Minitubbing

I originality posted this in D&P and it should be better posted here.

Since so many of our members, are minitubbing their cars,have minitubbed in the past,or wanting to,can't we firgure out a way to gather up all of this info in one place so that we have a single source?
I would think that with the knowledge base among our members,we could come up with a standardize procedure to minitub each generation of car.
I know there is lots of details to work out,but I do think this is something that could be done.

Random thoughts: Mike

i agree, its a great idea.

I believe Flyer has been gathering a bunch of articles and posts about different subjects like this...
Flyers thread (http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12910)

Good thought. thanks for mentioning it. :)

I originality posted this in D&P and it should be better posted here.

Since so many of our members, are minitubbing their cars,have minitubbed in the past,or wanting to,can't we firgure out a way to gather up all of this info in one place so that we have a single source?
I would think that with the knowledge base among our members,we could come up with a standardize procedure to minitub each generation of car.
I know there is lots of details to work out,but I do think this is something that could be done.

Random thoughts: Mike

Here are a few threads on this site I was able to find with a quick look




subframe leafspring clearance issues (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13632)


I will see what else I can find on the web I know there are a few sites out there :)

More Links

Back Halfing a 1971 Nova (http://www.hotrodder.com/realmccoy/)

Back Halfing a 1963 Nova (http://autoweldchassis.com/Instruct.ivnu)

This is a link to a site where a guy is TOTALLY rebuilding a '57 Chevy (I know it's not a Nova but the process is the same). During the process he also mini tubs it. Very detailed site. Hey Johnny you should be very familiar with these cars :) EDIT: By the way I forgot to mention the mini tubbing starts on page 22.
Project Rust Bucket (http://57rustbucket.com/)

This site belongs to a member of this online community.

John Heards 1971 Nova (http://www.iola.com/71nova/index.html)

This thread is sticky now. So keep adding to it if you want. If you are only covering the tubbing and not the suspension aspect, perhaps it should be moved to the "body" section.


Dan

wow !!! looks to me like you guys are doing some homework !!! way ta go !! when you get it all together... why don't one of you post all the links you like, together.... they need to be in the real link form (not coded to say "tub"... ya know what i mean ??) i'll copy/paste them in a section of "Web Links"


Johnny (looks like some real good info here !!!) for all to use !!! :D :D :D

Here are some various suspension threads that can go along with this topic


Lowering 1st Generation Novas (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13321)

2" Lowering Spindles (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13395)

Roll Cage Installation (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13547)

Air Ride VS Coil Overs (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12782)

Drop Spindles (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12704)

Leaf Spring Bushings for Caltrac (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14131)

Air Bag Suspension 2nd Generation (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13861)

Stock Ride Height (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13867)

Leaf Springs 3rd Generation (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13818)

Caltrac and Mono Springs (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13629)

Traction Bars (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12406)

Slapper Bars/Traction Bars (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14243)

Caltrac Spring Install (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14157)

Traction issues (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13934)

Caltrac Springs (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12920)

Aftermarket Axles VS Stock Axles (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13722)

4 Link VS Ladder Bar (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13041)

Landrum Springs (http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12389)



[edit/Flyer] removed links that no longer showed threads

i would like to run 255/55/17 on the rear of my 69 nova which i think are about 28" tall---my Foose(s) are 17x8.5 with 4.5 backspacing

i havnt tried to put them on it since i will pick my 69 shell up from an acid wash :D

then onto body work

any help would be great
peace
ITA


__________________

Im going to start hacking away at my wells pretty soon. Didn't want to but i dont think i will be satisified with the wheel that the stock wells will hold so this post will be a god sent to me!

Thanks for all the links and info guys, i will have many questions to come!

-Rennskii

Well I started on my mini-tub job today, I got the whole drivers side fenderwell cut out, but I'm trying to figure out the best way to remove the part of the trunk floor that has the steel plates in it for the shock mount.
The other thing is, for the ones who have done this job, do you cut the floor pan all the way flush to the frame rails on the front portion of the tub up near the fron spring perch. I haven't seen any pics of that yet. Thanks for any info. Also I hope I'm not the only one that is going to have to do some patch welding here and there when it's all said and done.

To cut thought the area with the shock mount, I used a cutoff wheel, and a pry bar to seperate the very thick shock mount.

I did not cut up to the frame in the front, I left somewhere around 2" up front. I marked a line in inside of the the wheel housing, cut, then moved the whole wheel housing in two inches, then marked the area that needed cutting out with leaving a little exta to trim after welding it back in.

hth

Scott, like newguy stated, don't cut right up to the frame when you are cutting the inner tub out. I suggest scribing a line off of the inner tub profile onto the trunk floor. Make this line short of the final position where the tub will be moved to. This way you have extra material on the trunk floor that you can remove - a little at a time. If you are accurate with the cuts and welds, you won't have to weld in filler metal to patch things up.

