[Amc-list] Re; 'Flexible Flyers' - Radial Tires.

["John Elle" <johnelle@xxxxxxxxx>]

Armand
 
SNIP
Now that we know the nuances of AMC front end geometry, I really wish I
knew
what to do to convert my car to Radial tire technology. My 70 "Flexible
Flyer" Javelin still has bias ply tires on it.
SNIP
 
I wouldn?t be concerned if I were you, as close as I can tell AMC bolted
them 
to the lug nuts the same way they did with bias tires. I would have to
check 
alignment specs to see if there were any changes, but working from
faulty 
memory nothing particularly comes to mind, ?sides remember if you will,
I been 
driving my AMC cars regularly since I have owned them. Well maybe not 
dedicated to daily driving ?cause I have always had some form of a daily
driver
that was a late model used car or a new one but I always racked the
miles 
up on the things. My 70 Javelin has been wearing radials since I drove
it 
across country in 1979, The Spirit has had radials on it since I bought
it as 
a derelict and the AMX has had radials on it for quite some time too,
?specially 
as OEM for the car was a P195-75-R14. My suggestion would be find 
an alignment outfit that you can be comfortable with and request Caster
be 
about 2 degrees positive which will be quite a good number, a little
more 
would not hurt. Spec I is + ½ to +1 ½  according to the TSM for 1970 and

I would bet that the alignment company spec might be something like 
-2 to +2 so establish dialog with them and insist on a positive castor
spec. 
If you have installed polyurethane remember by design the lower control 
arm has the bushing press fitted in only one side, leaving some flex in 
the control arm pivot point. Polyurethane will not flex! And as you say,

Dukes of Hazard is not your driving style. I am equally sure you are not

maintaining the car using abuse and neglect or pounding the miles out.
For my purposes, rubber works and I have no desire to use polyurethane
but in some cases that may be the only alternative as parts disappear. 
 
As a quick note to the Arizona Highway Patrolmen looking for complete
rebuild parts for his 71 Javelin, Kanter has the best deals going for 
complete kits however the piece parts are carried by all of the major
AMC 
vendors and many of the autoparts stores. 
I just bought 2 sets from them last year that are going on my Hornets. 
That was the least expensive way I could see to purchase all of the 
rebuild parts at one time. And they both need it. 
 
John. 
 
 
 
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