DeTomaso Mailing List: August 98, Message #141

Charles F Engles Jr. wrote:

> 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
> >
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