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RE: suspension

To: "'Brad Eells'" <bradlnss@lightspeed.net>,
Subject: RE: suspension
From: Bill Babcock <BillB@bnj.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 11:19:21 -0800
We're getting to the crux of this conversation. If the rule really does
apply to the mounting points, as it is interpreted with radiators, then
quite a lot of interesting changes are feasible. Moving the pivot point
inward really does wonders, providing a camber curve (gain) that would be
nasty in a road car but very nice for a race car. It also reduces scrub. 

Question is, how do we find out. 

According to the software, you really wouldn't want to move the pivot
point up any, as these two versions of angle bracket would seem to do
(though it might not be much). 

I'm thinking that taking the time to design a completely bolt-in upper
mount and appropriate arm might be a good thing. Then if the sanctioning
body got stiff-necked about it you could revert in about 15 minutes if you
had a complete stock assembly ready to slap in. Of course showing them
chapter and verse from the GCRs usually quiets even the most difficult
tech dude (or dudess--we have a few of those).

I'll work on that if someone else will figure out how we could ensure it's
legal. And I'll be glad to share the final drawings. I'm not looking to
beat any Triumphs. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Brad Eells [mailto:bradlnss@lightspeed.net] 
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 10:52 AM
To: riverside; fot
Subject: RE: suspension


Lots of interesting discussion...

My early TR4 still has it's early suspension - TR3 style upper A-arms.
Somewhere along the way the upper A-arm mounting bracket that should mount
horizontally on the shock tower was rotated 90 degrees inward and mounted
on a vertical plate. I assume to give the needed competition camber set
up. The car was last raced seriously in 1976 so it was passing tech with
this mod then.

I guess my dilema is when I get to that part of the rebuild, should I
return the suspension to its original (legal) mounting points or leave it
in 'as raced' condition and take the risk that some over zealous Vintage
tech inspector will disqualify the car for not meeting an 60's/early 70's
GCR? I will run in VARA on the West Coast (some day...) but would like to
take the car to it's old haunts and run it at Summit Point, Nelson Ledges
and Pocono - and maybe some PHA events. I know little about the vintage
sanctioning bodies on the other coast and how 'technical' they get with
modifications???

Niether skill nor budget will allow for a super competitive car - I'm just
looking for a little adrenaline rush!

Cheers,

Brad
62 TR4


<<In the early '70's , the limitation on suspension pick-up points was
still in the GCR.  Most big TR's were seriously modified per our
discussions and were passing tech anyway.>>

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