There are some photos of the mini-tub/spring relocation/Caltrac install on my photo site: http://bowtie0069.fotki.com/ scroll down to "My Nova"

Here's the first set of pictures, tomorrow I expect to cut the frame rails and start boxing in the frame.

This is cut to frame rail, wheel hanging with 3" drop blocks

http://members.cox.net/minitub/freewheel%20underside.JPG

upper side, wheel hanging

http://members.cox.net/minitub/initial%20cut%20rear%20free%20wheel.JPG

http://members.cox.net/minitub/initialcut2.JPG

ride heigth, all weight on rearend

http://members.cox.net/minitub/ride%20height%202.JPG

http://members.cox.net/minitub/ride%20height%20wheelwell.JPG

Here's some pictures form today, outer tub is back in place and welded back in. Funny, the gap, its about 2 1/2 inches at the base and about 1 1/4 at the top. I think it looks good and will look better once the kittyhair is applied on top and the bottom is cleaned up.

http://members.cox.net/minitub/framecut.JPG

http://members.cox.net/minitub/frameinsert.JPG

http://members.cox.net/minitub/mockup.JPG

http://members.cox.net/minitub/rearweld.JPG

http://members.cox.net/minitub/rearfullywelded.JPG

http://members.cox.net/minitub/frontfullywelded.JPG

nice work duane quick question did you use offset spring hangers to move your leafs inboard ( keep the photos coming their a great help)
cheers
paul

I have CE subframe connectors for the front which are boxed for springs and used leaf spring sliders in the back which are mounted inboard.

check here http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30192

Well, both sides are done. I didn't take any pictures of the passenger side at all, guess I was to motivated to stop and take any. Here's the finished product.

http://members.cox.net/minitub/DSCF2969.JPG
http://members.cox.net/minitub/DSCF2975.JPG
http://members.cox.net/minitub/DSCF2974.JPG

Here is a link to my Mini-Tub Progress on my 63 hard top.

http://photobucket.com/albums/c76/adidasink/Mini%20Tub%20Progress/

Well, both sides are done. I didn't take any pictures of the passenger side at all, guess I was to motivated to stop and take any. Here's the finished product.


I like how you did the trunk hinge and support bracket....I may have to reference this as I get to cutting this weekend!

-John

It really looks pretty clean, I just hacked the edges off the bracket and used the center portion. Thanks for the compliments.

Duane

getting ready to start cutting into my frame rails and was wondering how much i need to cut out of them there are some good side shots in the photos but nothing from the bottom showing how far you cut into them

I have some shots somewhere of how much I cut, but gotta find them. Don't go by what I cut, each and everyone of our cars are different. I cut what I felt was necessary to fit the wheelwell, but kept it strong.

Check out the November 2005 issue of Chevy Rumble Magazine. Look for Joe Johnson's 67 post car and the work a good buddy of mine (Mitch's Custom Fabrications in El Monte, CA) did on his car, from the mini-tub to the Martz four bar kit. Has some good pics of where he cut. OK, it's a plug. ;)

I'll ask Mitch if he has any pics that he took of the project.

I have some shots somewhere of how much I cut, but gotta find them. Don't go by what I cut, each and everyone of our cars are different. I cut what I felt was necessary to fit the wheelwell, but kept it strong.
Could I minitub my 72 without moving the springs or touching the frame? I would just like enough room for another inch of tire.

Thats a third genner question. I haven't delt with those at all. But I believe so, take a look underneath.

Hey MangoPuppy,

Yes, you can minitub your car without cutting the frame...BUT

You will have to relocate the shocks and you will probably at minimum have to use offset shackles (mopar style) in the rear for the springs (this of course means spring perch mods).

For 1" is it really worth it ?

I have my 72 cut back to the rails with re-hung leafs and I run 28 x 12.50 ET Streets. Car sits VERY low (wheel opening about 1" above the top of the rim).

Modifying the rails would have gained an additional 1" over what I can fit now.

Gary

Gary is right about everything. I cut mine an inch into the rails and re-inforced the rails with 3/8's inch thick steel plate on the back side. You can go ahead and not mess with the frame rails if you want, but to get that extra inch of tire you will need to re-locate the springs. I am donig a custom ladder bar set up at the moment so leafs are not the problem for me. I can fit about 13 inches of tire with room for clearence.

Good luck, ask questions. It helps, believe me.

Duane- what type of seam sealer is that you used? Thanks-

Dale

Duane- what type of seam sealer is that you used? Thanks-

Dale

Sorry Dale, haven't been on the site much. Its "kitty hair" figerglass bondo filler. Water resistant and hard *** *****.

http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/Dragnova67/

In my album you'll see some of my frame mods on my 67. The tire is a 315 MT drag radial on a 10" weld alumastar with 4" bs.

new pics. see above post.

hey everbody, I've been trying to pull up these threads on minitubbing cant seem to get to them. when i click on them it says its not a good thread any suggestions?? Tahnks