[NoVa-Corvairs] Fwd: [FC] Autocrossing FCs....

[Bryan Blackwell]

Mostly for Greg's benefit, a couple posts from the FC list.

Begin forwarded message 1:

> Front stabilizer bar (7/8 of an inch in diameter) and rear (3/4 of an 
> inch in diameter) are available from Clark's (Addco).  They really 
> make a difference with wide tires (245/60-15's and high hp engines 
> (145 hp at the rear wheels).  If you want to improve the handling, 
> increasing the polar moment of inertia by adding weight in the rear, 
> is not the way.  If you still have the stock rear springs, cutting 1/2 
> a coil off them will lower the truck 1 inch and make the rear camber 
> 1/2 degree negative which will improve the rear tire contact patch 
> significantly; greatly enhancing rear traction. Of course this will 
> reduce the load carrying capacity of the truck by 250 lbs.
> Jim Davis
>
Begin forwarded message 2:

> Hi all,
> I just finished installing an ADDCO #145 FC front anti-sway bar.  It 
> took me about 3 hours, because I work slow, but really it was because 
> the instructions were confusing.  The issue was that there was a 
> clearly labeled "FRONT" above the center of the bar, but the 
> instructions indicated it should be installed behind the front A-arms. 
>  Only after trying several possible ways of mount it, did it make 
> sense that the diagonal line above and to the left of the word "FRONT" 
> was intended to be an arrow pointing BACKWARDS, but the arrow head was 
> missing!  Once I realized this documentation copying error, did it all 
> make sense.  For anyone installing these, just remember that you are 
> looking from the BACK and not from the front.
>
> As for performance, it appears to make a world of improvement.  I have 
> only tested it on the street up to about 50, and the real test will be 
> driving at speed on the highway in windy conditions and in high speed 
> turns.
>
> I made handling several performance improvements including installing 
> Carrera rear shocks, adding extension strapping springs to limit wheel 
> jacking, which helped a whole lot, and finally, adding a front 
> anti-sway bar.  The rear shocks and extension springs helped eliminate 
> the tail-happy operation, but I am eager to see if the front anti-sway 
> bar might be the final answer combined with everything else.
>
> Larry