[V8Vairs] shocks and springs

Archibald Evans ade383 at hotmail.com
Thu Jul 31 12:03:33 EDT 2014


   Konis if you can find them or Bilsteins ditto, the 383 roadster had KYBs which I believe are still available. I've been using coil-overs lately... ADE



On Jul 31, 2014, at 6:24, "Gord Rexin" <gorexin at shaw.ca> wrote:

> Great info, thanks Archie, great stories also. Any preference on shocks for these cars? 
> Gord
> 
> On 2014-07-31, at 6:19 AM, Archibald Evans wrote:
> 
>>  Steve - 
>> 
>>  The single piece Big Sag to C5 adapters (which uses a spacer) in stock are duel purpose also working with a quick-change diff (no shim required unless the QC diff is flipped). This current adapter requires the use of the automatic diff seal plate (not included). The adapter alone is $495.00 plus shipping and handeling, if you have me build the trans the adapter is $445.00 + S/H and if you purchase a sub-frame at the same time the adapter is $425.00 +S/H. The C5 diff sub-frame uses the Corvette cradle (narrowed 8" purchased separately core required) and all of the C5 suspension components (not supplied). Note: I've yet to prototype adapting the C5 diff to the Corvair suspension, something you'll have to do yourself at this time. I recommend a conversation with John Black, Mike Levine, Seth Emerson and or Bob Coffin for how to properly add an upper link to the Corvair suspension... I've been assembling the Sag adapters using a sealed bearing to separate the trans from diff
> o
>> il. Mike Levine has one of my adapters and it is his belief that there's no issue sharing a compatible fluid and that if the seal goes away you run the risk of the diff drawing all the fluid from the trans which for him was catastrophic...
>> 
>>  For those of you who're interested in the coil conversation -
>> 
>>  There are so many differing iterations (and opinions on how) to build any modified from stock car especially a mid-engine Corvair. While the 1969 Hot Rod magazine tested customer prepared 350 4spd CorV8 went 12.22 @ 105 the same configuration CorV8's built by Ted Trevor as tested were going 11.6 @ 122. The difference would have been build components, vehicle weight, driver, air temp, humidity, track conditions etc.
>>   There's a selection of springs progressive or not intended for other vehicles which would fit the Corvair and work well or well enough or even better perhaps. And having custom springs made is certainly an option. Make sure the math on the wire dia and number of coils and the individual coil dia is ideal for your specific vehicle weight, weight distribution and driving needs. Re to this excerpt was taken from TurnFast http://www.turnfast.com/tech_handling/handling_weightxfr
>>   'Given a certain car weight, there is a certain amount of mechanical down-force
>> applied to each tire. While a car is braking, accelerating, or cornering, the
>> effective mechanical down-force on, and therefore the grip of, the tires is
>> constantly changing. These changes are referred to as "weight
>> transfer." Of course, the weight of the car isn't changing, or moving
>> about the car, but the forces on the tire contact patches are changing due to
>> inertia and momentum. If you were to have a set of scales under the tires while
>> driving, you would see what appears to be a constant changing of the weight at
>> each tire, hence the name. 
>> 
>>  Anytime the car's direction changes
>> through braking, accelerating, or cornering, each tire will experience a gain
>> or loss of mechanical down-force, such as the examples illustrated. This weight
>> transfer has significant impact on traction. Unfortunately the net sum of the
>> traction of the four tires does not stay equal. What is lost from the unloaded
>> tires is not entirely transferred to the loaded tires. Overall there is a loss
>> in traction.
>> 
>> 
>> Because of this, race car design, and some of the modifications you make to
>> your street car, are designed to minimize weight transfer. It cannot be
>> eliminated, but it can be reduced. The more it is reduced, the more traction is
>> retained. By reducing the increase in load on the loaded tires, we can reduce
>> the work they have to do. By reducing the loss of load on the unloaded tires,
>> we retain the traction they can provide. Blah, Blah, Blah' There's a lot to consider having custom coils made...
