SUBFRAME TO SURFACE MISSILEUpdate Your First-Gen Camaro With the Latest Suspension Goodies

How ToText and Photos: Arvid Svendsen

The removal of the front dog-house of a ’67-69 Camaro hasalways been somewhat of adisappointment. That big,clunky OEM front subframeunearthed in a first-generation

Camaro recalls a dogtracking mid-’70sNova...too primitive and pedestrian for aserious performance car. Though the after-market has stepped up with improvementsover the factory components, first-genCamaros have screamed for a serious,“clean sheet of paper” front-clip update.The answer: Chris Alston’s Chassisworksdirect bolt-on clip.

Formed out of laser-cut, CNC-machined,

precision-bent 7-gauge steel, the subframeis fixture welded for an exact fit. Thereplacement subframe is completely street-able and features billet side-motor frameadapters, stock-location emergency-brakecable mounts, transmission crossmemberbrackets, and a clutch-shaft pivot mount.Mounting stubs are installed at the rear ofthe subframe to accommodate Chassis-works bolt-in subframe connectors.

If you want to fit fairly large rollers,you’ll be happy to know that there’s suf-ficient room for a 17x8 front wheel witha 43⁄4-inch backspace, enabling you tomount a P225/45R17 wheel and tire.For our build, we decided to go with thefull Chassisworks design for the Camaroand ordered the Street Machine FrontSuspension Package, which includestubular upper and lower A-arms, choice

of coilovers (or Air Ride Shockwaves),and precise billet rack-and-pinion steer-ing. Incorporating the Chassisworkssuspension pieces ensures outstandinggeometry and adjustability for serioushandling.

The Chassisworks front clip attachesto the body using urethane or aluminumbody bushings. In order to button up theinstallation, rubber inner-fender splash

guards are attached to the factory inner-fender panels. If you’re a do-it-yourselftype of guy then know this: Chassis-works includes a highly detailed 104-page installation guide that answersmost questions. If you’re still stumped,tech support is always available. Nowfollow along as Route 66 Motorsportsinstalls the foundation for a seriousstreet-missile Camaro.

QUICK NOTESWHAT IT ISChris Alston’s Chassisworks direct bolt-inclip for first-gen Camaros

BOTTOM LINEIt’s a true bolt-on!

PRICE (APPROX)$1,395

If you’re looking to upgrade your brakes, theWilwood 13-inch front rotors feature four-piston calipers and match well with theChassisworks hubs.

To assemble the rotors, we started by attaching the hat to the rotor, then attaching the hub andstuds to the rotor. After the Timken inner wheel bearing was packed with grease, we dropped in thebearing race. After we tapped the inner seal into place, the rotors were ready for installation.

Prior to mounting the rack, be sure to chase the threads in the rack mounting bosses. The lowerhalf of the billet rack clamp can then be attached to the front of the crossmember. While you’re atit, it’s a good idea to apply Loctite to the Allen bolts.

Both upper and lower A-arms fit fairly snug over the mounts, so take extra care not to damage thethreads in the mounts or on the pivot studs.

In order to stay with the entireChassisworks design, Route 66Motorsports ordered a pair of thesubframe connectors that attach to the stubs at the rear of the sub-frame. Moving forward, the front clipalso adds the triangular emergencybrake mounting bracket at the stocklocation.

Chassisworks provides these holes(arrow) for easy alignment.

The coilover mount and upper tubu-lar control arm are designed foroptimum suspension character-istics. The welds especially standout—they’re absolutely beautiful.

The tubular transmission cross-member attaches to the subframeat these mounting points.

SUBFRAME TO SURFACE MISSILE

The new subframe from Chassisworks isevery bit as stout as the OEM unit, yet it’s

constructed with the engineering toincorporate modern-day suspension.

Another option is the stainless steel upper andlower A-arms kit. It comes complete with allhardware, and the ball joints come alreadyinstalled, leaving only the installation of the rodends to complete.

Drop spindles are available to lower the carapproximately 2 inches and are specificallydesigned to work with the new front clip.

TheChassisworks

front clip for the ’69

Camaro is farand away the

best subframeon the market

]

With the bolts out, we could drop the entirefront subframe with a floor jack. That’s all thereis to it.

There you have it. The new front clip has theperfect combination of up-to-the-minutetechnology with the durability necessary for ahigh-performance street car. Adding to the user-friendly appeal, the front clip also accommodatesthe stock radiator support, bumper, grille, andinner-fender panels. Add in the rubber inner-fender shield and it’ll protect the engine com-partment during inclement weather.

Once we had the front clip lined up, we supportedthe rear of the subframe with a pair of jackstands,and loosely installed the mounting bolts, checkingfor proper alignment. Everything looked good, sowe went ahead and torqued it down to spec.

Pulling out the factory subframe is only amatter of four bolts. While air tools aren’trequired, it certainly makes the job easier.Make sure you support the front of the bodywhen dropping the subframe.

To assemble the four-piston caliper Wilwoods, westarted by installing the pads and followed byattaching the supplied bracket onto the caliperand mounting the assembly onto the spindle.

The steering was checked for uninterrupted fullrange of motion.

After the frontend alignment was completed, theassembled rotors were slipped on the spindles.Bearings, retainers, and castle nuts were theninstalled, finished off with the always importantcotter pin.

One of the greatest features of the mountingdesign is the ability to rotate the rack toprovide any desired angle from the steeringcolumn to the rack input shaft. With the rack inplace, the billet rack-clamp caps were installed.Tie-rod ends were also installed and attached tothe steering arms of the spindles.

We used antiseize compound on the pivot studthreads. Once we snugged it down, we checkedthe upper and lower A-arms to ensure theycould swing freely throughout full extension.

SUBFRAME TO SURFACE MISSILE

To help mock up the suspension components,we used the shock-absorber simulators andcompleted a frontend alignment.

The dropped spindle was installed to the upperand lower A-arms using the supplied castlenuts. To install, simply tighten the castle nutsand insert the cotter pins.