Re: [Amc-list] 195.6 and 58-63 American hop-ups

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

14's will NOT fit!! The steering arms in front wrap around the drum between the drum and wheel. You can't "fix" this without redesigning the entire steering system to a rear steer configuration, which would require modifying the oil and steering box location. I don't think there's room for a regular box, but if you're gung-ho about the idea you could probably fit a rear steer rack and pinion (most front drive cars) with a chain drive from the steering shaft. Or you could go to an 8" drum brake, if you can find one.
The Ackerman angle and short wheelbase are the culprits! 

Concord/Spirit discs fit, but you have to reverse them side to side, which puts the calipers in the rear of the rotor instead of the front. They don't solve the steering arm problem though -- still need 15" wheels. The discs work great, but so does the larger 63-64 Classic drums -- those have the power of discs, just not as fade resistant. I've done both, and was pleased with both upgrades, I don't think one's any better than the other from the driver's perspective. I just made the fade resistant comment because  drums can heat up and fade quicker than discs, but with this light car the bigger drums don't do as much work, so they don't heat up very fast -- even with hard driving I never had a problem with fade. 

Cast aluminum mags will just barely fit because of the thickness -- at least the older ones. Newer ones are likely much thinner than the late 70s set I ran years ago. Mine "developed" a shallow gouge on the inside from the tie rod ends. The ends would twist to the rear slightly and clear fine, but sometimes would catch just enough to rub the inside of the wheel when backing up. Of course after a few miles of backing (no, not at one time -- 5-6 months accumulation) it was no longer a problem...

------------
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 18:24:47 -0700
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

I was planning on at least trying one of all my existing car's wheels on the 
American; 205/70-14 on steelies (hornet), 215/75-15 on torque-D's (63 
classic), whatever the 72 has (fat 65-14 AMC rallye) to see what interferes.

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

_______________________________________________
Amc-list mailing list
Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list