As a kid, Brent Vandervort became interested in just about everything on wheels, and as a result he and his brother began restoring a Model A Ford that would serve as their transportation through high school. As the years rolled by Brent built a number of his own hot rods along with a bunch for friends, and while his fabricating abilities were improving he also earned degrees in Business Management and Mechanical Engineering. By the time 1985 rolled around Brent had decided to combine his hands-on skills and his formal education to start Fatman Fabrications.
Brent’s new company began offering a line of chassis components and independent front suspension systems for cars from the ’teens through the 1950s, and Fatman Fabrications quickly gained a reputation for producing practical, affordable, handling-improving parts that were easy to install and performed flawlessly. But Brent is not a guy who rests on his laurels. As part of an ever-expanding product line, Fatman has responded to the restomod revolution with a line of GTech suspension components for Chevrolets, including Tri-Fives, 1958-’64 and 1977-’81 fullsize, Chevelles, Monte Carlos, Novas, Malibus, and Camaros.
Recently, we caught Dickie Lowder in the process of updating his wife’s 1966 Chevelle — a duplicate of the car she drove in high school. This one is getting the full GTech treatment that includes Fatman’s 1964-’72 Chevy Chevelle tubular control arms. They come in primer so they can be painted any color; black or silver powdercoating is optional. To enhance handling, the location of the upper ball joint has been revised, which also makes it easier to align the frontend properly without having to use a huge stack of shims. GTech control arms are stout and come with billet-steel shafts and urethane bushings for strength and a long service life.
On the opposite end of the spindles, GTech lower control arms replace the originals. To maintain insulation from road shock, Fatman’s lower control arms come with OEM-style rubber bushings; however, urethane bushings are a no-cost option (they are tighter but harsher). These lower arms come with stamped 3/16-inch spring cups, but as an option, coilover and air spring versions are also available.
Another upgrade was a set of Fatman’s GTech dropped spindles. Not only do they lower the car 2 inches, these are the taller versions for increased camber gain when cornering, which allows the tires to stay firmly planted on the ground for markedly improved grip (over a 20 percent improvement in skidpad numbers has been recorded). To eliminate bumpsteer, the steering arm mounting locations have been relocated. Fatman Fabrications also offers brake kits, sway bars, shocks, springs, dropped spindles, tubular control arms, and steering kits that bolt onto the stock chassis with a minimum of modifications.
When compared to decades-old OEM engineering, GTech components are a simple, affordable, and effective means to not only improve appearance, but also a level of handling that was once the domain of very exotic GT machines – and they bolt on with a minimum of changes to the car. That really is suspension sophistication simplified.
1. The bare chassis looks better than new thanks to powdercoating applied by Nu Finish in Norwood, North Carolina.
2. For this application, Fatman’s GTech coil spring front suspension components were used. They are all direct replacements for the stock parts.
3. Keith Wade installed the new GTech suspension components in Fatman’s service facility. The GTech lower control arms are made from TIG-welded 1x0.188-inch wall tubing.
4. Along with dropped spindles, shorter coil springs were installed up front. Reducing the ride height not only looks cool but it also lowers the center of gravity for improved handling.
5. With the lower control arms in place, new adjustable shocks were installed. Control arm sets are available for standard tread width or 1-inch narrower to accommodate wider tires.
6. Fatman offers dropped spindles in stock height (from bottom to top ball joint) or taller versions for improved handling. This example of a tall spindle has a Wilwood caliper bracket installed.
7. Here, the tubular upper control arm and dropped spindle have been installed. Made from a one-piece, heat-treated forging, these spindles will accept any disc brake kit that will fit original spindles, including OEM, Wilwood, Baer, or ECI.
8. In this case, GM calipers and rotors will be used. The OEM-style caliper bracket bolts directly to the Fatman spindle. Note the use of thread locker, always a good idea on brake components.
9. Stock Chevrolet steering arms are used; however, their mounting point on the spindle has been moved to eliminate bumpsteer.
10. Stock GM ventilated rotors, bearings, and seals were used as they are readily available, affordable, and most of all, effective.
11. GM single-piston calipers complete the front disc brake package. These are over-the-counter replacements from our local NAPA store.
12. To take advantage of the new and improved suspension geometry, an optional antiroll bar was added to the front.
13. The GTech front suspension is clean looking, it drops the ride height noticeably, and the improvement in handling will definitely be felt. Along with the suspension components, a Borgeson power steering box was installed
14. A former CHP feature car, Freddie Smith’s ’65 Chevelle uses GTech components with the available coilovers and Wilwood disc brakes.
15. Fatman Fabrications also offers rear suspension components. Lowder chose replacement upper and lower control arms and replaced the original coil springs and shocks with coilovers.
