[Amc-list] 58-63 American Handling (was !!@@#$@$ clutch linkage)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Tom, you're close! I had a "corner carver" 63 American. The total suspension setup was HD front progressive rate springs (12% stiffer than stock, IIRC), front swaybar from a Spirit (the ends had to be straightened in a hydraulic press -- no heat -- and mounts made for the arms), half-leaf bolt on helper springs, 7" cast aluminum wheels w/ 195/65R15 Bridgestones. I only used progressive rate springs because that's all www.coilsprings.com makes, but there's a reason!

The sway bar didn't help much at all, the stiffer front springs were immediately noticeable! The same with the rear -- the springs are just too darn soft! My spring bushings were worn and needed replacing, other than that it stuck to the road like a roller skate. I had the auto trans w/3.31 gears, and the mildly cammed 196 with opened up exhaust and air breather. I just kept it over 40 mph and it was fine. A stick would have been SOOO much better -- could keep the engine in the rpm range it wanted without keeping speed up so much, though that was half the fun! 

Tighten the rear springs up with those half leaves before doing anything else and see what you think. Cheap and easy! My brother recently put the half-leaf helper springs on his wife's 63 Falcon Sprint because it wanted to "wander" a bit in the rear. Fixed it right up, he was amazed at the difference! Cars of the era are just too darned softly spring, but there weren't that many nice long, smooth stretches of road -- had to soak up the bumps on all those back dirt roads!

One more thing I did was make a bracket that strengthened the lower arms, mounted a stud type shock, and supplied the sway bar mount. It wasn't pretty, but was effective. I had a 2"x2"x 1/4" piece of angle lying across the top of the arms where the shock goes. Two pieces of 1/4" plate were welded to this going down (perpendicular) between the arms. A bolt went through each and then through the old shock mount holes. The stud type shock (I think from a 64 or so Ford Fairlane?) mounted between those pieces. I seem to recall having to trim a small flat on each side of the lower shock bushing (and the washer) so it would fit. Below the arms a piece of 1"x1"x1/8" angle went across the arms. A 5/16" bolt went up to the top piece just on the outside of each arm. The arms were clamped between the two pieces. This greatly stiffened the whole lower arm assembly, and may have helped handling significantly. Since you have new original type shocks, I'd consider using two pieces of 1"x1"x1
 /8" angle, on on top, one under the arms, clamped as I did. The top one can be long enough on the front to mount a sway bar end link if desired. Truthfully, I don't think the sway bar is needed, it just doesn't do much. I mounted the bar before the stiffer progressive front springs and could hardly tell it was there. I just left it on after changing the springs. The coil over the arm design is very roll resistant, and the stiffer springs are the charm! 

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Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:43:04 -0800
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

On a more positive note, I've put 8000+ miles on the American, with that 
old 195.6 ohv and T-96, this calendar year, most of it highway 
commuting. But in town I'm really tossing it around now, the handling is 
weird but pretty good in it's own way. I think the biggest handling 
limitation is, you can wind the tall, soft springs up in a corner; 
too-hard braking or whatever would break the tires loose and the rear 
would swing out. I'm pretty sure the solution is a REAR sway bar, nto front.

This little car gets around. I don't abuse it, but I push it a bit in 
street traffic and it does just fine. I somehow hate to admit it, but 
the ratios in the T-96 are a PERFECT match for this engine. The 3.77 
axle is a great compromise, with OD for the freeway.

It's my plan to run the SoCal TT in it next September, a 600 mile road 
rally. Hoepfully the new motor will be in by then! (At the rate things 
are going...)


-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)


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