|
The Plan I'm going to take a stock '71 Nova subframe car and convert it to a back half car. The basic project can be used to back half any vehicle even if it's not a subframe-type car. This will create a vehicle that will have a full frame, 12-point roll cage, wheel tubes to accept large tires, coil over rear shocks, an anti-roll device, and a drag racing-type ladder bar suspension. I plan to build it to current SFI specification 25-3 full bodied car roll cage 8.25 to 10.99 seconds. This means it will be capable of being certified to race in IHRA or NHRA up to 8.25 second 1/4 mile ET. I will do this in my garage with basic tools that most people have access to. I will use kit type chassis parts that are available through several outlets across the country. The chassis parts I will use came from Alston because my friend is a supplier and lives right down the road. No matter where you buy your parts be sure they come with blueprints and have technical help available unless you have enough experience to do this alone. Lots of folks sell parts but have no support to help the amatuer put it together. You can also make these parts if you have the tools and experience. I had a rust free Nova that had been sitting for many years and was in bad shape, generally speaking, so I totally gutted the car. I removed the motor, transmission, rear end, gas tank, interior, wiring, fenders, doors, trunk lid and all the windows. Converting to a back half can be done without doing all this if you have a car that is in decent shape already. You can leave it all together except for the interior and rear half components which must be removed. 
I removed the sub frame, which is not mandatory, but I wanted this thing
to be nice so I did it. I dismantled it, sand-blasted and painted all the
parts, replaced the ball joints and inspected all the steering parts. I
left the front brake parts off because I will replace them with Wilwood
disc brakes so the thing will stop better. I removed the entire floor pan
and wheel tube assembly, which includes the frame rails from the brace
which supports the rear of the sub frame back to the tail light panel.
I used a reciprocating saw to do most of this then used an air chisel to
get the wheel tubes and inner fenders cut loose from the quarter panels.
A cutting torch will work if you are careful of the double panels sandwiched
together and tar-like goop they use to seal everything up with. It causes
the torch to backfire and blow out at angles, cutting poorly, and could
burn you as well. The galvanized stuff is bad for the lungs also.
With the floor removed, I sandblasted the underside of the remaining
floor and firewall and painted everything with Rustoleum satin black.
Then I reinstalled the subframe using aluminum mounts to replace the rubber
factory parts. With all the nasty, filthy grunt work behind me for now,
I am ready to start putting the chassis into the car. That will be next.... Phase 2 -- Getting it Straight |