SD> l-body suspension Questions

[Stefan Mullikin]

All of Carroll Smith's books.

Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by Millikin

How to Make your Car Handle by Fred Puhn

Chassis Engineering by Staniforth

Here's a more complete list:

http://www.kimini.com/Reference/index.html

There is a lot of information available from Grassroots Motorsports
Magazine.  They have articles posted online (the brake articles are very
good reads for example) as well a number of very smart people on their
message board (and a number of nut jobs who just love making cars go fast
cheaply, heh)

For example:  http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/board/viewtopic.php?id=33725

I know I need to read up on the subject as well since autocrossing season
has come.

Here's my car the "IceBreaker" autocross in Eugene.  I ran in the morning
and it was cold and damp with very little traction to be found.  Lots of
cars had trouble with spins and the like.  I merely adjusted the Koni's up
two rounds in the front, raised the front tire pressures a few pounds and
focused on being smooth with the steering inputs:

http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s10/fiat22turbo/IceBreaker42/

I didn't win in my class, but I finished reasonably well for the first time
out in this car, and the first time out in nearly 4 years!  Okay, 8th place
out of 10 isn't the best, but I didn't hit any cones or miss any gates and
my times improved on each run.

http://www.eescc.org/Results.cfm?getResults=Get+Results&selEvent=EESCC+2008+
*&selClass=STS&selSort=BW&selName=*

Next event will be warmer and the car should have more power
(non-intercooled T2 spinning an automatic) since I've installed a Cummins
intercooler in the nose and will raise the boost level as well as increase
the timing slightly.  Eventually I'll have to look at the transaxle as there
is a lot of power lost there.  Plus it sucks driving on the freeway with the
3-speed.

Good luck!
Stefan

-----Original Message-----
From: shelbydodge-bounces+swedeis=comcast.net at imagilist.com
[mailto:shelbydodge-bounces+swedeis=comcast.net at imagilist.com] On Behalf Of
Mike D.
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 12:22 PM
To: shelbydodge at imagilist.com
Subject: Re: SD> l-body suspension Questions


Stefan:

Any books that you recommend specifically?

I finally started autocrossing last year with a 2005 neon (I know, 1st gens
are lighter).  So this is now, more than ever, a subject of interest for me.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Mike
'87 CSX  #481 (stagnant mechanical restoration project)
'05 neon sxt

> From: swedeis at comcast.net
> To: peachey140 at yahoo.com; shelbydodge at imagilist.com
> Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:14:41 -0700
> Subject: Re: SD> l-body suspension Questions
> 
> Buy Koni's. There isn't anything else available that will give you what
> you're looking for at that price point.  They will make the biggest
> improvement in the car outside of tires and proper maintenance.  KYB
GR-2's
> are simply OEM replacements about on par with a lot of parts store pieces.
> 
> You can't run much higher spring rates without struts valved to control
them
> (or you'll end up pogo-sticking your way around town)
> 
> Strut bars are nice once you get stiffer struts and springs, until then
you
> really aren't in need of them unless you're racing the car every weekend
or
> you notice the firewall is cracking or the inner fenderwell is separating
> from the frame rail.  Even then the strut tower bar won't solve the
problem,
> you'd need to repair the cracks or failed spot welds.
> 
> Swaybars aren't a bad idea, but they are a double edged sword.  They tend
to
> bind the suspension movement, artificially increasing the spring rate to
> near infinity, making the car inconsistent in handling as the tires will
> break traction shortly after the spring rate goes to infinity.  However
for
> autocross they work well since sway bars improve the transitional effect
of
> the car at the expense of steady state cornering.  
> 
> I would highly suggest reading all the books you can on suspension tuning
> and design as well as performance driving before choosing spring rates,
> struts and sway bar sizes.  Suspension tuning is almost as much about the
> driver and their driving style than it is about specific parts.
> 
> Otherwise, rebuild the suspension using good replacement parts, a better
> alignment and put on a good set of tires.  
> 
> Good luck,
> Stefan
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shelbydodge-bounces+swedeis=comcast.net at imagilist.com
> [mailto:shelbydodge-bounces+swedeis=comcast.net at imagilist.com] On Behalf
Of
> james peachey
> Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 3:47 PM
> To: shelbydodge at imagilist.com
> Subject: SD> l-body suspension Questions
> 
> Im looking at upgrading the suspension on my shelby
> charger. I want it to handle like its on rails but
> dont have the money for konis. I have around 800 to
> spend on the suspension and need some advice. 
> 
> Whats a good replacement strut/shock?
> 
> Whats a good aggressive spring rate?
> 
> What about swaybars and strut tower bars?
> 
> This will be a Daily driver but I dont care about
> comfort. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
> 
> Thanks