I've been building these rear ends for years, but I still don't know exactly what years are the same in the later Novas. I have seen '76 Novas with the 60 inch wide rear end and the spring perches 42 1/2 inches on center, and I have seen later Novas with the 61 inch wide rear end with the spring perches 45 1/4 on center. When did they change it and did the frame get changed too? I can't figure out why GM would change the rear end when the car was about to go out of production.

My 75 and 77 Nova have the same spacing on the springs. Both had 8.5" differentials. All 75's had the 8.5, after that only the V-8's, 6 cyl got the 7.5" and in 76 only the 350 got the 8.5. I believe 68 - 79 were the same dimensions, just differences in the internals. Good to see you over here from Team Chevelle, (aka 64elcamino) your expertise will be a great asset.

I know of at least one '78 or '79 that had the wider rear end in it, and I have seen a few more with the wider rear end, but I'm not sure what years these were. I have bought several 8.5s up to '76, but not later than that. I have also run across several of the 7.5s in these cars. It is hard to buy these rear ends over the phone or internet when I can't measure them to be sure what I am getting. I was just wondering why some of them have the wider rear end.

I hope this sight gets as popular as the Camaro and Chevelle sights. There hasn't been much trafic here so far.

According to Scott's research, (http://www.novaresource.org/axle.htm) the rears were the same dimensions after 68. Maybe some were swapped out before you got hold of them.


Dan (perhaps):D

Could be. Seems a little odd that someone could push the springs out far enough to use the wider rear end and have it work right.

There was a Cadillac model based loosely on the X body platform. It may have had a wider stance and some of those rear ends may have found a home in some Novas. Then there are the Camaro's and S-10's which may be wider.

the camaro from 75-81 was used in the novas by people but they are wider!
if you spread the springs out about a 1/2" on each side you can make it work not right but will fit????