Author Topic: XV level one suspension (Read 21499 times)

autoxcuda · « **Reply #60 on:** January 19, 2010 - 02:57:29 AM »

Quote from: SBDave on January 18, 2010 - 02:57:45 PM

I already bought the Hotchkis front sway bar mounts for the LCA (I didn't know the kit came with one). They are very well made, might be a little overkill but I love them. Thanks for the info about pulling up the tabs on the axle and the front sway bar clearance issue. I'll be heading out to Willow Springs soon for a track day. Can't wait!

-Dave

We're going to have a huge group of Mopars out for Spring Fling Speed Festival on April 15, 2010. And we'll have it setup for newbies with instructors on hand and run groups based on experiance.

Spring Flings Speed Festival
Thursday April 15, 2010
Willow Springs, CA

Largest gathering of older Mopars on a Road Course in the World.

Spring Fling Speed Festival IV, April, 15th, 2010, WSIR

Thursday April 15th, 2010 at Willow Springs Raceway. This high performance driving event is for all cars and drivers. This is a High Performance Driving Event (HPDE) for street/OEM cars. Some prepared cars will attend as well. Run groups will be devided according to experience. Don't be shy, this is not a race. It's for the driving enthusiast. WE ENCOURAGE NEWBIES. That's why we go to the expense of having extra instructors and class room instruction.

This event is Coordinated with CPW club Spring Fling at Woodley. It is Thursday before so plan to bring your trailer Queen and give her the workout she deserves. What better way to spend a work day than at the track with a mix of bondo buckets and trailer queens blasting down the 1/2 mile front straight at 140 MPH. Unless your one of those tax day junkies who loves to wait till the last minute to do taxes.

Spectators welcome!! Dartforte, Jim Lusk, and other Moparts members have come out to spectate and take a tour around the track at lunchtime.

Event Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w38ruXZiDHs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72p5vVwjRkk

Drivers Wanted
Who's eligable? Anyone with a driver's license, a car and a helmet. Bring a friend and come join the excitement !!! This a Only 45 miles from Spring Fling/Woodley Park location.

Schedule:

0700-0800 Gates open,

0800-0830 Tech open

0830 Mandatory driver�s meeting

0900-0930 �Chalk Talk� for newbies, with Dan English

Instructors are: Dan English, Bob Reed, Rod Bean

0900-0920 Red group-fast group
0920-0940 Blue group-faster group
0940-1000 Yellow group- newbies

1000-1020 Red group
1020-1040 Blue group
1040-1100 Yellow group

1100-1120 Red group
1120-1140 Blue group
1140-1200 Yellow group

1200-1245 Lunch time parade laps 65 MPH. Passengers OK. Spectator Mopars/cars welcome. No helmets required

1300-1320 Red group
1320-1340 Blue group
1340-1400 Yellow group

1400-1420 Red group
1420-1440 Blue group
1440-1500 Yellow group

1500-1520 Red group
1520-1540 Blue group
1540-1600 Yellow group

1600-1620 Red group
1620-1640 Blue group
1640-1700 Yellow group

1700 Awards

1800 Diner at Golden Cantina 3 miles back on Rosamond towards the 14 fwy, turn left at Golden Cantina sign on 40th St. and go � mile, you�ll run into it.

Photos: At track print work and CD�s available at very reasonable pricing.

MoPax: web group focused on driving MoPar�s around corners, CHeiny@starband.net

Registration:
This all day track event is $325. No refunds after on time reistration date 3/24/07, which is 3 weeks prior to event. Same Day Registration add $50. Register before above date and pay only $275.

Please send check to :
Tim Herren
14750 Miller Ave
Gardena, Ca, 90249
or PayPal: therren_2000@yahoo.com
for questions call (310) 538-8098 or email Tim@AlltimeRacing.com

Track video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MNypV_cFMk

Event info

- Lots of track time, lots of clean laps
- Newbies welcome...we get you up to speed
- Street cars and Race cars welcome
- Professional Instruction included
- Technical support
- Friendly atmosphere, safe environment
- Race fuel: unleaded and leaded
- Snack bar, grille, wet bar.
-Tire Shop
- What else do you want?, Faster lap times?...you got it!!

Track Rules

-1990 or newer M or SA rated helmet required.
-Long sleeves & Long pants while driving...track rule
-No Passengers allowed...track rule.
-Convertibles must have a 4 point roll bar...track rule

SBDave · « **Reply #61 on:** February 15, 2010 - 03:11:57 PM »

Saturday morning I brought my car to the alignment shop and had them set it up right. I left the print out at home but I believe the specs were camber -0.5 degree, caster 3.5 degrees and toe 1/16". It feels like something is binding in my steering setup because it doesn't want to return to straight. There is also some slop in my steering box so I need to look into adjusting it.

