Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems

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?

Rich Biebel · 08-14-2011, 05:36 PM

No not that one....A different one and it is red and owned by Ted Razmus.. and it used to be mistaken for Ed Racis' car a lot.....It was not that one either....It was raced in C/SM by another real good friend of mine.....Bill Nasos.....

Roger Whites car was in my garage after my friend and co-worker bought it..

He never had much success with it and should have kept his '69 Camaro...

When we went to pick up Rogers' car.....an exhaust valve head fell out of one of the headers as we carried them out to the truck....Roger said...." I was wondering where that went" ! I think he quit becasue of that blow up...Roger did very well locally with that car for a couple years. He moved to Florida.....he was a Snap-On dealer.....

08-13-2011, 04:24 PM	#1
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,111 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,815 Times in 413 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	#3
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 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	#4
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?

08-14-2011, 05:36 PM	#5
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Early Chevy II front end bump steer problems No not that one....A different one and it is red and owned by Ted Razmus.. and it used to be mistaken for Ed Racis' car a lot.....It was not that one either....It was raced in C/SM by another real good friend of mine.....Bill Nasos..... Roger Whites car was in my garage after my friend and co-worker bought it.. He never had much success with it and should have kept his '69 Camaro... When we went to pick up Rogers' car.....an exhaust valve head fell out of one of the headers as we carried them out to the truck....Roger said...." I was wondering where that went" ! I think he quit becasue of that blow up...Roger did very well locally with that car for a couple years. He moved to Florida.....he was a Snap-On dealer..... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R