We’re always in pursuit of ways to make musclecars handle better, and Schwartz Extreme Performance now offers a complete replacement chassis for popular GM musclecars.
The Schwartz Precision Chassis is an entirely new frame that replaces your stock frame in your ’64 – ’72 GM “A” body, ’67-’70 Mustang / Cougar, and ’67-’69 Camaro / Firebird. The purpose of the new chassis is to provide substantially increased chassis stiffness and better handling capabilities with minimal effort, all without breaking the bank. What’s more, you can now add a truly bolt-in full frame to unibody cars like Mustangs and Camaros and dramatically increase their rigidity, strength, and handling.
The heart of the Schwartz Precision Chassis is a double-tube perimeter frame made from mild steel and crisscrossed by round-tube cross members. The double-tube design provides rigidity, and it adds a trick look to the belly of the car. The cross tubes help strengthen the frame, and they provide reinforcement for the transmission cross member area. You’ll note the transmission cross member is only 3/8” thick steel rather than the heavier piece in the factory frame. The reason is that the cross member is designed to resist the upward force placed on the transmission 2 ways… first, it’s much shorter than stock and attached to heavy tubing, and it’s also shaped like an inverted arch to combat the movement with it’s shape.
The front part of the frame features two large rails joined by several cross member tubes around the steering rack, the front sway bar area, and under the engine area. The design of the engine opening allows any engine to be installed… big or small block Chevy, Olds, Pontiac, Buick, Ford… whatever the builder wants. Remember, the GM “A” body chassis fits all GM division versions of the “A” body, not just Chevys. Want to hop up your Buick Skylark’s capabilities? This chassis will do it. Have an Olds Cutlass in need of help? Slide one of these under it and let the games begin.
Increased room for Headers is provided thanks to the rack and pinion steering system and race-car style sway bars. The steering system relies on a Sweet Manufacturing steering rack, and the steering linkage matches the lower control arm pickup Points for minimal bump-steer.
The front suspension system consists of adjustable Heim joints on all pieces for infinite adjustment. The Upper Control Arms are more race-car parts… steel tubular arms with screw-in ball joints and Heim joints. The lower arms are tubular rods and Heim joints, with Race car style Chevy Impala-based spindles, allowing for a variety of brake options. This particular car is going to be set up with a Baer system. The sway bar is an adjustable unit, again a standard Race car piece. These are cool because you can adjust the brackets, and also swap in center rods that offer greater or less torsional resistance as needed.
You’re probably noticing a trend in the part selections for this chassis. Schwartz chose to use off-the shelf Race car parts for their high-performance design and strength, and for the fact that most of this stuff is relatively inexpensive. Retailers like Coleman Engineering sell the Upper Control Arms for way less than a hundred bucks each. The sway bar centers are less than that.
The Winters rear axle center section housing is only a couple hundred dollars, and you can finish the whole rear axle assembly with tubes, gears, bearings, and axles on the cheap.
We’re going to slip one of the Schwartz Precision Chassis under the Royal Sport Camaro project car. Our intent is to substantially increase the rigidity of the car, add increased suspension adjustability, and end up with a great handling convertible without a roll bar.
Stay Tuned to V8TV for the assembly and installation of the Royal Sport chassis on an upcoming episode.
DISCLAIMER: Demonstrations and procedures contained in the V8TV show or website may not provide all necessary or relevant information. Applicable local laws and regulations may vary and should be checked before any project is commenced. Be sure to follow all applicable safety procedures. The Men's Channel and V8TV Productions, Inc. make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy, or practicality of any such demonstration or procedure or any information with respect thereto contained in the preceding program.
