I recently popped in a 74 Nova subframe into my 69 Camaro and now the driveline is abount 2 inch's too long. Could the motor stands and mounts in a 74 Nova subframe be that much different than a 69 Camaro? It's a moot point though, I'm getting a shorter driveline built for it right now. :confused:

'74 Novas did not use frame-mounted motor mount brackets. They used the clamshell-type mount system. Maybe yours are not in the right place.

I put a '74 Ventura frame in my car. You need to strip off the Nova motor mounts & support tabs then swap the Camaro stands and mounts. Likely this is why your driveline is too long.

What is the benefit of this?

Just curious as to why someone would use a different subframe. Are they cheaper, and more readily available or does it allow the car to handle better?

Trying to learn something here. Thanks

OK, it raises the front roll center so our cars corner better.

It allows the mounting of the big 12" disc brakes off the big car and 1Le Camaro.

It is front steer so a lot less header fitment problems bite you.

There's hundreds of thousands of "NOVA" X-body cars out there to strip!!

pdq67

BACK again....

I'm sorry, I'm all wet b/c I'm talking about the Second Gen. Camaro's subframe, not the '68/'74 NOVA cars s/f which is like ours is already!!

MY mistake..

pdq67

PS., the Second Gen. Camaro's cast, one-piece spindles are taller then ours and this raises the roll center..

Originally posted by pdq67:
BACK again....

I'm sorry, I'm all wet b/c I'm talking about the Second Gen. Camaro's subframe, not the '68/'74 NOVA cars s/f which is like ours is already!!

MY mistake..

pdq67

PS., the Second Gen. Camaro's cast, one-piece spindles are taller then ours and this raises the roll center.. Does the 75 up Nova use the same subframe as a 2nd gen Camaro?

I think they do. I would like to know what has to done to bolt one up under a first gen. Will one bolt to the frame mounts? If it will I think if we can get the core support in the correct location you should be able to bolt up the front end sheet metal. I think the only trick ofer that would be a steering columb. Would second gen one work in a first gen? Motor/trans mounts I don't think would pose much of an issue.

You could use the Z28 or Trans Am WS6 steering box and get big brakes cheap.

Anyone got more on this subject? Who's gonna do it?? Got Details???

The 72-74 nova subframes are exactly the same disregarding the motor mount area, the holes near the radiator support and the holes in the large K-member for A-frame bolt access. Cut off the protrutions on the back of the big K-member and bolt the Camaro engine brackets in place. The nova sub has holes for the Camaro engine mounts and a few others so it will bolt exactly in place. No performance advantage to my knowledge. The 72-74 nova subframe can be had for $200 unless you tell them it's for a Camaro. There are lots of old Novas running around as there are ventures and omegas. Afterall, the subframe off an old 4 door nova can't be worth much can it? Camaro subframes are few and far between. If you find one, it will probably be hacked up or rusted through.

What about the 75 up front steer sub frames can they be made to work?

I think I found the answer in another post on 8.5 rearends. Apparently an 8.5 rear might be "longer" than a 8.2 and require a shorter driveshaft. I parted the ragged Nova for the pristine subframe, engine, trans and 8.5 rearend but when I tried the original Camaro driveshaft it was too long.

Correct, an 8.5" rearend is longer (pinion to rear cover mounting surface) by 1" - 1.5" than an 8.2" rear. That puts the yoke about 1" - 1.5" closer to the tranny.