F41- 1969 Nova SS

[MikeA]

Based on information on Nova Resource.com the following indicates how many Novas were equipped with the F41 option:

<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>1968: 176
<LI>1969: 2,608
<LI>1970: Data Missing
<LI>1971: 1,370
<LI>1972: 3,456
<LI>1973: 4,770
<LI>1974: 891[/list]I'm not sure of the accuracy of this information

Mike




[Edited by MikeA (04-15-2002 at 07:31 AM).]

[JoeC]

I am not sure either but those numbers look funny. Normally F41 used a rear sway bar and I don't ever remember seeing a rear bar on a 68-69 Nova. It would have fit the 69 Camaro if it fit a 69 Nova and there was no production 69 Camaro rear sway bar.

[Nova Research Project]

Mike,

I had noticed that an ordersheet for the 1970 nova listed the "Suspension, Special Front and Rear" as option F40, yet the Assembly Manual list it as F41. Is that normal or a misprint? Would that account for the missing 1970 info?

Greg

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

The F40 package is springs, the F41 package is bars and shocks. I don't know of any case where both options were installed on the same car, but technically I guess it's possible.

The F41 package is in the assy manual because it required a distinct assy of parts, (special brackets in the floor boards, special lower spring mounts, 2 vertical bars, 1 horizontal bar, 3 sets of bushings, a pair of bushing brackets, and a bunch of bolts). The F40 package might not be in the assy manual because it's only a part number change to the springs in an existing assy, and should be footnoted in the normal 'springs' pages.

I believe the F41 package may have been installed in '68 and up Novas, even though it didn't show up in the Camaro until '70. A '69 Nova rear swaybar setup would not be applicable in a '69 Camaro because of the floorboard bracket design. The brackets that get welded into the floorboard would be in the exact location where the '69 Camaro's rear shock towers would come through the trunk floor. Dimensionally, (is that a word?), the Nova rear sway bar would have fit the &lt;='69 Camaro due to the same width of the rear.

Obviously, in '70 the Camaro's rear got 1-2" wider, and therefore received a different swaybar design. The horizontal bar is too wide for the Nova's, (I have an NOS one, bummer). The vertical bars will fit, but they have a different 'clamp' design at the bottom and are ~~1" too short. These bars will cause the horizontal sway bar to rub the differential cover, but probably only if air shocks are installed.

Sorry for the long winded reply!!
[img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[Kurt S]

For 67-69 Camaros:
F40 - Suspension, heavy duty front and rear
F41 - Suspension, special purpose front &amp; rear
F40 was basically a tow package, F41 was the handling package.
F41 had volumes of 5968 (67), 7117 (68), &amp; 5929 (69) in 1st gen Camaros.
Didn't realize why the rear bar didn't fit on the 1st gen. Thx Marlin!

[Stefano]

I have only seen F41 on Big Block cars, has anyone seen an original small block F41? I recall the 1970 F41 front sway bar as 13/16" just like the COPO Camaros.

[Kurt S]

I've seen documented F41 on lots of SB first gens. Never seen an F40 first gen, though I've heard of one BB race car with it.

[BUIZILLA]

I have a '72 SS350 4 speed Nova, that is a factory F41 car. It has rear sway bar and what appears to be BB front springs as the nose sits up pretty good. I cut 1 coil spring from the front springs, and now it sits pretty level.

Jim

[Nova Research Project]

Kurt,

I wrote down information from a 1970 order from. F41 was not available on the list, but "Special Performance Suspension" was listed under the SS option. That is F41, correct.

The F40 "Suspension, special front &amp; rear" states that it is not available with Nova SS.

Marlin, Great info. I saw infomation on a 6 cyl Nova with F40. It had shock codes of PW Front and UK Rear. Aren't those Heavy Duty shocks? HD shock were not a seperate option and you could not get F41 without the SS option, does that mean the F40 also included HD shocks?

Thanks, Greg

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Greg;
To my knowledge, the Nova F40 package only contained special springs for the front/rear and 'matching' shocks. I don't know what 'matching' means, nor do I know what 'front stabilizer shaft on 6-cyl models only' means, (?).

In 1970 the F40 is called 'Special Front and Rear' suspension @ $6.35, and F41 is called 'Sport' @ $30.55. The F40 was not allowed with the SS option, and F41 was only allowed with the SS option! (This is why we believe that COPO 9737 was modified in 1970 to include the F41 on a non-SS car).

KurtS; Thanks for the info, I didn't realize that the Camaro's had an F41 option - just without the rear sway bar (?).