Anyways, the suspension feels awesome. I have it set as low as it can be and it is stiff. Obviously I don't have too much time on it, just a weekend of driving, so maybe 40 miles or so. Mostly street with just a little highway driving. It sits about 2" lower in the front and 1" lower in the rear than before (it is 23.5" measured from the ground to the middle of the wheel well arches front and back). The XV T-Bars for a small block are 1.05" and them paired with an XV spec Afco shock seem to be a good compromise of handling and comfort for a street car (it definitely is more towards performance than comfort). I still need to install both front and rear sway bars, but I am very happy with the setup so far.

Two pics attached are just before and at the alignment shop. I'll get some better quality photos soon of what it looks like now (the front came down a little more).

thanks,
Dave

autoxcuda · « **Reply #62 on:** February 15, 2010 - 06:19:42 PM »

That's great to hear you got it together and running !! Very exciting.

With the new and stiffer components, it sort of amplifies other issues. The old wear pattern in your tires could be causing some issues. Were they worn perfectly event. Do they have some miles on them?

What was the name and location of the alignment shop you went to? How were they with your custom alignment specs?

Are you planning on other rims and tires? Will they be taller that what you have now?

FWIW, my 68 Cuda is 24.75" front and 25" from ground to wheel well lip top.

Quote

Anyways, the suspension feels awesome.

So there's quite a bit of difference?

Quote from: SBDave on February 15, 2010 - 03:11:57 PM

Saturday morning I brought my car to the alignment shop and had them set it up right. I left the print out at home but I believe the specs were camber -0.5 degree, caster 3.5 degrees and toe 1/16". It feels like something is binding in my steering setup because it doesn't want to return to straight. There is also some slop in my steering box so I need to look into adjusting it.

Anyways, the suspension feels awesome. I have it set as low as it can be and it is stiff. Obviously I don't have too much time on it, just a weekend of driving, so maybe 40 miles or so. Mostly street with just a little highway driving. It sits about 2" lower in the front and 1" lower in the rear than before (it is 23.5" measured from the ground to the middle of the wheel well arches front and back). The XV T-Bars for a small block are 1.05" and them paired with an XV spec Afco shock seem to be a good compromise of handling and comfort for a street car (it definitely is more towards performance than comfort). I still need to install both front and rear sway bars, but I am very happy with the setup so far.

Two pics attached are just before and at the alignment shop. I'll get some better quality photos soon of what it looks like now (the front came down a little more).

thanks,
Dave

SBDave · « **Reply #63 on:** February 15, 2010 - 06:54:07 PM »

I went to Superior Classics in Santa Barbara. The owner of the shop (Bob) does special alignments for classic cars himself. I told him what XV recommended for specs but told him I was comfortable with any changes he wanted to make to their specs since he was the one performing it and was able to see my car in person compared to just talking to XV over the phone. I think he went with 1 degree more of caster than their specs. He was great to work with and was happy to see me building a mopar for handling. He called it a "Rum Runner"... I like that!

It is really loud inside when driving and Bob pointed out that the bearings in my axle are probably shot and howling a lot, so that might be one of my next projects. The front wheels bearings were pitted so it doesn't surprise me much that the whole rear-end needs a rebuild. Well, pretty much everything on this car needs to be rebuilt! I guess it should be loud since there is little to no insulation from the rear end (missing the sheet metal between the rear quarters and trunk floor). The tires don't have much wear but are old and the rubber is showing some cracking. They are 215/70R14's...barf!

Yes I am planning on other rims and tires. I might pick up some 15x8's with as wide a tread as I can run for now, but would eventually like 17x9's with 275/40R17's all the way around. Besides gearing and clearance what other things should I think about with tire diameters? I figured I would stick with a similar diameter to what's on it now, just wider. I don't mind massaging the fenders or adjusting the ride height to get tires to fit. My car is rusty and already has some hill billy mods (that I plan on fixing), so it wouldn't be good for a restoration anyways.

I need to start a thread on my car so I can stop using this XV thread... oh, and yes the XV is a huge improvement in handling over a warn out stock suspension.

thanks,
Dave

:::EDITED post to say 275/40R17

autoxcuda · « **Reply #64 on:** February 15, 2010 - 07:07:33 PM »

I have his old other shop in Goleta as an account of mine. Now called Fairveiw Motors on Fairveiw and Matthews. There's a lot of really good independent repair shops up there, IMHO.

I don't think they make a 275/45/17 only a 275/40/17. From the other thread, he fit those tires all the way around a 72 Cuda without cutting anything. I'd just copy what he did.

Sounds like you've got some more work to get to the the car real road worthy?

