[DeTomaso] Some tech analysis of Classic LeMans 08

[Thomas Tornblom]

Charles McCall skrev:
> Thomas - how tight is your steering rack?

I have tried to wiggle the rack but don't feel any slop. Maybe I should 
ask Tomas to check it out.

I installed a brass bushing a few years ago, but that is in the other 
end of the rack.

Thanks for the suggestion Charlie!

Cheers,
Thomas


>  
> I, too, installed the offset bushings and the improvement was rather 
> slight. But I had always had a certain amount of slop in my steering rack.
>  
> Last summer Tomas helped me adjust it by installing and removing the 
> shims, and we got 99% of the slop out. THAT transformed the ride. It was 
> enough of a difference that amaya noticed it from the passenger seat. It 
> turns out that a significant amount of the darting about was caused by 
> the loose steering rack, allowing the wheels to turn a little to the 
> left, then right, and back to the left. The ride is SIGNIFICANTLY 
> different with a tight steering rack.
>  
> It still isn't as effort-free as an early car, but it is much, much 
> better and has largely eliminated the "white knuckle" effect you describe.
> 
> On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 9:19 AM, Thomas Tornblom <Thomas.Tornblom at hax.se 
> <mailto:Thomas.Tornblom at hax.se>> wrote:
> 
>     JDeRyke at aol.com <mailto:JDeRyke at aol.com> skrev:
> 
>      > Second, Patrick had some handling issues, which were resolved by
>     installing
>      > a set of Pat Michaels' front A-arms, and immediately dropped 20
>     seconds per
>      > lap! With 7-minute lap times, this is enormous! Pat Michael's
>     custom a-arms
>      > build in a much larger amount of caster than is possible with
>     stock parts.
>      > I have been harping for years on the addition of at least SOME
>     extra caster
>      > in your street Panteras, especially if you run very wide front
>     wheels and
>      > tires. You don't need to run 190 mph on twisty roads to feel the
>     benefits!
> 
>     Over the winter I installed Pantera Easts offset PU A-arm bushings,
>     which gives some more caster.
> 
>     I've heard a lot of good things about these, but I can't say I notice
>     any significant improvement. It is still a white knuckle ride, even
>     after checking the wheel alignment.
> 
>     I now have about 3° (3°03' left, 3°13' right) of caster. Unfortunately
>     the machine they used when I had it checked in 2000 was not
>     sophisticated enough to be able to check caster with the alignment
>     equipment hooked up on the front wheels.
> 
>     Checking the owners manual I see the nominal caster is 3°30' - 4°, so
>     even with these bushings I'm unable to get it to even the nominal spec.
> 
>     Offset A-arms might be a better choice.
> 
>     _______________________________________________
> 
>     Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
> 
>     Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
> 
>     DeTomaso mailing list
>     DeTomaso at list.realbig.com <mailto:DeTomaso at list.realbig.com>
>     http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
> 
> 
> !DSPAM:4a1e57af1008312568212!


-- 
Real life:   Thomas Törnblom             Email:  Thomas.Tornblom at Hax.SE
Snail mail:  Banvallsvägen 14            Phone:    +46 18 444 33 21
              S - 754 40 Uppsala, Sweden  Cellular: +46 70 261 1372