>>  The Clark's Corvair purchased 'stock' heavy-duty convertible air-conditioned springs I had on my 383cui CorV8 roadster which put 450hp 425tq to the pavement gave me no load-transfer issues and in fact worked so well it allowed me to out run the cafe motor-cycle racers in the Malibu canyons of Las Virgenes cyn (fairly high-speed, ran down a real 427 AC Cobra there, he was not happy he got beat by a Corvair), Stunt cyn (BIG elevation changes), Cold cyn (my very favorite, lots of twisties back-and-forth-back-and-forth-back-and-forth), Decker cyn (wicked quick tight tight tight nasty down hill), Kanan Dume cyn (uber high-speed, pegged the 140mph spedo several times, thank God for good brakes!) and Topanga cyn (love blasting through the tunnel) just to list a few of my favorite 'on-any' Sunday canyon drives. God forgive me I do so relish out running the motorcycles in a V8 Corvair. The bikers just get so testy when they can't keep up with a car and a Corvair no less LOL! And t
> h
>> e Clark's Corvair purchased 'stock' heavy-duty convertible air-conditioned springs also allowed me the antics to go light to light one Saturday morning beating a friend 6x in a row on the way to a car show who was driving a 671 blown Big Block 1970 Chevelle that was tubbed with street slicks. Yeah he had me on 'the-big-end' but across the street he was mine all mine every time! When you're on the street the guy who gets to the other side first wins, period. What were we talking about? Oh yes, load-transfer issues relative to spring selection... ADE  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> From: steve.williams at live.com
>>> Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:30:02 -0500
>>> To: v8vairs at corvair.org
>>> Subject: Re: [V8Vairs] shocks and springs
>>> 
>>> Thanks for the info,
>>> I have a crown kit project from Ken Hand that I can use for my 65'convert. I'm using a late LT-1 destroked to 302 to reduce the torque load.
>>> I can flip the ZF no problem, how much is the c5/saginaw setup gonna run me best guess?
>>> Thanks,
>>> Steve W.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Jul 30, 2014, at 11:21 PM, "Archibald Evans" <ade383 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I've built several Big Sag to C5 diff and am planning to build many more. I'm also prototyping Big Sag out-put in the Corvair for those who have done Crown cars and don't want to reconfigure the linkage. My 2 cents on your ZF: Flip it. They weren't very strong and it's a museum piece... ADE 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 30, 2014, at 20:23, "steve williams" <steve.williams at live.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hi guys,
>>>>> Did anyone get the C-5/saginaw transaxle build done yet?
>>>>> I just got a ZF 5-speed from an old GT-40 to use and it's only 10-inches from axle centerline to bell housing/engine block face. It looks real short to use like the motor will be to far aft. I'm told by RBT transmissions that the half shafts can NOT have any side loads, so I'm going to have to use an upper/lower link style rear trailing arm.
>>>>> Comments please,
>>>>> Steve W.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jul 30, 2014, at 3:37 PM, "KEN KLASSEN" <kkklassen at shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Gord I have some hotrod springs I took out of my crown car when I went to the Clark HD springs they are yours to try if you like 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Ken
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> If you like them maybe we can work a deal towards the parts that you have I want hahaha
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: Gord Rexin <gorexin at shaw.ca>
>>>>>> To: discussion of non-stock engines in Corvairs <v8vairs at corvair.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 12:58:00 -0600 (MDT)
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [V8Vairs] shocks and springs
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thanks for the replies. On a side note I'm picking up a new steering rack today. Will have to carefully check it against the one in the car to make sure they're one and the same.
>>>>>> Gord
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On 2014-07-30, at 11:47 AM, Matt Nall wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Cars kinda flopping down on drivers side, looking to replace springs and shocks 
>>>>>>> and maybe gain 1/2" more clearance for tires. Whats recommended, stock LM parts 
>>>>>>> or something else? Car is Matts old blue Crown. Thanks,
>>>>>>> Gord
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> ======================================================================
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Gord,  those are all Crown pieces....  I'd get with Coil Spring Specialties  and after measuring yours... let them wind some new ones that will do what you want.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Matt Nall
>>>>>>> Charleston, Oregon
>>>>>>> http://tinyurl.com/The-Corvair-Patio
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> http://tinyurl.com/Matts-Tech-Pages
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
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