Hey there, hopefully came to the right place. I am seriosly considering a 72 SS Chevelle for my next project. Have built BBC Camaros and Novas but never a Chevelle (yet). What are the pros and cons of the chevelle vs. the cars I mentioned. I know the Chevelle has a 4 link style rear suspension design which allows a greater variety of rear susp upgrades including air bags (which is a major plus). I will be installing a blown 540 BB and Muncie M22 (w/gear vendors o/d) and most likely a Moser 12bolt. Are Chevelle subframe or full frame? Can you fit an 8pt roll bar without hacking up the back seat too much? What about weight issues? How wide of a tire can you fit in the stock wheel well and what offset will I need to do so? Will I need to run the smaller brake booster to clear tall BBC valve covers? These are things I've learned with Camaros and Novas but just lack the experience when it comes to Chevelles. Thanks for your help!!!!

Welcome to the board. I think you will like Chevelles. They are somewhat bigger than Novas and Camaros. Plus, they are a full frame car. I think you can get a bar in and go through the package shelf without hacking the rear seat. I'm not sure about this, though, since I have the two passenger version of the Chevelle.

The Chevelles are full frame cars instead of unibodies and are a little on the heavy side. They can accommodate about 10 1/2" slicks with a 10" x 28" inch wheel and 5.5" backspacing. Several different header companies make equal length headers up to 2 1/8" tube sizes but usually run one tube over the frame and most are kind of a snug fit. The early models are 115" wheelbase, ride better and are a generally about 100-150 lbs. lighter than the 68-72 models which have a shorter 112" wheelbase but are bigger overall length and width cars. If you are looking for a less used full frame car you might consider a '78 - '80 or so Malibu. More aerodynamic and lighter than the Chevelles and still unusual. The Camaros and '68 - '76 Novas make better race cars and have common subframes as well as better clearance for headers.

Originally posted by Harold Sutton:
The Chevelles are full frame cars instead of unibodies and are a little on the heavy side. They can accommodate about 10 1/2" slicks with a 10" x 28" inch wheel and 5.5" backspacing. Several different header companies make equal length headers up to 2 1/8" tube sizes but usually run one tube over the frame and most are kind of a snug fit. The early models are 115" wheelbase, ride better and are a generally about 100-150 lbs. lighter than the 68-72 models which have a shorter 112" wheelbase but are bigger overall length and width cars. If you are looking for a less used full frame car you might consider a '78 - '80 or so Malibu. More aerodynamic and lighter than the Chevelles and still unusual. The Camaros and '68 - '76 Novas make better race cars and have common subframes as well as better clearance for headers. Thanks for the welcome. I have my eye on a 72 SS rolling chassis that has a really straight body. I live in California and since this car will be street driven (hence the air bags and full width rear) I have to stick with 74 and older to stay exempt from emissions testing. I want to run a 2" primary and am looking at the 3" pipe kit from Summit. Will those headers fit inside or will they have to wrap around the rail as you mentioned? I also wrote to Steeroids to see if they would be making a rack and pinion conversion kit or not. We'll see what they say. I sure hope so, had good results with them on a Nova and got room enough for 2 1/4" headers with room to spare with their kit.

-Well i gotta debate a little here. My Nova runs a stock, slightly modified wheel well and i run 11.5 x 28 hoosier QTP's and room to spare with 5.5" back space drag lites.
-Your chevelle is probably pushing 4,000 lbs compared to the 3,500 lbs your nova or camaro weighed. There are some here that claim to have 3100lb all steel chevelles. I just have a hard time believing it.
-As far as the interior space goes, i think its about dead even with the nova having just a hair more.
-My roll bar goes through my rear shelf not my back seats like was posted above. I still have a full interior in fact!!
I have a 73' Nova and a 70' chevelle that im going to get cracking at in a couple of years, and the 70'is HEAVY and its a small block too!!!! BUT the flip side to that is it has Power steering, power brakes, tilt, A/C, rear window defog, Colum shift auto, and about everything else that could possibly make it heavy...but its going to make a killer cruiser!!
-Plain and simple because of weight it takes a little more to make the chevelle go.
-Now on the flip side I think Chevelles are very cool. Ive allways been an A-body GM fan and the styling of these cars are second to none in my opinion.
-In all reality the A-bodies do have more stability because of the big frame vs. the nova/ camaro unibody.
- Your chevelle is a prime candidate for what ever you want to do with it. I was just straightening out a few things. Have fun