Re: [Amc-list] Early 60s Ramblers tires and wheels, front suspension

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Even with adjustable strut rods I could only get 2.5* caster on my car. Well, it would go to 3* on one side... Any more and the trunnion will start to bind -- you can only twist it so much, and it really doesn't need to be twisted at all! I don't think mine are, but I had a good alignment shop do it with a young tech that learned the trade under a car with his father and grand father, who both pretty much learned the same way. 

I have to agree with Tom on the soft springing -- roads were more bad than good in the 50s and 60s, with a lot of improvement since the 70s, at least on most major roads. The suspension was designed to absorb everything in the road and float on! Stiffer shocks will help, but 10-15% stiffer front SPRINGS will do a lot more than shocks on those old cars, even more than a sway bar! I had no trouble running 65 series radial tires, even with the stiffer springs I installed. It road a little rougher than stock, naturally, but not exceedingly so. The stiffer springs and lower tires made for great handling! The rears were stiffened with half leaf clamp ons also... I mentioned that a couple days ago though. 

Tom, I don't think running the radials hard will work. Shocks made today are already calibrated for radial tires -- when was the last time you even saw bias ply car tires that weren't special antique car tires? In the early 80s when you could still get bias plys (but just!), I bought a set for my little 63 440 sedan (two door). Bought a set of new "radial tuned" shocks, as that was all they offered that fit. Dealer said it wouldn't matter if I had bias ply tires. That was a bunch of crap!! Shocks designed for radial tires, I discovered, are a LOT stiffer valved than bias plys. The reason is the sidewall of a radial is more flexible and soaks up a lot of the bumps. Bias ply sidewalls are rather stiff, and need a softer shock. Bias tires and radial valved shocks made a jarring ride! I put the bias ply tires on another Rambler with old style shocks and it was great, got radials for the "good" car, and all was well again! 

--------
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 22:42:06 -0700
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

> > also. 0* for the old bias ply tires and i think they
> > usually put what 3-5* caster now? i need to do that
> > strut rod trick frank was talking about with the
> > concorde or so adjustable strut rod so i can adjust
> > it.
>   
I'm gonna set the American up with a tiny bit of caster for the radials, 
but try running the radials rock-hard to see if I can simulate bias ply 
a bit. It's got the big steerin wheel also, and it's a lot lighter, 
steering was pretty easy.

> > i do need however, stiffer shocks. still 
> > has on the original shocks. they are valved way to
> > soft. i bet when i do change them, i will feel a LOT
> > stiffer ride.
>   


-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
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