I've got this 54 Chevy 210 2dr. It has a mid-70's Camaro sub under it. It seems that the front wheels stick out too far. It currently has 15X6 Crager SS mags, and a 65 series front tire. I figure I can go with a stock 15x5 wheel, and a 205-75 www, and that will pull it in somewhat. **Is there another option? Do they make dropped spindles for these? I heard a S-10 dropped spindle might work?? Will that pull the wheels in some? I hate it now. Way too mullet for me. I want to start working on cosmetics this winter, including lowering it, wheel/tire change etc. Talk to me about what you know. BTW, it has a camaro 10-bolt, and no blocks, so I'm going with de-arched springs and a whatever size blocks I need to get it where I want it. Bags in the future, I hope. Thanks
they do make drop spindles for camaro front steer clips. theres a guy on eb*y that sells them for early camaro's, just email him, he has them..2" drop, but they are not narrower than stock, but the 15x5 should work, good luck..
My 54 has a 1979 Camaro clip in it, and yes it is 1 3/4" wider than stock. I am running stock rims and 2" dropped spindles, works for me. You are right though, if you want to run wider or different rims you need to buy shorter control arms, you can get them but it will cost you. Here is a pic of mine with 2" dropped spindles, I also installed 55 Chevy fender lips for the look and a little more tire clearance.
Oh ya, for the back I de arched my springs 2" and installed 2" blocks, but the rear end was hitting the frame. I have C notched it now and have 4" blocks in there for a total of 6 inches. Gonna go another 1 1/2" to get the stance right.
Pics? of your rear.. Does your frontend have shortened springs too? or just dropped spindles? The guy at Summit says he can order me 15X6 wheels with a 4" BS, for about $88. each. That may be an option too. Anyone know off hand what the BS is on a stock 15X5 wheel?
I just installed the additional 2" blocks so don't have any pics yet, but if you are really interested I can get some on the weekend. I just have the 2" spindles, the springs are stock 79 Camaro. The BS is 3 1/2", I couldn't find any anywere, even wheel vintiques couldn't make them. I chromed my stock rims, $750 .... ouch. I don't think the 15 X 6 with 4" BS will work? Check out www.heidts.com they have narrow control arms, but it's about $1,000.00
I'd like to see pics, whenever you get a chance. As for stock 15X5's, I've got several, and a buddy with even more. We learned to hold onto those. No, no $1,000. heidts stuff for me! BTW, Custom54, do you think you could go lower in the front? or is it borderline close now?
you can get drop spindles and narrowed control arms from fatman and im a fatman dealer and aliance vender
Looks very familiar. My 52 has a 76 Holden front graft and has the same problems. I Grafted on lips off an early Holden and it looks a lot like these. I'd still like to narrow the track. Wonder if the shorter control arms for the Camaro would fit mine. I'd be interested to get some more info...Gambino? Pete
I had the same problem with my Plymouth/1980 Firebird subframe. I used S-10 4X4 steel wheels 6" wide, I use hub caps to cover them.
my 50 Chev had a Nova sub and even with steelies from a Toronado i could'nt turn the wheel very far without rubbing the fenders. it did sit realy low. i was gonna build a new chassis for it using the front sub from an S10 and build the rest of the frame from scratch. my Chev is long gone but it looks like i might get to do the same treatment to a friends 50 Chev in the next year or so.
Grumpy, Here is another pic of the front and showing the side of the car, sorry it's on skates right now, but you get the idea. The other pic shows the rear down 6". I don't think I could go much lower in the front without narower control arms (maybe another inch?).
mustang II.... I'll be running a 7" wide rim with a 60 series tire. it will be extra low. I didn't have to cut my frame in half or fab a way to mount my front sheetmetal. of course no one will ever see it but me and the alignment shop, but it looks really nice under there too. too late for those who have clips already, but if you are in the planning stages, go with the mustang II.. I doubt there is anyone out there who did as I have done and wished later they had done a camaro clip.
Just couldn't resist postin a little pic of my '52 when I saw the front on shot of your car. It's uncanny...the too wide front end , the fender lips and the headlight treatment. Very similar
i have a 78 nova stub for my 53 bel-air is there a way to narrow the sub-frame before installing it or is it best just to get the shortened arms?
I have 72 Nova under 53 and had to go with 5 inch wheels with offset shoved in as far as we could. with 75 seres tires and still rubs some. But thought it was suposed to when you run them that low. Short a arms is about only hope now. Don
its work intensive but cheap, you can narrow your own stock arms, I just did a set for a friend of mine that had the same problem, took 3/4" out of each side, added some gussets for insurance and they work fine....and only cost $38 for a refill on the welder bottle
Hey Grumpy, I know this doesn't help with this picticular case, but I thought I'd share what I know about chevy subframes. I try to stay away from the front steer kind all together. They seem to be more trouble than they're worth. With that said, I have used them successfully on past projects. One time we narrowed one by taking 2" out of the center of the crossmember and then shortened the center link and sway bar the same amount. It worked geat and had no problems with geometry or alignment. I sure you don't wanna cut your frame apart, so that's not too practical for you. If someone is in the planning stages it's really not that big of a deal to do it, especially if you have a fabrication table or jig you can put it on. I love rear steer and have used them on several cars. They are getting harder to find, and by the time you rebuid them they usually cost as much or more than some MII set ups. Sometimes you get lucky and can even use the sock engine mounts. Also, I've had a few project where the radiator support accually lined up the the stock front crossmember on the Nova subframe. I make em sit slammed with full suspension travel and stock coil springs. This is, of course, just one guys opinion. I hope this helps someone. You can see some of the stuff I mentioned at www.kustomsroyale.com I will be starting on a 1951 Mecury in a few weeks that has a rear steer subframe. Pictures should be up as soon as I kick it off. Robt Kustoms Royale
I think the Nova sub should be ok, take some measurements, it is narrower than a Camaro sub. Clip or Mustang II, in my opinion, it all depends on your expertise (welding etc.) a clip is way cheaper to purchase, but takes more know how to install, a personal choice.
There's a couple companies making narrower A-arma for those camaro subframes as well. I can't remember who, it's been awhile since I paid attention to the muscle car aftermarket.
i would'nt go narrowing the whole subframe. you'll throw all the geomotry off BIG TIME by doing so. we prolly cause enough geomotry problems when we lower and bag these things. i think 49RATFINK has the right idea. i had a friend who did an S10 subframe in a car and then, in a similar car, did a MII and he said the MII was bBY FAR the better way to go. much less work when it's all said and done and a better setup. he convinced me.
If the link will work, follow it to my project journal on Hotrodders.com. I ran into the same problem on my 52 and fixed it by narrowing the contol arms 1" and using 6"wide wheels with 4" backspace. Also have cut the coils on the front to lower it. Bob http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/journal.php?action=view&journalid=18396
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