I have a 67 Camaro and I recently bought a 72 nova with the intention of replacing my shoddy suspension with the brand new global, hotchkis etc stuff from the Nova.

My question is this: should I go ahead and put the nicer, better condition nova sub frame in my Camaro, or am I better off fixing what needs fixed with the camaro subframe and using it?

Are there a lot of bracket holes or mounting surfaces that will be different? Are there vin# issues there?

Thanks guys, I appreciate your input.

Aaron

with the exception of a couple of the bumper mounting bolts, the subframes are functionally identical.
so, if it's straight and solid, i'd use the Nova frame and drill a couple of holes to mount the bumpers using the stock frame to make a template.
this way, the car is apart for less time, since you can do whatever you want to the new frame before you even take the car apart. then, all you'll need to swap over from the old frame might be the engine mounts and possibly brake lines, if they are different.

67 subframes used rivets for all brake and fuel line brackets, so if you're fussy, you'll need to use the 68 & later clips with the 5/16"x3/4 bolts on the 72 frame which you might not like.

Also, 67 use a rubber bump stop mounted on the rear side of the spring housing.
68s have a bump stop pad welded in the same position with the rubber bump stop mounted to the rear of the control arm.
..and 69 & later have the bump stop pad on the front of the spring housing with the rubber pad on the front of the control arm.
If you're using your original control arms, you'll need to drill holes in them to mount 69 style bump stops.

Novaderrik is almost correct about the bumper mounting holes..
Early 67 subframes did not have bumper mounting access holes, but later 67 through to 74 subframes did. These are the 2 large ~3" holes on the inner side of the front "horns". They purely provide access to the bumper mounting bolts. The actual bumper mount holes are all the same from 67-74 to the best of my knowledge.

Also, you might find that your 67 subframe has only 2 holes for the mounting of the radiator support. All 68 and later have 3 (to the best of my knowledge) and even with just the 2, are OK for any first gen Camaro or Firebird.

So, what's wrong with you existing subframe? They can be very easy to repair with some basic tools.

Honestly there isn't a lot wrong with the Camaro subframe. It needs a rusty patch around the rear body mount bushings replaced, but it's really not bad. The Nova subframe, however has been fully welded at all the seams and cleaned up nice and por-15'd. That'd pretty hard to turn down =)

Hey, can you guys remind me what the heavier drag link comes off of? I can't remember the two sizes, but know that I have the smaller of the two bars. (7/8 or something is the small one?) I thought I might look into replacing it at the same time... Everything else is new, steering-wise.

Aaron

I think the heavier link came off anything with power steering..
Not sure, but they're far too common to be only on big-block cars..
Look around, you should find one pretty easily, and the repros are the large diameter if you have to buy one.

actually, i was kind of wrong about the bumper mounting holes.. the 73-74 Nova frames had completely different mounting holes to hold those lovely 5mph bumper shocks, but 2 minutes with a drill fixes that. that's what i had to do when i put that 74 frame under my 71 Nova.
also, i believe the "big" center link was used on the 73-74 cars, and doesn't interchange with the smaller older parts unless you change the pitman and idler arms.

Thanks the help, guys!