against the wall

That was my opinion...

Thanks Bob.

Ed Carpenter · 08-13-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsa612

Search Eddie Rezac on the members list, he makes a kit for early Chevy II's. 402 443-8424 . gsa612

X2 I have his kit on my car and it fixed everything. Ed

Alan Roehrich · 08-13-2011, 04:24 PM

It's not a figment of anyone's imagination. The cars are light, have a high center of gravity, a short wheelbase, a lot of rear overhang, and a front end that was designed purely with economy in mind.

bill dedman · 08-14-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

It's not a figment of anyone's imagination. The cars are light, have a high center of gravity, a short wheelbase, a lot of rear overhang, and a front end that was designed purely with economy in mind.

Thanks, Alan, et al. Maybe that will convince him that there is a big problem with high-speed stability with the stock suspension pieces.

Rich Biebel · 08-14-2011, 03:37 PM

One of my best friends has a '67 Nova. He's owned it for 30 years.

It is a back halved car and was raced as a B and C/SM by it's previous owner.

My friend has always raced it with a small block. Started out as a stick/287 and over the years engines got bigger and it quickly got a powerglide.

The front end is basically stock and has always been.
It does have aftermarket disc brakes and a few years ago he had a coilover type spring setup installed in place of the stock springs.

I have even driven it myself.....

The car has run 9.20's at 145+ with the current engine.

It wheelstands just like every other fairly decent powered Nova. He usually has some front end travel limited to keep it from getting to high.

There was a Buick draglink and some mods to the tie rod ends mounting points that was done on those cars.

The caster bar bushings are rubber and they should be replaced and the bars checked to make sure there not deteriorated.

Front end components should all be good of course on any drag car.

The only thing his car does is shimmey the front wheels a touch after it comes down from a big wheelie......Did it when I drove it......

I built a bracket car for a buddy out of a pair of old Nova's back in the '70s.

It ran high 12's and was street driven. Handled fine all stock front end......400 low compression small block turbo 350....10 bolt rear

ss wannabee · 08-14-2011, 04:56 PM

Hey Rich...might that '67 be the old Roger White car?

08-12-2011, 07:07 PM	#1
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems Can someone with experience and knowledge of the geometry that creates the problems with these cars in terms of high-speed handling with the stock suspension components, and what it takes to fix it. (Pre '68' cars.) Thanks for any information!!! __________________ Bill

08-12-2011, 07:49 PM	#2
gsa612 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 100th Meridian Posts: 569 Likes: 116 Liked 280 Times in 139 Posts	Re: Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems Search Eddie Rezac on the members list, he makes a kit for early Chevy II's. 402 443-8424 . gsa612

08-13-2011, 05:20 AM	#3
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems Thanks. I have a friend who thinks that problem is a figment of somebody's imagination. What do you think? __________________ Bill

08-13-2011, 07:38 AM	#4
Bob Pagano VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Holland, PA Mooresville,NC Posts: 1,163 Likes: 232 Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems Fix it before he get hurt or loses the car against the wall __________________ Bob Pagano A/SA

08-13-2011, 04:24 PM	#7
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,066 Likes: 1,487 Liked 1,630 Times in 378 Posts	Re: Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems It's not a figment of anyone's imagination. The cars are light, have a high center of gravity, a short wheelbase, a lot of rear overhang, and a front end that was designed purely with economy in mind. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

08-14-2011, 03:37 PM	#9
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,312 Likes: 25 Liked 543 Times in 212 Posts	Re: Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems One of my best friends has a '67 Nova. He's owned it for 30 years. It is a back halved car and was raced as a B and C/SM by it's previous owner. My friend has always raced it with a small block. Started out as a stick/287 and over the years engines got bigger and it quickly got a powerglide. The front end is basically stock and has always been. It does have aftermarket disc brakes and a few years ago he had a coilover type spring setup installed in place of the stock springs. I have even driven it myself..... The car has run 9.20's at 145+ with the current engine. It wheelstands just like every other fairly decent powered Nova. He usually has some front end travel limited to keep it from getting to high. There was a Buick draglink and some mods to the tie rod ends mounting points that was done on those cars. The caster bar bushings are rubber and they should be replaced and the bars checked to make sure there not deteriorated. Front end components should all be good of course on any drag car. The only thing his car does is shimmey the front wheels a touch after it comes down from a big wheelie......Did it when I drove it...... I built a bracket car for a buddy out of a pair of old Nova's back in the '70s. It ran high 12's and was street driven. Handled fine all stock front end......400 low compression small block turbo 350....10 bolt rear __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

08-14-2011, 04:56 PM	#10
ss wannabee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 663 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems Hey Rich...might that '67 be the old Roger White car?