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Author
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Topic: coilovers
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 2954
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03-26-2002 10:54 PM
   
Not really sure how I found this place but I am here now. Not that it is going to benefit anyone except maybe me. : ) Looks like a very race savvy bunch of Ford racers here!
My name is Jerry Smith, email [email protected] I run a 514 cid aclky injected motor ( enderle hat ) in a 69 mustang. I recently stuck it into a guard rail just after I crossed the finish line. I think my rear coilover springs are too stiff? Any way I wasn't hurt and the car ran a 5.70@ 112mph in the 1/8th. I let off when I felt the tires shudder, killed about 7 mph. the car was not damaged other than the fiberglass front cap was destroyed along with the front suspension. I had a mustang II set up out front. I am going back to a Mustang II set up only this time I bought a complete kit rather than try to build my own from a donor car. I have been tempted lately to stretch the car from 108 inches to 112. Any suggestions?
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Dave_C
Gearhead Posts: 1069
From: Gadsden, Al
Registered: Aug 99
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posted 03-26-2002 11:42 PM
Glad you were not hurt and also that the car was not terminal.What springs are you using on your rear coilovers? How much does the car weigh? They don't need to do anything other than hold the car up. Mine are 110 lb springs. Buddy of mine has some 130's on his 69 w 460. But they seem too stiff. Later, David Cole
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 2954
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03-27-2002 12:06 AM
car weighs 2450 with no one in it. rear coil over spring rate = 130. the car hooks on a real smooth track but seems to bounce just after launch on a slippery track. From the films I saw of the wreck, it doesn't look like the car is transfering any weight rearward. I know when you try to press down on the rear it feels very stiff.
THANKS ------------------
Jerry Smith
69 Pro ET Mustang
514 cid Alcohol/ Enderle injection
5.60's@ 119 MPH 1/8th
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 6590
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 03-27-2002 04:57 AM
First of all, Welcome to M&M.  and thankfull neither driver nor car were dmamaged beyond repair.On my 69, it weighs 2745# with my 210# butt in the seat without super street ballast (with 1410# on the nose). I have 130# springs on the back and they work real good (plus the back of my car is soft, even with the 130# springs). I tried a set of 110 springs early last year, they didnt have enuff pressure to "stick" the tires, all it did was spin no matter what I did to it. I run my shocks pretty loose most of the time, perhaps yours are too stiff. Is it a four link car or a ladder bar car? Perhaps the bars need adjusted to put some more hit in the tires, and if it is a four link car, all of them that I have seen that are set up right dont transfer much weight, they just leave. ------------------
member #773
'69 mustang, 351C, 9.97 @ 133 mph 1/4, 6.27 @ 108 1/8, 1.344 60'
'70 mustang, flintstone power
'93 F150 Lightning
'99 Pro Et track champion My Photo Page
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Just Strokin
Gearhead Posts: 754
From: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 03-27-2002 07:12 AM
here is a link to the Koni web page about tuning the shock settings.http://www.koni-na.com/dragsetup.html Even at 2850 in my old Tbird, I ran 110's on the back with some preload on the springs. We ran 5.80's at 124 in an 1/8 mile. Also, read thru the Motorsports catalog, tells how to determine spring rate and also how to run a lighter spring rate. http://www.koni-na.com/catalog.html [This message has been edited by Just Strokin (edited 03-27-2002).]
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 6590
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 03-27-2002 04:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Just Strokin:
Also, read thru the Motorsports catalog, tells how to determine spring rate and also how to run a lighter spring rate.
I had so much preload in my 110's I was almost out of threads on the shocks. Even with the 130's I run some preload, it just seems to work better that way for my car.
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 2954
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03-27-2002 10:18 PM
I talked to a fellow named Tommy Intrican, he is a chassis builder, anyway he thinks I may be having problems due to a lack of positive caster. He recomended 7 or 8 degrees of it. He thinks 108 wheel base is ok. He also told me I should run the lightest spring that will keep the car up at ride heigth AND keep 60% of the shock piston inside the shock. Interesting, what do you fellows think about this?
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 6590
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 03-27-2002 10:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by jsracingbbf:
Interesting, what do you fellows think about this?
Well, all I know is that my car didnt work well with the lighter springs. But each car is different and therefore reacts differently. It's worth a shot to change them and see if it helps. Thats what I did, but unfortunatley for me it wasnt the correct move. I must admitt though, I didnt change much butthe preload on the springs, shock settings and launch rpm. I might have been able to get them to workif I would have moved the bars up a hole (or two). But when I changed them I didnt have time to make that severe of a change.
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