<VV> 64 transverse leaf spring, etc

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

I haven't found installing a rear leaf to be a big deal, but having 64 
lower rear control arms does help, or one you can use as a pattern for 
the holes.  The handling changes, now that *is* a big deal in my book.

But, you can't just bolt on the leaf spring and expect instant results 
-- you need to replace your rear coils with something that approximates 
the lighter '64 coils, and you need heavy duty style springs in the 
front with a large sway bar.

Crawford Rose posted some spring info back on Sat Jan 27 17:54:23 EST 
2007 on this forum:
http://www.vv.corvair.org/pipermail/virtualvairs/2007-January/055973.html

A pretty good lay description of the suspension which was installed on 
the 1964 Corvair comes from  Pat Tobin discussing the same item, which 
was factory equipment on some models of the 356 Porsche, on the 356 
Registry's talk list:

Remember that both the early Porsche and Beetle used transverse torsion 
bars instead of coil springs.  And although the transverse leaf spring 
under discussion is referred to here as a "camber compensator", that is 
rather a misnomer -- it is just a load carrying spring when coupled with 
the other changes involved. The big change in handling comes primarily 
from the softer rear springs which in turn softens the rear roll stiffness.

"Others have correctly stated that the improvement in cornering came not 
so much from the [camber compensator] itself as from the softer rear 
torsion bars which softened the roll stiffness in the rear so that more 
of the cornering load was transferred to the outside front wheel. Since 
the car is tail heavy, that tended to even up the dynamic weight 
distribution between the outside tires. "But just softening the rear 
torsion bars would then mean that the tail would be too soft, hitting 
bottom all the time especially if there was a load in the rear seat. The 
spring [effect of the rear camber compensator] bar added spring 
stiffness in the vertical plane without adding to the roll stiffness." 
-- Pat Tobin, 356Talk

Bill Strickland