For Chuck, Mike, and the roadster list:
I was looking for a way to stiffen the leaf springs on my wagon to match the
autocross
springs on the front. Money is always an issue. I took some leafs from my
parts wagon
and before the hurricane last week finally did this: Took apart the leaf
springs, leaving
the long leaf on the car. Wire brushed and wiped the leafs with axle
grease. When I put the
leafs back together I added two from the parts car, so now the leaf bundle
has two of the
second longest ones, and two of the shortest ones. 6 total, instead of 4,
not counting the
really short one. This makes the spring bundle about 1/2 inche taller which
will lower the car 1/2 inch. But, it makes it a lot stiffer, I would think,
which should raise the car, probably more than 1/2 inch. This should be OK,
since I also have 2 inch lowering blocks on the car. I was able to pound
the mallable steel leaf clamps straight, and then around the fatter leaf
bundle, with no problems. The bolt and spacer that holds the leaf bundle
together snapped in half on disasembly, but I made another one.
I am worried about driveshaft angle, so I made a 1/8 inch spacer to put
under the back
half of the spring perch. This seems to have reduced the upward stock angle
of the
pumpkins snout by several degrees, to just slightly higher than horizontal.
I also have a
rear ADDCO bar to install, and some nice KYB gas shocks. Should be a real
spinal
column crusher, but I am looking for extreme cornering.
These same techniqes should work with a roadster.
If anyone sees any faults with my reasoning here, please let me know. Or,
ideas for further
improvement.
Thanks,
Jim
Chesapeake Virginia
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