Hi Kadette!
You may want to point this question here:
http://www.stevesnovasite.com
They have tons of information about your car. As far as lowering it and making it handle better short of putting a new front clip that is engineered with better suspension geometry you may want to try these people:
http://www.classicperform.com/
This kit will at least keep your car from driving off the road and will hold an alignment as first and second gen novas are notorious for terrible front suspensions. If you are going to lower your car you can buy drop spindles but they may worsen the handling of your car depending on who you buy it from. You can also cut the front springs but there is a limit because if you go to low you will have rubbing issues.
I don't think, without doing some modifications to the front end, you will be able to get that wide a tire in the front or back. I would say the widest in the front will be a 7" wide and the widest in the back will be 8" without having to do some major modifications like minitubbing.
This is also a good source for info on your car:
http://novaresource.org/
Good Luck!