Hey Mike ,
I never had the time for a comment concerning your thoughts about American
muscle
car
comparisons ,but I thought I would give you another reason that you didn't
mention .
The Jags and Ferraris out handled the American Hotrods because I'm pretty sure
they both
had IRS ( independent rear suspension ).The Mustangs and Camaros of course had
solid rear
axles ,just like our Sporty Cars .The best setups work with firm shock damping
,relative soft rear
spring rate and oversized sway bars for good handling characteristics .At least
for a dual purpose
street car .
Steve Ehlers
68 1600
69 2-Liter ( with solex )
73 510 2 dr "Brock Buster"
77 280Z Fairlady ( 610 hp ATRW's )
and 8 other Datsun / Nissan products
www.risingsunperformance.com
datsunmike wrote:
> Well, I was giving Mark an alternative. Besides there are other types of
> springs out there that can be used other than comp springs which can be had
> for a Roadster and almost any other car and in whatever spring rate you
> desire.
>
> A good spring shop should be able to rebuild and customize the leaf springs.
>
> I spoke to a few long time racers and few suggested using the rear comp
> springs for a street car which I assume Mark's car will be for the most
> part. Living where he does, Ohio, where the roads are typical of most
> northern states, a softer spring and firmer shocks are the way to go unless
> he likes to imitate rice cars going around turns.
>
> Moreover, overly stiff springs on bumpy roads promotes metal fatigue of
> everything. I have heard complaints of squeeks, rattles and parts falling
> off Miatas by people who buy comp springs for use on the street and they
> watch as their car self destructs and everything works its way loose. Do you
> really think a 35 YO frame is the paragon of stiffness? Using comp springs
> uses the frame and body as a torsion bar. Firmer shocks and sway bars are a
> better way IMHO to improve handling on most cars which is one of the reasons
> why the Jags and Ferraris handled so well in the 60s as compared to the
> stiffly sprung and undershocked American muscle cars like Mustangs and
> Camaros.
>
> Check out this site for custom springs:
> http://flex-a-form.com/
>
> There's usually more ways than one to skin a cat.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Ehlers" <stevenehlers@charter.net>
> To: "datsunmike" <datsunmike@nyc.rr.com>
> Cc: "Mark Sedlack" <msedlack@neo.rr.com>; "Datsun Roadster Mailing List
> (E-mail)" <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 8:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Comp Springs?
>
> > Hey Mark ,
> > Yes ,the comp springs are stiffer than stock ,but thats what you want !And
> lets
> > see you
> > come up with NOS early springs .For that matter ,try to come up with any
> year NOS
> > stock
> > springs for any of our roadsters :-) .Thats why the comp springs are the
> way to
> > go .Ride quality
> > is determined More by the rear springs and shocks ( How close is your
> "Bum" to
> > the rear wheels ?)
> > This is the reason .Also solid rear axle cars ride "stiff" ie. "like a go
> kart"
> > ,hence the reason Datsun
> > and other Mnfgs went to Independant rear suspension . As an example ,Comp
> Ft
> > springs and Konis on
> > the tight settings and rear shocks set realatively soft ,and you have an
> Auto
> > Xing special :-)
> > Steve Ehlers
> > 68 1600
> > 69 2-Liter ( with solex )
> > 73 510 2 dr "Brock Buster"
> > 77 280Z Fairlady ( 610 hp ATW's )
> > and 8 other Datsun / Nissan products
> > www.risingsunperformance.com
> >
> > datsunmike wrote:
> >
> > > Mark,
> > >
> > > Just use springs from an early car - they're stiffer than the later
> springs
> > > but not as stiff as the comp springs which I heard are too stiff.
> > >
> > > Mike
/// datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net mailing list
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|