Blake,

I volunteered to test a set with Roger way back when when I first mentioned it to him. Offer still stands. :goggles: I did discuss the idea with Ron as well. I'm trying to recall if he told me he had already discussed with you or whether he was going to. Doesn't matter, just interesting history.

I'm certain it's more work/time to build them. The lowers are pretty straightforward I think on how to do it. The upper would need a bit more work, but probably not much (really a different shaft is what I came up with, I had no idea where to get one of those built).

It's hard to know how many people would ultimately be willing to pay the upgrade cost. $500? Probably many. $2000? Probably few. But that's just me thinking...

Thanx for chiming in. Now back to the Missile! :thumbsup:

Being one who really can’t afford to change this setup, I’ll need to figure out how to make it work. Greg is correct about a link failure being catostrophic. I have made safety tethers for mine to prevent over rotation in either direction should a link bend or fail. What makes me think that is a probability and not a possibility? This is a Trans Am car back when they ran 3-links. The link sits almost next to you in a VERY beefy structure. You can see the adjustment knob and slot are also very beefy. This, for engines that make 500-550 ft. Lbs of torque.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...suksvdeus.jpeg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...s1cbtwvsy.jpeg

Compared to what me, Greg, and others are using:

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psw4nwfdbh.jpg

I found this concerning after assembling, the first thing I thought was, “holy crap, if this breaks or bends, nasty things will happen. Better make a pair of safety tethers”. Would have hoped the person designing this would have had the same fore thought.

Okay, this post is about suspension and not intended to be a defense of any particular person or company. Fair enough?

Here is a quote from Blake's post number 578 in this thread:

"I feel that the design and performance of our subframes and chassis are the top of the Line. We did all the design EXCEPT the geometry on the front suspension, which Ron did and I think you are starting to see some pretty well built competitive cars out there now."

Dirt Missile has a track only high-travel/low-roll suspension with a very stiff front swaybar and specific scrub radius, dynamic caster gain, and Ackermann to make it work on track. Plug it in a suspension analyzer and you will see what I mean. (I have) It doesn't really matter if the components are dirt track, asphalt late model, or GT prototype as long as they produce the desired geometry. With that said, I agree that the LCA is probably a little light duty for this application, and I would change it. Pro-touring cars, out of absolute necessity, have some compromises to make them work on the street. You don't want a front suspension that easily travels 4 inches in compression, with no roll, or you would never get in or out of a drive-way. And, with wide tires in a production car chassis it is very difficult to get anywhere near zero scrub - something a good race car needs for turn-in. You need to decide whether you want a street (capable) car or a race car.

I subscribe to the high-travel/low-roll philosophy for a track car. I use Speed Tech's ATS spindles adapted to different length Howe ball joint studs, JRi shocks, a 2000# rate sway bar, and my own fabricated control arms. The LCAs are a little heavier than I would like, but they provide some insurance for the stress of big tires and big brakes, and they accommodate a 335 with 9 inches of wheel backspacing, which gets me to a near-zero scrub radius.

Pappy

Attachment 66692

Attachment 66693

Good posts Craig and Pappy.....


We will all figure this crap out. I let Sutton have his way with the DM - it was "ALL HIM".

NOW -- it will be NONE OF HIM.

I've been doing this for a good long time.... I/we all know junk when we see it.... Pappy and SpeedTech LCA's are well done (seems to me).... vs the DM lightweight (maybe a little Collin Chapman here...) single breakable / foldable / trash.


The whole rear end thing??? Jury is out for me.... We'll see what some serious actual experts have to say. If they start scratching their chin and searching for words..... LOL We'll get the saws out and go to town.... I'm not driving - nor asking anyone else to drive something that I feel would be unsafe. This crap is hard enough without having nightmares over it before you ever get on track.

Greg, I log off for a week, and look what you've done with the place! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

If there's one thing I know about you Greg, it's that you tell it like it is. Be it good, bad, or indifferent. It's ****ty to watch things go down like they have, but if anyone can bounce back from this, it's you.

Blake if it means getting that crazy bastard in the car faster I'm in.:gitrdun::)

Love you buddy and I know you mean it!!


She'll be okay -- The boys have a lot on their plate -- but this isn't their first goat rodeo - and my worst fears are probably overblown as far as the mechanical stuff. So we may have a look at the body - and bypass that in favor of getting her back on track -- all depends on what the Mayo tells me in October.... thumbs down and I'll ask them to just get it "running" and fix the suspension in the front end..... Thumbs up and we'll let them make it a cool race car... and I'll just run Old faithful - Old Yeller.

In the meantime -- I'm trying to get the '40 finished for the tour this month -- I've sold my house, and have to move while away on tour (not missing it).... So we're flying to Scottsdale in the morning to have a quick look at some stuff.... oh -- and toss in a trip to Laguna Seca with Alex for the IMSA races -- and a trip to Napa for Birthdays for Me - Adrienne, and Payton King (they share the same b'day).... and trailer the POS to St George..... and let's see what else I can heap on the plate!!

lol and i thought i was busy!!! you are going to log a lot of miles in the next 3 weeks!!

