A guy I knew from cruising nights and other Tri5 owners (we are tight now) kept asking me to take a look at how his Nova clip was done on his truck. I told him when he takes the front sheet metal off and pull the engine to call me and I will take a look. Well, he finally did as I requested and man this thing is a mess I did not expect anything this bad. The clip is installed crooked, ugly, different thickness of metals it looks like the guy that installed it used whatever was in the backyard. I really don't like working on other people rides but this is a older gentleman who was taken advantage of I fix it for him.

Here are some pictures of what I had to deal with. I cannot believe he paid the guy who did this.






I leveled the frame and built a jig so that I cut the clip out and get it ready for the re-install. Man I really wanted to just rebuild the frame rails and install an after market kit, but he wants the nova clip, just installed correctly.




I cut all the ugly stuff off the subframe and then my camera broke before I could take a pic of the cleaned up subframe.lol It does not like looking at this either.lol I should be finished next week and I will post pics of what I do.

The first order of business was to cut out the ugly on the frame and the subframe.




After I measure 50 different time for the wheelbase and to insure everything was square, (I even put the front sheetmetal on to see if I liked how the wheels looked in the wheel well). I used a cardboard template to make a filler piece.

The filler pieces tacked in.



I measured everything again and even put the front sheetmetal back for a final check before welding it in. This side filler box is complete. I will eventually box the frame back to the cab mount and add gussets.




Half of this filler piece box is complete. I ran out of time today, I should have it done tomorrow. I got a good amount done today so I'm happy and I think its gonna look really nice. Not like that travesty of a clip that was on there to begin with.


This is what the clip looks like now




This is truck put back together and the stance









Well the truck is completely and back together after paint.




Here it is at his clubs picnic.

The guy I did the clip on the yellow truck for neighbor by asked if I would take a look at his truck. It was in the shop for years and he had to go get it because they never did any work on it but box the frame rail (not a good job at that) in preparation of an IFS install. He was is an older gentlemen and I have a weakness for help older guys. So once again I broke my rule of not working on other peoples rides.lol So I did the IFS, engine and much more we also became good friends.lol
I could not believe the shape this truck was in. I wish I owned it, it is in amazing shape. 1945 Chevy truck in this shape.

This engine black is just for mock up. Engine installed is a 383 stroker.









Putting things back together








Another buddy ask if I could install is Jim Meyer clip on his 56 Belair he would take it to a shop after that. Man I want one of these for my 55 210. Its a really nice piece, but too expensive for my blood.lol

I think I hate you

I never played with suspension stuff much Im gonna have to try some day.

I got a question don't care if its answered publicly or PM and I can understand if it was answered in a PM.

Question :
Where are you leveling the engine from the intake manifold? at what angle do you set it? is it critical?
How do you know when the transmission is at right height on tail shaft when making Cross member?
How do you set the correct pinion angle on the input to the rear differential without knowing the first question?
How can you figure either correctly with out know vehicle total weight?
Are you off setting the rear end to one side or the other? how much? why?
Are you using equal length A arms or unequal length? why? how the heck do you know or figure out shocks & springs for a custom front end?

Another is figuring out proper Drive shaft length and why an offset is so important on the U joints ?

Doright wrote:I think I hate you

I never played with suspension stuff much Im gonna have to try some day.

OH man I thought we were become fast friends now you hate me.lol

Doright wrote:I got a question don't care if its answered publicly or PM and I can understand if it was answered in a PM.

I don't mine answering publicly because that might lead to debate and thats how we learn. The are many ways to do things and I'm not one of those people that think my way is right its only right for me.
Question :

Doright wrote:Where are you leveling the engine from the intake manifold? at what angle do you set it? is it critical?

An engine angle can basically be set at any degree just as long as the transmission is inline with the pinion yoke. The transmission and pinion yoke alignment is critical. I try to set my engine at 3 degree.

Doright wrote:How do you know when the transmission is at right height on tail shaft when making Cross member?

