68-72 Nova owners come on in..

[BLACKLS5]

First I want to say that I have always owned Chevelles so I'm still learning the Nova stuff. I bought a 70 Nova SS a little over a year ago and as much as I like the looks and driving something other than the Chevelle on occasion this thing rides like a log wagon. I just got it out of storage today and man this thing rides rough. Since I bought it I have replaced the air shocks and 3" aluminum spacers with standard shocks and have also swapped out the "hang'em high" shackles with stock type stuff. I see no difference in ride quality. This does have the original 12-bolt axle with multi leaf springs. Do they all ride this hard in the rear? This car has no traction aids and no sub frame connectors. Pretty much stock. Any suggestions or is this the nature of the beast? Honestly I can't believe the General could sell anything that rides this hard to the general public back in the day so I must be missing something. HELP...

[Schonyenko2]

Your comparing apples to oranges. Compared to a Chevelle, a Nova rides pretty stiff. They were cheap, affordable transportation that a few folks bought with big motors in. That made em fast, but not a very comfy ride. Add big tires, and jack it up, and it would like to beat you to death. But... at 18 in 1970, you didn't much care.

[Postsedan]

Sell the Nova, buy another Chevelle [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Dan

[BLACKLS5]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Your comparing apples to oranges. Compared to a Chevelle, a Nova rides pretty stiff. They were cheap, affordable transportation that a few folks bought with big motors in. That made em fast, but not a very comfy ride. Add big tires, and jack it up, and it would like to beat you to death. But... at 18 in 1970, you didn't much care. </div></div>

I understand they're a different animal but I actually had one just out of high school with a transplanted 454 in it and I don't remember it riding this hard, but as you said, we really didn't care at that point in our lives so maybe it did and I just don't remember it that way.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

They are horrible! I'll take it! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

[WILMASBOYL78]

Most Novas can be made to ride and handle fairly well...not sure if we are talking BB or SB, but it really doesn't matter. If you are looking for decent street manners I would suggest installing a good set of radial tires with at least 7&quot; wheels, some modern style gas shocks, aftemarket rear sway bar...make sure front sway bar is the correct one or add a better unit...make sure suspension components are in good shape (bushings, ball joints, etc)...you could also &quot;soften&quot; the front coil springs and change the rear leafs, but that is probably not needed...if you don't have power steering..it might be a good addition as well. Of course, I have no idea how important originality is to this discussion...

Our 68 BB car is set up like this and it rides pretty nice and handles great...

wilma

[Lynn]

Sounds like the sliders aren't sliding.
You do have two options (well, three if you count selling it to Marlin as an option).

Convert to mono leaf. Much smoother. But you will sacrifice some traction control. The multileaf springs actually provide some damping action, kind of like an old friction shock (yeah, I am that old - but in fairness, only the Brits were using those after I was born). Problem is, after time, they provide more damping (and less spring) than you want, and you get the rough ride.

Refurbish your springs with new sliders. When I did mine I lubed all of the sliders with a bit of antisieze. Rear moves up and down almost as easily as if it had coil springs.

I am putting some old heavy duty Koni adjustables on the back of mine to make up for the decrease in damping. It also means if I want serious traction, the slapper bars go on.

[BLACKLS5]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't have a problem with the front,just the rear. Maybe I'll pull the rear springs and take a look at what I have and see what's wore out. I am running reproduction F70-14 bias-plys which probably doesn't help matters...

[Xplantdad]

My big block Nova (was originally a 6 banger) had mon leafs and a 12 bolt out of a 69 Z28...rode great with cheap Monroe shocks and TA radials. Had the 6 cylinder springs up front and lowering blocks out back [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

[Postsedan]

Bruce,

That side mirror looks like it`s from a Porsche 944 [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

Dan