Re: [FWDLK] Firming up Front Suspension
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Re: [FWDLK] Firming up Front Suspension



In addition to what Gary said, I put a 56 Imperial sway bar in my 56 Dodge and there was a noticable reduction in cornering sway.

The 56 Dodge front spring rate specs are: standard 445 lbs/inch; 600 lbs/inch for D500.

Dave Homstad
56 Dodge D500


On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 10:22 PM, Gary Pavlovich wrote:

 FYI:  Call Springs & Things in FL for heavy duty coil springs for  the 55/56PLY and other Mopars.
 
I installed the HD coils in my ‘56 Ply (still under construction) and the  stock spec is approx. 394lbs./in and the HD coils are 477lbs./in which is a  sizeable difference.  Additionally, I have added the ‘56 Imperial front  sway bar to my ‘56 since it is a direct bolt in; difference is approx. .0812”  Ply vs. .0875” Imperial which equates to approx. 17-20% increased stiffness in  handling.

Plan to install some Bilstein or KYB shocks when I get to that point as  well as a rear sway bar.
 
Gary Pavlovich
 
From: Wayne Graefen
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 7:23 AM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [FWDLK] Firming up Front Suspension
 
Can we step out of the shock absorber sand box we have  been playing in for several days?
 
How did the factory firm up front suspension to create  the Chrysler Letter Cars and Dodge 500 /501 cars?
  
In '55-56 they FIRST installed heavy duty coil springs;  secondly they added heavy duty oil shocks which back in the day didn't do  much.  In 1957 and later torsion bar cars FIRST they installed H.D. torsion  bars; secondly they added H.D. oil shocks which didn't do much.
 
There were no polyurethane or polygraphite bushings  available for any placement.  There were no factory heavy duty anti sway  bars (the Windsor /Saratoga bars are the same as the Chrysler 300).    Chrysler called anti-sway bars "sway eliminator shafts" if you want to check  that in section 17-29-0 of your parts books.
 
I am of the opinion that there would be many more car  owners interested in purchasing reproduction heavy duty coil springs or torsion  bars for their cars at perhaps $300 per pair than Koni shocks at $500 per pair  and NOT JUST because of the price, BUT because it is the CORRECT first step to  firming the suspension.
 
It would seem that the '57-59 car owners are the most  interested in this discussion.   I'm not an all around expert but for  that year set, if one pair of repro HDs for the Dodge /Plym and another pair of  repro HDs for the Chrysler /DeSoto were done it would be covered.  (My  '55-58 parts book doesn't show '59 if I'm missing something)  Success of  that project determines whether '60-61 projects are considered.
 
'55-56 owners can look into HD coil springs but they can  already be ordered.
 
And don't get me wrong;  I still want two pairs of  Koni fronts for two of my cars.  One a 300 and the other an Imperial and  both cars CURRENTLY have HD torsion bars in them.
 
Wayne Graefen
 
 

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