Sold the place in Sun Valley already? I know you mentioned you weren't into skiing any more. Figured you still liked the place enough to stay though.

That's a lot on your plate just with the car let alone the truck and everything else. Good luck getting it all done. Be sure to enjoy the trips along the way.

I invented the road trip!! Been doing it all my life - a professional road tripper!

LOL

The SV house is not about not wanting to live here - or stay here.... but life has been kinda trying to catch up with me - and I have a lovely wife that doesn't need to be here in this house all alone... She's a biker/hiker - it's a long winter riding the Peloton for her. So.... we're out.

And regarding the full plate. Since May of 2016 -- I don't say "no" much.... I actually think being busy (busy having FUN - not busy working) is good for you. It takes my mind off "me" and focuses me on "what's next".

Mario, Let me know when we are flying out, you know I'm not afraid of sanding a turd.

Well if you two yahoos are going, I’m in as well. I hear Utah is nice this time of year.
:flag2::thumbsup:

Looks like were picking up steam !:lol:

I'll pick you window lickers up from the airport and we can drive up from Vegas.

:cheers:

Theres supposed to be a bunch of us yahoo's in Utah on the 19th, if we had real jobs we could take the week before off and each f up a panel...

Please go to here and read the crap from some of the idiots that are on the internet...


https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56814


WTF....

Sorry, Not sorry.

I’m pretty sure we could be juiced up on Welds meds and the panels would look 100x better. LOL

Could you also redesign the front and rear suspension.... rewire it.... and plumb up the dry sump while rebuilding the motor??

One weekend should be enough time.

It showed up "pre-wadded"

LOL

Hate to say I told you so but...you shoulda bought a boat.

Very uncool to discuss money.....


LOL

I say give the POS away, sell it really cheap, or crush it. I don't know how wealthy you are, but I have a feeling this isn't much of a hit financially. This whole deal is very personal and I have to wonder if you'll ever get the bad taste out of your mouth with this car. It reminds me of a client that got a divorce or their spouse died and they want to move away from that house. Sometimes you just need to move on.

You don't seem to have enough life left to take on this burden. I have to ask why keep going down this path? Look after your health and move on to things that matter.

That's my perspective, love it or hate it...

I have a plan to de-secret sauce it..... I'll take the motor and trans out - the wheels and brakes off - the rear end minus all the brackets.... Order a Howe Chassis and body....

Take the body and chassis to Los Angeles and put it in the La Brea Tar pits --- and make a viral video....

The city assured me they would rename the pits "Secret Sauce".

Don’t forget the camera, if it’s not oil soaked it’s a great set up. Lol

I gotta agree with Todd.

Did I just say that? :headscratch:

Maybe world peace is possible. Ha

I vote for Highland Green for the makeover...

And a crazy team name logo based upon all the "Buddies" that got you through this.

Team JackStand :headscratch:

A Phoenix rising from the ashes would be so cliche, lol

And by the way a blown Coyote would look good in there, and prolly not blow oil :D

:popcorn2::popcorn2::popcorn2:

I “unfriend” you.
What’s next? Dave working on your car??
:bitchslap:

:headscratch: probably before Braga doing my wiring. :popcorn2:

Joe --- that van down by the river is way better than a night at the Holiday Inn -- because that was brilliant!!

Team JackStand it is!

And you're 100% right on the Highland Green is spot on!!

Now --- Highland Green cars RARELY came with stripes and I think the fat ass needs stripes -- so lets come up with that color!

Goldish??

Black??

Help me here!

Right now -- we have Whirled Peas.....

Without the “sauce”...

Well if it’s a green fastback Mustang, it’s like Steve McQueen’s “Bullsh!t” Mustang!

Funny --- spent all / most of my life a Chevy guy.... Corvettes, Camaros, Tri-fives...

How the hell did I end up with all this Ford stuff!!

At least I've stuck with Chevy power. LOL

My '32 - both '33's - the '40 - the Dirt Missile - all chevy all the time...

I do love the SBF in the '65 - but I can never find the distributor!

I got a coyote powered 56’ F100, ain’t all bad!

Small business owners --- learn from others mistakes.....


Too much marketing, and not enough performance, equals a bad business

Invert that to performance after the sale and it will equal a growing business


Each satisfied customer will be your best marketing tool --- become a tool at marketing and you won't have to worry about all those customers you're trying to attract, because you won't have many.


The highway is littered with the Jakes - Mocks - Fletchers - Prodigys - all having the same common failures. Lots of selling. Lots of lack of performance.

Gold pinstripe, so to not take away from the rest of the cars lines?

Or a Boss 302 stripe down each fender and side... With your choice of lettering...

this comes to mind, lol

LS
FTW

:stirthepot:

I would do it in vintage livery. Parnelli Jones/Bud Moore/etc

I'd switch the bottom letters to "WTF" :stirthepot:

Highland green /grey or a graphite stripes ?????