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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: moparmikethree]
#1128044
12/05/11 04:09 PM
12/05/11 04:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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Who installed all those new parts? Did it do this befor?
Seems to me, you might just need a good front end alignment.
I have mechanical Aptitude.
I can screw up anything.
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: moparmikethree]
#1128046
12/05/11 04:15 PM
12/05/11 04:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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Sounds like you know what you are doing. I have only played with these so no expert. Sounds like your right about the tubular a arms. Good Luck. 
I have mechanical Aptitude.
I can screw up anything.
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: moparmikethree]
#1128047
12/05/11 04:55 PM
12/05/11 04:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,848
Memphis
HemiRick
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,848
Memphis
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You know about the offset controll arm bushings that Moog makes? May give the camber you need much cheaper than new arms.
Take care,
Rick
68 Coronet R/T 440 & 68 Charger 528 Hemi,and 5 Challengers! 6 cyl, 318, 360, 383, 451
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: moparmikethree]
#1128048
12/05/11 04:58 PM
12/05/11 04:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,243
Canada
Kam*Kuda
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,243
Canada
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How is the steering box?
Lift the car and see if you feel any play when you pull on the wheels? See if there is any excessive movement.
1970 Barracuda Convertible
1968 Satellite Street Strip car
1654.5 Mustang
1955 Land Rover
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: HemiRick]
#1128049
12/05/11 05:07 PM
12/05/11 05:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,368
Wheatfield, NY
Cuda340
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,368
Wheatfield, NY
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Quote:
You know about the offset controll arm bushings that Moog makes? May give the camber you need much cheaper than new arms.
This is a good fix... 
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: Cuda340]
#1128050
12/05/11 05:24 PM
12/05/11 05:24 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982
Scranton, PA
Montclaire
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982
Scranton, PA
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You need to:
1) Upgrade to properly rated torsion bars, if you have not done so already. (1970 you could get the 340 performance package which used 383 bars, I would copy that)
2) Buy the moog offset uppers. (You have to install them opposite the instructions though)
3) Check for bumpsteer and shim/slot/gusset the steering mount. Also I think Firm Feel is making an add-on brace for the bottom of the sector shaft on the box.
4) Is the box rebuilt? If not get a rebuilt box from Steer N Gear or Firm Feel.
5) Replace your strut rods. You do not need high dollar adjustables, just the the 30% oversized ones.
6) Pot coupler. The steering pot coupler can wear if left open and dry for extended periods. This will cause slop between the steering wheel and the actual imput on the box. Check for play and replace/repair if needed.
7) Alignment. For handling, you want +3.0 caster and -.5 camber but this is not always possible. Get as much + caster as possible while keeping negative camber.
There is also an adjustment that can be made for dead neurtal, where the box should basically be unassisted if going straight ahead, check the FSM for specs.
Last edited by Montclaire; 12/05/11 05:29 PM.
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: Challenger 1]
#1128052
12/05/11 05:30 PM
12/05/11 05:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982
Scranton, PA
Montclaire
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982
Scranton, PA
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Quote:
Quote:
The car was converted from a /6 to a 360
with aprox 450 hp. I did all of the work.
Chrysler mechanic 31 years now.
When doing alignment could not get camber where it belongs. May buy the upper control arms ( tubular with adjustment) to get it right
Exactly right, invest in some Firm Feel upper control arms, they made a world of difference on my 71.
My black 74 has the offset bushings, the FF upper arms made way more difference ,gave me like 5 degrees of positive caster.
Did you install them right?
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: Montclaire]
#1128053
12/05/11 05:31 PM
12/05/11 05:31 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
The car was converted from a /6 to a 360
with aprox 450 hp. I did all of the work.
Chrysler mechanic 31 years now.
When doing alignment could not get camber where it belongs. May buy the upper control arms ( tubular with adjustment) to get it right
Exactly right, invest in some Firm Feel upper control arms, they made a world of difference on my 71.
My black 74 has the offset bushings, the FF upper arms made way more difference ,gave me like 5 degrees of positive caster.
