Engine: Further Front Caster Comments/Questions

[Paul Keller]

[Mike Van Veghten]

Paul –

On one hand, you’ve got the basic idea on what you need to do to achieve the desired change.
On the other hand, this is a lot of work for very little change. Why do you think you need 1-1/2 additional degrees of caster ?

I’ve had my ol Lark up to an indicated 110+ (and my speedometer is fairly accurate) with no ill effects.
If you plan on going faster (140 +) in a straight line (like Bonneville or the like), you should be heading up to 5 or 6 degrees of positive caster, not 2-1/2 degrees. And to do this….you’ll need “really” big slots…! And I doubt that with the angle of the lower control arm….it would be slowing you down from dragging the ground..!
Not making fun…just a comment..

Some of these front suspension changes are just a lot of work for little gain while using the Stude suspension. Adding a longer king pin, dropping the control arm attachment point isn’t too big a deal. Trying to change the stock parts to a high degree like this….in some areas…just isn’t worth the effort….to me.
If you want a bunch of caster…wait and see what Len comes up with. It might just be easier to adapt ball-joint type control arm/spindle to the Stude chassis and have a fully adjustable assembly.
I adapted a C4, Vette suspension to my 60 Lark chassis. Though the car isn’t complete, I’m very happy with outcome. I’m positive it will do exactly what I want it to do, and with much adjustability to adjust it. But…it was a full parts swap.

Mike

[Paul Keller]

Mike,
Thanks for the comments.
The springs will be changed at the same time, the shims are already fab'd, so the extra labor involved is minimal. The reason for pursuing the caster change is the result of several comments made by chassis people and the opinion of an "old Line" alignment guy (2 nd generation) regarding the desirability of 2 - 2 1/2 degrees for stability at road speed (70 - 80 mph) - as a separate progect, yes it would be a lot of extra work.
I am unaware of Len's ball joint project - I'll see if something can be found w/ a search.
Paul TK

[Skybolt]

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...rt.-suspension)

Paul, Len A.K.A. Skybolt, just letting you know we have a project in the works, will take more time than your mod to finish as it appears you are about to put metal to metal, or have done already.

Here is the link to the forum thread Mike mentioned. You would have gotten more responses by just adding to the rest of that thread. It is the most actively viewed thread on the forum. So I will copy your comments and post them over there so there can be a continuity in purpose. All things that can be done with the Studebaker front suspension, the why and why not. I'm not trying to hijack your thread but want to make sure it is included in the thoughts of all who might have any comments.

[Skybolt]

Paul, You were one of the first to post on the other thread.

If you have a problem with what I have just done, sorry, but I want to try and collect all the thoughts and efforts I can into one place. Although the racing site has a similar thread about suspension mods but that is also linked to the thread on this forum about suspension mods. Please come over to the other thread and add some comments as you are, in fact, doing something others have thought about and some have tried somewhat similar mods. Any thought about what we are doing will be appreciated, Len.

[PackardV8]

Paul, what you are suggesting will work and work well. I did essentially the same on my custom Hawk project. It's the easy, inexpensive way to get more positive caster.

What it does not do is what mike and skybolt are working toward and that is reducing outside front tire camber gain when the body leans in corners. I used all the available Stude adjustment and then controlled body lean with heavy duty front sway bar and stiffer rear springs. Again, the CASO way to get close without welding.

jack vines

[Paul Keller]

Agree with all the above - Yes, thanks for forwarding the info to the previous thread. Yes, the camber change is NOT addressed - I'll leave that for another time (the Stude' is spending too much time lately on jack stands - Needs to earn its keep, although I do enjoy working on these changes immensly).
Looking forward to where the original thread leads - Many heads are better at working things out.
Paul TK