DeTomaso Mailing List: August 98, Message #132

Dear All,

	I am a street pansy, but I can be educated.  I have 375 front and 550
rear.  It is fine for the street, but for track purposes and maximal use of
the suspension, I would have at least 400 in the front, perhaps 425 up to
450 and 600 for the rear.  I have ridden in Keith's car at Spring
Mountain......yeehaww, that thing is stuck to the road!

		FWIW,  Chuck Engles

----------
> From: KVERGES@figdav.com
> To: Multiple recipients of list <detomaso@realbig.com>
> Subject: Spring Rates & Roller Lifters
> Date: Friday, July 31, 1998 4:13 AM
> 
> All,
> 
> Still lurking here in digest mode, but engine is almost back together and
goin' to dyno next week (I hope).  Don't say anything, Kirby.
> 
> As for spring rates, I run 450 front, 650 rear.  Anything less is for
street pansies.  If anything, I'd go to Dennis' 750 rear, as my car still
pushes a bit too much in slower turns, although I have largely compensated
with 1" rear sway bar.  Much more rate and you have chassis flex issues
galore.  Next paint job I'll need A-pillar reinforcement and taillight area
reinforcement at least to get rid of cracking.  In my opinion a bolt-in
chassis reinforcement will help only marginally, as it is hard to
distribute stress without welding in pads to spread force.  Besides, if kit
is "flat," i.e no triangulation up into chassis from lower suspension
pickup points, little is gained.  Ever notice how easy it is to twist a
ladder longitunally?  Of course, I don't know what the kit looks like, so
it may be better than I imagine.
> 
> Solid roller problems amazes me.  I run solid roller in my vintage race
car, which may never see 3000 miles at the rate it's going, so I have
little experience on longevity.  Hydraulic rollers keep going and going and
going in modern street cars, so I'd consider that.  I guess the huge spring
pressures and lash of solid roller cam tears up the valvetrain in
comparison to more modest spring pressures in hydraulic setups.  FWIW my
simple flat tappet Crower hydraulic makes 420 hp on pump gas at 6100 rpm
with no magic parts, no stroker and simple Holley HP series carb atop
Holley single plane manifold.
> 
> Keith
> 
> Roasting in Dallas
>