Chassis and suspension geometry

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Tue Feb 02, 10 4:02 pm

Right, I'm multi-tasking now, I've got Rosie's resto well on the way and I'm slotting in a bit of Barracuda stuff now and I need a bit of guidance.

Does anyone have a good source of reference for chassis, suspension and steering geometry, so I can set up the Barracuda absolutely spot on?

I'm trying to keep it old school with leaf springs, ladder bars etc but I want it to go in a straight line...I really don't want to four link, watts linkage and slam it on the floor pro street style...no offence Mark!

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 02, 10 4:29 pm

The second one I use.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 02, 10 4:32 pm

I know you said you don't want it slammed etc but all the theory is in there so you can calculate how unstable your car is getting.

Then again maybe you would be better off not knowing. I don't want to put you off.

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Tue Feb 02, 10 5:16 pm

Thanks Dave! I don't fancy "doing a Pete" so the car certainly won't be sky high, but I still wan t that nostalgia look...without breaking my neck!

Thanks for the book recommendations Dave, I've bought all sorts of reference books in the past that have turned out to be next to useless, and some proper feedback is usually a good indicator...hence my question!

db · Post by db » Tue Feb 02, 10 6:17 pm

I think i'll be needing some of that

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 02, 10 8:09 pm

Been looking at a copy of that Hot Rod chassis book and it is next to useless. So scratch that one.

GTXJim · Post by **GTXJim** » Tue Feb 02, 10 9:40 pm

I bought the mopar suspension book many years ago, and it's all pretty basic stuff, I've just bought I haven't read it all yet but it's quite good so far.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Feb 03, 10 9:01 am

GTXJim wrote:I bought the mopar suspension book many years ago, and it's all pretty basic stuff, I've just bought I haven't read it all yet but it's quite good so far.

Ooh. That is a new one on me. Looks good. I might get me a copy one day.

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Wed Feb 03, 10 9:55 am

Thanks Jim and Dave, I had noticed the Hot Rod Chassis book was a bit basic and the reviews weren't terrific...I've just checked out your recommendation Jim and that looks like just the job...I'm going to stick my neck out and buy it.

Stand by for a review in the next week or so!

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Wed Feb 03, 10 12:39 pm

Dave wrote:I know you said you don't want it slammed etc but all the theory is in there so you can calculate how unstable your car is getting.

Then again maybe you would be better off not knowing. I don't want to put you off.

maybe he should ask pete about that then dave,

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Wed Feb 03, 10 3:22 pm

I'm putting a big cage in it!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Feb 03, 10 4:16 pm

All very amusing

, but a lot of this is horsepower-dependent as well.

The Dart was stable when running 10.2, it was when another dollop of power was added that things got really interesting

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Wed Feb 03, 10 5:05 pm

Thanks Pete, you know better than most how important it is to get the car set up right, I'll probably do the same as I did with the Road Runner and measure the whole thing in three dimensions, ultrasonically, to make sure everything's dead square.

I'm certainly not going Big John Mazmanian high, that's for sure!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Feb 03, 10 5:23 pm

What BHP's are you aiming to run?
Will it have a spool?

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Wed Feb 03, 10 5:45 pm

It's running a suregrip and the power output will be around the 550 bhp mark...the target weight all up is 3,200lbs.