Quote from: SBDave on February 15, 2010 - 06:54:07 PM

I went to Superior Classics in Santa Barbara. The owner of the shop (Bob) does special alignments for classic cars himself. I told him what XV recommended for specs but told him I was comfortable with any changes he wanted to make to their specs since he was the one performing it and was able to see my car in person compared to just talking to XV over the phone. I think he went with 1 degree more of caster than their specs. He was great to work with and was happy to see me building a mopar for handling. He called it a "Rum Runner"... I like that!

It is really loud inside when driving and Bob pointed out that the bearings in my axle are probably shot and howling a lot, so that might be one of my next projects. The front wheels bearings were pitted so it doesn't surprise me much that the whole rear-end needs a rebuild. Well, pretty much everything on this car needs to be rebuilt! I guess it should be loud since there is little to no insulation from the rear end (missing the sheet metal between the rear quarters and trunk floor). The tires don't have much wear but are old and the rubber is showing some cracking. They are 215/70R14's...barf!

Yes I am planning on other rims and tires. I might pick up some 15x8's with as wide a tread as I can run for now, but would eventually like 17x9's with 275/45R17's all the way around. Besides gearing and clearance what other things should I think about with tire diameters? I figured I would stick with a similar diameter to what's on it now, just wider. I don't mind massaging the fenders or adjusting the ride height to get tires to fit. My car is rusty and already has some hill billy mods (that I plan on fixing), so it wouldn't be good for a restoration anyways.

I need to start a thread on my car so I can stop using this XV thread... oh, and yes the XV is a huge improvement in handling over a warn out stock suspension.

thanks,
Dave

SBDave · « **Reply #65 on:** February 15, 2010 - 07:29:54 PM »

Correct, 275/40R17 not 275/45R17 (edited my post as well)

Yeah, Santa Barbara has lots of small shops with very knowledgeable folks! Fortunately I have a couple good friends who have been here for a long time and can point me in the right direction no matter what I'm looking for. Oh, and I work for an off-road race car transaxle company so I have access to some nice equipment.

Road worthy? Everything needs some love on my car and I've only played with the front end, front brakes and suspension. If I could have followed my own advice I would have started with a better car, oh well. This will be more work and more of an adventure.

-Dave

autoxcuda · « **Reply #66 on:** February 15, 2010 - 07:35:13 PM »

If it's registered and drives and stops on the street, it's all good to me. Run whatcha brung !

Sounds like the rear end issue is not going to be a big deal for you. Hopefully it won't hurt your budget to much.

Quote from: SBDave on February 15, 2010 - 07:29:54 PM

Correct, 275/40R17 not 275/45R17 (edited my post as well)

Yeah, Santa Barbara has lots of small shops with very knowledgeable folks! Fortunately I have a couple good friends who have been here for a long time and can point me in the right direction no matter what I'm looking for. Oh, and I work for an off-road race car transaxle company so I have access to some nice equipment.

Road worthy? Everything needs some love on my car and I've only played with the front end, front brakes and suspension. If I could have followed my own advice I would have started with a better car, oh well. This will be more work and more of an adventure.

-Dave

PlumCrazyChris · « **Reply #67 on:** February 23, 2010 - 05:56:06 PM »

Dave,
Make sure to lube up all your new suspension components, they don't usually come pre-lubed from my experience. That may be causing your binding issue... if you didn't grease them.

Did you put frame connectors on yet?

Sounds like a great start.

Chris

SBDave · « **Reply #68 on:** February 23, 2010 - 06:20:21 PM »

Chris,

I greased all the rubber bushings and joints (upper ball joints, lower ball joints and inside/outside tie rod joints) after rebuilding it. I assume that's what you are talking about. It could have just been those new joints breaking in. It feels a little better after putting 50mi or so on it, but I still don't think it returns to center quite how it should. I need to adjust the steering box to take out some slop which should help the feel.

No subframe connectors yet. Right now I'm focusing on getting seat belts in and some other issues worked out. Feels great having it running again! I don't really want to take it off the road again for a while...

Thanks!
-Dave

ps. Mopar Muscle had a small review of XV's new shock options ... if you haven't seen them yet I suggest checking out XV's website. They offer fixed, single adjustable and double adjustable shocks now and I believe you can get them alone, not as a part of a kit.

brianz426 · « **Reply #69 on:** February 23, 2010 - 06:38:56 PM »

good stuff

Author Topic: XV level one suspension (Read 21499 times)

autoxcuda

Re: XV level one suspension

SBDave

Re: XV level one suspension

autoxcuda

Re: XV level one suspension

SBDave

Re: XV level one suspension

autoxcuda

Re: XV level one suspension

SBDave

Re: XV level one suspension

autoxcuda

Re: XV level one suspension

PlumCrazyChris

Re: XV level one suspension

SBDave

Re: XV level one suspension

brianz426

Re: XV level one suspension