I'm helping a friend tub a '64 Nova. He has a CAChassisworks 2"x3", ladderbar, backhalf chassis welded onto his Nova. Per instructions, the lower tube on the ladder bar is set parallel to the ground. The car sits at ride height and the pinion angle is set. The front ladder bar mount is bolted to the top most bracket hole as there are only two holes in the front brackets. We have 29" tires on the car now, but out of curiosity, we installed my 33" tires. Now the rear of the car sits significantly higher. We have questions on lowering the suspension.

1) The rear coilovers are on adjustable rearend brackets with six holes to adjust up and down. It is centered now but we want to move the coilovers to the lowest holes to drop the rear of the car 2" - 3". Will this mess up the pinion angle and we need to readjust?

2) When the coilovers are are in the lowest holes, the lower bar on the ladder bar is not parallel to the ground and the front of the ladder bars now angle downward. Is this O.K. or should they remain parallel to the ground?

3) Also, with the coilovers in the lowest holes, the panhard bar is now not parallel with the rearend, but sits at an angle. Should we adjust the panhard to have it parallel?

Thanks

1) The rear coilovers are on adjustable rearend brackets with six holes to adjust up and down. It is centered now but we want to move the coilovers to the lowest holes to drop the rear of the car 2" - 3". Will this mess up the pinion angle and we need to readjust?

Yes you will need to reset pinion angle.

2) When the coilovers are are in the lowest holes, the lower bar on the ladder bar is not parallel to the ground and the front of the ladder bars now angle downward. Is this O.K. or should they remain parallel to the ground?

You are going to have to live with it unless you replace the front mount, The car should have been built with a 3 hole bracket with the ladder bar in the center hole and the axle centerline set at 16.5" at ride hight when it was built.
With the bar down in the front it is going to have some serious bite with a slick on it.

3) Also, with the coilovers in the lowest holes, the panhard bar is now not parallel with the rearend, but sits at an angle. Should we adjust the panhard to have it parallel?

I hate panhard bars for that problem I would scrap the panhard for a track locator. if you build one with good brackets and 5/8" heims they will live on the street.

Hope this helps, Mike

Thanks Mike

I thought so. I guess I have to break the bad news to him. He's stuck with 29" tires as I don't want to do any adjusting, welding or grinding just to fit taller 33" tires. I'm just feeling lazy.....