Thread: Shock Geometry

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Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Agreed. However, if we don't get the static right, the dynamic will eat our lunch. The charts and graphs don't tell the whole story, but they give us good starting points. With hot rods, geometery is our friend. Without it, we die.

Absolutely Jack!!!! The suspension on a car is probably the most important factor in the build, and getting the geometry correct is the most important aspect of the suspension!!! The pic Uncle Bob posted is the correct way to do a straight axle with transverse spring, your own coupe shows a deviation in the spring used, but the geometry remains intact... On this and most all forums I frequent the most discussed topic is horsepower, IMO nothing is more scary then a big horse, ill handling car and nothing is a bigger waste then a car with big horse and junk suspension that won't allow it to hook or handle!!!!

One of my pet peeves over the years has been the clowns that come in the shop with the car either on the chassis table or the scales and the suspension being tweaked and tuned, and ask "Have you fired the engine yet?" All the horsepower in the world doesn't mean poop if you can't apply it to the ground!!!! In the real world, both on the track and on the street we've managed to put a whoopin' on many cars with considerably more horsepower then we have, but little if any thought given to the suspension and handling characteristics of the car. In '78 with a really first rate hired gun in our sprinter we won 14 of 16 main events at one track----the engine was protested most every night, the experts knew we were cheating----seems they failed to realize that Don's cornering speeds were higher then anyone on the track. At the dragstrip, our 500 horse Fords have whooped many a 600+ horse car because of the good hook and the lower 60 foot times....

Jan and Dean's "Dead Man's Curve" song always said it all for me....Being the faster car means nothing if you don't survive the race!!!!

Hundreds of brains are clicking over "Who's Jan and Dean? I don't remember seeing a post by him or them!".

Dave, you hit my nail right on the head! I originally started with a 29 Model A, but traded it for the Chevy when I realized it was more in line with what I wanted to do. It came with the axle already installed and the 454. Its bored 30 over and has a fairly mild cam. Its been estimated to be 450 to 500 hp. Since I want to keep the vehicle "Nostalgia", I did not tub it or move the rear springs inboard. So, with 10 inch slicks, massive torque would just burn rubber. But, even though its old style, (60's), I decided to use up to date goodies. This has led me to do lots of reading on suspension theory. I'm using a mono leaf rear and CalTracks traction system. Chris Alston double adjustable shocks front and rear. Rack and Pinion (no bump!), built Glide with armor, Ford 9 race case-35 spline and spool, all to help the novice (me) run straight. And, of course I have up to date safety equipment.
My thoughts have been to spend dollars on safety and getting the torque applied to the pavement. If I could make this car get into the high 10's I'd be very happy. I doubt that, at least at first, but if I wanted to go crazy fast, I wouldn't be trying to move all this Detroit Steel!

So, again guys, this has been a very informative discussion for me. I feel that the slight outboard positioning of the lower shocks was correct. I hope so, because I just painted the axle. Can you believe I picked it up at the weld shop, and dropped it off for sandblasting and they told me, "Just wait a moment, we'll do it now"! And that on Friday afternoon, holiday weekend, and 106 degrees here in the valley! Good Omen.

I was cruising in my Stingray, late one night, When an XKE pulled up on my right----love it!! love it!!! Still get goosebumps just thinking about it.---Brian

Wasn't that a song, Brien?

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Hundreds of brains are clicking over "Who's Jan and Dean? I don't remember seeing a post by him or them!".

If you don't know Jan and Dean, you can't be a Hot Rodder!!!!!

Originally Posted by drofdar

Dave, you hit my nail right on the head! I originally started with a 29 Model A, but traded it for the Chevy when I realized it was more in line with what I wanted to do. It came with the axle already installed and the 454. Its bored 30 over and has a fairly mild cam. Its been estimated to be 450 to 500 hp. Since I want to keep the vehicle "Nostalgia", I did not tub it or move the rear springs inboard. So, with 10 inch slicks, massive torque would just burn rubber. But, even though its old style, (60's), I decided to use up to date goodies. This has led me to do lots of reading on suspension theory. I'm using a mono leaf rear and CalTracks traction system. Chris Alston double adjustable shocks front and rear. Rack and Pinion (no bump!), built Glide with armor, Ford 9 race case-35 spline and spool, all to help the novice (me) run straight. And, of course I have up to date safety equipment.
My thoughts have been to spend dollars on safety and getting the torque applied to the pavement. If I could make this car get into the high 10's I'd be very happy. I doubt that, at least at first, but if I wanted to go crazy fast, I wouldn't be trying to move all this Detroit Steel!

So, again guys, this has been a very informative discussion for me. I feel that the slight outboard positioning of the lower shocks was correct. I hope so, because I just painted the axle. Can you believe I picked it up at the weld shop, and dropped it off for sandblasting and they told me, "Just wait a moment, we'll do it now"! And that on Friday afternoon, holiday weekend, and 106 degrees here in the valley! Good Omen.

Always good to see someone with a firm grasp on reality and a good set of priorities!!!!

HenryRifle---I was refering to Dave Severson's post #16 where he refers to the song "Dead Mans Curve" by Jan and Dean. The song is a true recounting of a race in which one of them (I don't remember which) was almost killed racing his Corvette against an XKE Jaguar.

I was cruising in my Stingray late one night
when an XKE pulled up on the right
and rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag
and challenged me then and there to a drag
I said, "you're on, buddy, my mill's runnin' fine
let's come off the line, now, at Sunset and Vine
I'll go you one better if you've got the nerve
let's race all the way to dead man's curve.
Dead man's curve
Dead man's curve
Won't come back from dead man's curve

The street was deserted late Friday night
we were buggin' each other while we sat out the light
we both popped the clutch when the light turned green
you shoulda heard the whine from my screamin' machine
I flew past LaBrea, Schwab's, and Crescent Heights
and all the Jag could see were my six taillights
he passed me at Doheny then I started to swerve
but I pulled her out and there we were
at Dead man's curve

Well, the last thing I remember, Doc, I started to swerve.
And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve.
I know I'll never forget that horrible sight,
I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right
won't come back from dead man's curve
Dead man's curve, Dead man's curve
Dead man's curve, Dead man's curve
Dead man's curve, Dead man's curve

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

If you don't know Jan and Dean, you can't be a Hot Rodder!!!!!

You haven't been paying attention.......................that bunch knows they're the only REAL hot rodders.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

You haven't been paying attention.......................that bunch knows they're the only REAL hot rodders.

Too broke to pay attention, hope nobody dies, couldn't afford to pay my respects!!!!! Send cash!!!!! I gotta quit buying stuff!!!!!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.......................if it cost a dime to travel round the world you couldn't get out of town. Wah, wah!!

First liar doesn't stand a chance around here!

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Yeah, yeah, yeah.......................if it cost a dime to travel round the world you couldn't get out of town. Wah, wah!!

First liar doesn't stand a chance around here!

Ain't that the truth!!!!!!

Brian,

I know. I was tweakin' you. It was Jan Berry who biffed on Dead Man's Curve. As I remember, he was upset about being drafted - at least that's the legend.