Ric, my coworker just sold his new Chrysler and bought a partially-finished
`35 Chevy as his daily driver (can you believe it?). He drives it to work
every day now and parks it next to my outrageous fins. Anyway, he has some
modern Caddy seats and a pre-airbag Cadillac steering column & wheel in his
cockpit; it looks very comfortable, and I have to say I am envious.
About the suspension tweaks, the road I took was much simpler. I just left
the standard size tires in the front but put as big as will fit in the rear;
it gives the car a certain confident attitude without looking overly
bravado. If you have a well-working speedo and stock drivetrain, the bigger
the change in wheel diameter the bigger the error in your mph reading. For
me it didn't matter because I put in a new Ford 9" with numerically lower
gears. Larger tires and the lower gears let me go faster per rpm and keep my
newly calibrated speedo (many thanks to JC Auto) reading right. I dare say
the only thing sexier than a 60 Chrysler with a stance is a 59 Chrysler (or
Plymouth!) with a stance.
As for the A/C, you gotta do it! There is a kit that mounts a new
lightweight Sanden compressor right to our big block Chrysler engines. If
you don't want to mess up your dash (which I don't), you can get a
rear-mounted ac unit. It sits on the shelf in the trunk behind the back
seat, and blows frigidity throughout the cabin. I know it's not what we're
used to in car air conditioning, but it came stock in my 1988 Westfalia VW
and it is awesome.
As for the engine performance, you might consider slipping in a warmer cam,
but with gasoline projected to top out at $4 a gallon in the near future,
you might want to stay conservative.
Brion
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Allen" <vajrahldr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 2:47 PM
Subject: [FWDLK] Hot Rod Custom 59 Belle
> OK, I put the four barell on the ol 318. Whats my next best bet
performance
> wise? Also, Im wondering if those ol TV style stearing wheels might not
fit
> on the 59 Bellvedere. Wern't they on the New Yorker or something? 57, 58?
> Also does anyone know where I would get some air adjustable shocks for my
> car and can her stance be adjusted? As in can I adjust her suspension in
any
> tangible way? I'd like to drop the front a wee bit and raise the rear end
> just a tad. Get that New Plymouth stance going!
>
> Also, someone here once told me about a fellow who built a hot rodded
> exhaust header for "our" cars. that would be a quick change in HP I bet.
Any
> one remember?
>
> One last thing. I know there's got to be some modern Caddy type seats
> (adjustable) that will fit my baby. Anyone care to take a guess?
>
> ..................................ric
> The wife is actually gonna let me keep her and get and air conditioner for
> it as well. Cant wait til next summer.
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