Did you install them right?
Yes I did...
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: Challenger 1]
#1128054
12/05/11 05:40 PM
12/05/11 05:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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Was it acting like this before the rebuilding?. I'm assuming no & you rebuilt it cause bushings were worn out.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: moparmikethree]
#1128058
12/07/11 02:06 AM
12/07/11 02:06 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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You might want to check the toe cure in its travel.. if it goes toe out they can get real weird... specially if it wants to rock side to side...then it starts to dart back and forth and just gets worse 
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: topside]
#1128060
12/07/11 02:57 AM
12/07/11 02:57 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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I set up my race car with 10* caster but for my Rampage(street/strip) I set that up with 5* caster because of the effort on the street and I have wider tires on the front of it... both cars are strut front ends
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: moparmikethree]
#1128061
12/07/11 11:12 AM
12/07/11 11:12 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982
Scranton, PA
Montclaire
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982
Scranton, PA
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Quote:
bought the car as a slant six, never drove it , started to restore it right away so I don't know if there was a problem. I doubt there was a problem before.
where the upper control arm mounts to the body, that was rotted out. Got one from a B-body and welded it in. This is why i think it is off
and why I want to get adjustable upper control arms
Well that would be an important fact to include. Get the adjustable arms and take it to a chassis shop, a good one, and have them blueprint the car. Who knows what may be up with it at this point.
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: topside]
#1128062
12/07/11 01:15 PM
12/07/11 01:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
383man
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
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Quote:
Sounds like a caster or toe problem, what was the readout? I'm assuming new leaf spring bushings & strut rod bushings and the sleeves are back in them.
Drag car should have 1/32" - 1/16" toe in, 0 camber, and as much positive caster as you can get. Put your weight in the driver's seat and raise the nose to the height it is in 3rd gear at the track, at race weight & fuel level. My Duster runs +7.0 LF and +7.2 RF caster, but it has the Jack Arnew reworked upper arms from its SS/IA days. It goes straight as a string @ 130, though you don't want to stick your wrist between the steering wheel spokes when you let the car straighten itself from full lock.
I agree with this. My 63 is all stock suspension and I have about 0 camber and gave it as much positive caster as I could which was around 2 I believe but I would have to find my printout to know the right spec. I also have my toe very close to zero with it toed in a tad. It handles very good at 125 and I know most race cars handle better with the more caster.
But can you give us the specs that it is set at now ?? Ron
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: moparmikethree]
#1128063
12/07/11 02:55 PM
12/07/11 02:55 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,223
Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,223
Bend,OR USA
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I had issues with one set of wheels and tires, I have three different sets  , when I mixed bias plys and radials, turn out the wheel lugs( can't think of the proper name for the retainers, lug nuts, on thick center aluminum wheels  )where bottoming out on the brake backing plates not keeping the wheels tight against the axles    Little stuff can bite the crap out of you  My car would go staright as a arrow(128+MPH in the 1/4) with the right set of wheels, not so when I used the wrong rear wheels on it, shortening the wheels retainer shanks up fix it
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: ahy]
#1128068
12/15/11 10:27 PM
12/15/11 10:27 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,167
Maryland
GO_Fish
master
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master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,167
Maryland
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Can a torsion bar expert help educate me? Can/does too low of a ride height contribute to poor stability? I had a front end alignment done at a shop on my GTS (all new front end components/bushings/joints), and I'm certain the ride height is too low and the car likes to wander.
Scott B.
"I'm a self-made man... I started with nothing, and I still have most of it!"
68 360 rusty B'cuda 'vert (GO Fish)13.59@ 98.72 mph
69 340 GTS stock 14.18@ 95.60 mph
01 5.9L Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4
01 3.5L 300M 16.23@ 86.97 mph
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Re: Unstable at speeds
[Re: ahy]
#1128071
12/16/11 12:09 AM
12/16/11 12:09 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Quote:
Ride height can affect alignment. If this started happening after alignment, maybe you need a better shop.
Yes it can but I'm assuming the height was set prior
to the alignment
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) or use the stock specs. for that car 