this is a '73 318 car that someone prior stuck a 440 in...still has the original tb's, etc.
The car was badly rigged, but was being driven when I bought it a few years back. I finally started working on it last summer and have sorted out most of the wiring (under dash ammeter fire and rat damage), brakes, fuel system, etc. Now I am getting to the suspension.
It is drivable...I actually got it inspected and registered earlier this month. But, I would not drive it at any speed, even if the prior owner did, due to its tendency to go where it wants to rather than where it is aimed.
I figured the ball joints were gone, but I don't get any significant play in them. Bushings, from what I can see, don't look good. I tightened the steering box and that took a lot of play out, but.....
I checked the ride height and it is close to 3 1/2"---I suspect that it has been cranked up for two reasons. First, to try to keep the front end from bottoming out on the 318 bars and secondly, to try to get some ground clearance under the home built exhaust. I have to put 2x4's under the ramps of my lift in order to get it on or off without hanging up the mufflers.
Just looking at the front end of the car shows tires to be obviously tilted in at the top. If you don't believe your eyes, then the scrubbed off inside edge of the tires will confirm them. My angle finder says the same thing...no need for an alignment when the adjustment cams are turned to give maximum positive and it has excessive negative camber:)
No, I have not yet installed the Magnum Force uppers. That is next. I hope that provides some hope....then I have to do the bottom half and install some 1.0" tb's along with everything else required.
My main concern is the badly implemented frame rail repairs that have been performed somewhere in the past just behind the arms. It may be that the rails are twisted inward and that is the root cause of the problem.
Old cars that one does not know the history on can be fun.
I looked at the Hotchkis stuff, and it is nice. On the other hand, one can do a lot of good for a lot less money by picking and choosing. Given that I have been retired a number of years, and have three other old cars to maintain, I figured to be wiser than normal with this one. My son can buy the Hotchkis stuff if he wishes when he gets the cars...