If your engine is set at 3 degree down your transmission should be the same. I use a protractor on the tail shaft.

Doright wrote:How do you set the correct pinion angle on the input to the rear differential without knowing the first question?

You have to know you engine/transmission angle. This will tell you how to setup your pinion angle of the differential. So if your engine angle is 3 degrees down you will set the pinion angle on your rear end 3 degrees up. That will keep every thing inline.

Doright wrote:How can you figure either correctly with out know vehicle total weight?

Please explain, I don't understand the question.

Doright wrote:Are you off setting the rear end to one side or the other? how much? why?

Do worry about the pinion being offset because its offset on many rearends. Just make sure the complete rearend is centered in the car. You pinion may be offset but does not mean the rearend is. Check the distance of each driver and passenger in relation to the frame. See a Ford 8.8 rear pinion is offset about 3 inches if you go by that pinion as far as centering, than your rear end would be off center 3 inches and that is bad.

Doright wrote:Are you using equal length A arms or unequal length?

Equal a arms is what I use. why? I use a clip exactly how it came out the original car.

Doright wrote: how the heck do you know or figure out shocks & springs for a custom front end?

If you going with a aftermarket kit you can tell them what car, engine, etc and they will give you the recommendations. If its a donor car I use what was in there. Now if it had a big block I will change the springs if I'm running a small block. Because we all know that block springs are harsher because of the weight.

Another is figuring out proper Drive shaft length and why an offset is so important on the U joints ?[/quote] When you order a driveshaft they will give you a worksheet that explains how to measure for your setup. Here is an example. There are two many configurations to answer them all. But this may shed some light. http://azdriveshaft.com/wp-content/them ... ges/D1.pdf

Check this page out to understand offset and proper drive line phasing. http://jniolon.clubfte.com/drivelinepha ... asing.html

Thank you I like both of those web sights the one with the angles helped clear some mud up some day I would like to sit down and figure it all out building my own custom but for time being Im gonna stick with getting current projects completed first I must stay focused.

My Plymouth and that one Pontiac are my current builds and if the owner ever bought some parts a 62 Studebaker hawk.
By the way Im needing floors for it if you know any one? (cheap guy aint got squat for money old guy)
I need blasting for that one too lots of blasting wish there was some one around here that did blasting.

Did you make it to Pomona for the car show/swap meet?
Are you going to go to the Long beach swap meet on the 9th?

Man I surprised you mentioned Long Beach and Pomona. I did not know you were from around these parts. No I did not go to Pomona, I rarely go anymore. I also rarely go to the Long Beach swap meet. I need to, I have haven't been in a while.

The more I see those Camaro (or Nova) clips the less I like them, so easy to get those way off line like the one you just fixed. I see so many cars or trucks for sale with that clip and my first thought is, oh great, who did the work? A simple mustang ll crossmember is so much simpler in every way, that's what I have in my 51 chev pu project, it looks right in every way. Those early clips look like they came out of a dump truck. I know if set up correctly they work just fine but they just don't float my boat.

Great work you're doing

rjuhasz wrote:The more I see those Camaro (or Nova) clips the less I like them, so easy to get those way off line like the one you just fixed. I see so many cars or trucks for sale with that clip and my first thought is, oh great, who did the work? A simple mustang ll crossmember is so much simpler in every way, that's what I have in my 51 chev pu project, it looks right in every way. Those early clips look like they came out of a dump truck. I know if set up correctly they work just fine but they just don't float my boat.

Great work you're doing

Thanks for the compliment. I agree with you that Mustang 2 (I have one on my 55/58 project) or any aftermarket kit is way easier to install. But nothing is wrong with a properly installed clip (the point is properly installed). I've been installing them for years and they do ride and handle great but I'm not convinced they are worth the effort anymore with the choices available today.

Bam, you are doing some amazing work, but more importantly, it seems you are a good guy too helping out some older guys that needed honest and capable assistance. Keep up the good work and I never get tired at looking pics of project cars!