I am placing an order in two weeks for a ladder bar kit from S&W. I have a 72 nova. I have been building for some time now. I have the rear half cut out and have just about enough saved for the kit. I know it is fully welded. 2 questions I really plan on keeping stock rearend I have 8.5 with 4.11 and eaton posi. I plan on upgrading axles though motor is a 406 sbc 475 hp and 450 tq. Is this going to hold and what is advantage to a narrowed rear? I only want a 29-12.5-15 under it or maybe a little more. And also what width frame do I want the options are 24 26 or 28"

ALL HELP IS APPRECIATED!

thanks
dan

the reason for the narrowed rear on a drag car 1. narrow rear makes the car go straighter under power, shorter axles twist less, keeps the tires inside the wheelwells, looks better, keeps center of gravity lower, less wind drag. the width is determinded by the tire and wheel ofset, measure the distance between the inner lip of the wheel well, setup your tire and wheel combo so its inside that dimension about an inch on each side. then measure between the tire inner surfaces allow for another inch or so per side and that is the frame width you are looking for, measure the wheels inside mount flange to inside mount flange and that is the total rear axle width you are trying to get.

the reason for the narrowed rear on a drag car 1. narrow rear makes the car go straighter under power, shorter axles twist less, keeps the tires inside the wheelwells, looks better, keeps center of gravity lower, less wind drag. the width is determinded by the tire and wheel ofset, measure the distance between the inner lip of the fender wheel wells, setup your tire and wheel combo so its inside that dimension about an inch on each side. then measure between the tire inner surfaces allow for another inch or so per side and that is the frame width you are looking for, measure the wheels inside mount flange to inside mount flange and that is the total rear axle width you are trying to get.

the reason for the narrowed rear on a drag car 1. narrow rear makes the car go straighter under power, shorter axles twist less, keeps the tires inside the wheelwells, looks better, keeps center of gravity lower, less wind drag. the width is determinded by the tire and wheel ofset, measure the distance between the inner lip of the fender wheel wells, setup your tire and wheel combo so its inside that dimension about an inch on each side. then measure between the tire inner surfaces allow for another inch or so per side and that is the frame width you are looking for, measure the wheels inside mount flange to inside mount flange and that is the total rear axle width you are trying to get.

WHAT HAPPENED!!!???

Well I built my frame from pieces in my S-10. I went with 24 inches and have room for 18.5x33 Mickey Thompson Street Slicks. You should have more room with the wider track of the Nova. Just depends on how big a tire you think you might want to run in the future. I built mine for the biggest tire and used a deep back space wheel so the rearend could be left wide enough that a 10 or 12 inch tire/wheel combo will work if I decide I want it in the future. Just something to think about. Also, make sure you get that frame in straight. I would suggest a Jig of some sort to hold it all straight for measuring. Good luck

Chris