Classic Performance Products Suspension Install On Chevrolet Nova - Heavy Machinery Part 1

After the powertrain was situated we moved on to creating a real driver's car-one with more roadworthy characteristics-turning to Classic Performance Products of Placentia, California, who are well versed with Novas and their ability to blaze through corners. To begin, CPP swapped in its large 11/8-inch-diameter front sway bar and 7/8-inch-diameter rear bar. The shocks were replaced with Bilstein units from CPP. Later, the manual front drums were swapped in favor of their power disc brake assemblies, including forged 2-inch drop spindles loaded with 11-inch disc brakes and a power brake booster. The rear was restored with a rebuild drum package and lowering rear leaf kit.

Our initial testing revealed a nice surprise. The Nova remained somewhat flat through the slalom and manageable during repeated 60-0 braking. Still, performance was marginal at best-definitely room for improvement. For this install, we've landed all new upper and lower tubular control arms, a big-brake kit for the front and rear, and all new adjustable QA1 coilovers for the front and shocks out back-all from CPP.

At CPP's headquarters, Craig Chaffers shredded into the underguts of the front suspension to create a sled with more tunability and serious braking power. Don't worry, we'll have the full test numbers, including slalom, skidpad, and braking in a future issue. In the meantime we've made plans to attend a majority of the Goodguys autocross events on the West Coast. Follow along as we show how it was done and what makes CPP's components a cut above the rest.

Armed Arsenal
Supplying the suspension with strength was left to CPP's upper and lower tubular A-arms; the added rigidity means less flex, which translates into a much nimbler vehicle that's easy to predict and control. The lower control arms feature a helical stamped coil mount with an integral shock mount. The upper control arms are preassembled on new billet chromoly 4130 cross-shafts and pivot sleeves. CPP has also created a safety feature in the interlocking shaft and sleeve design, which prevents the bolts from working loose, even under severe stress created by hard cornering. The arms also feature exclusive pivot bushings with a patented self-lubricating plastic that will not squeak or break, and will work in temperatures of over 400 degrees.