[DeTomaso] Springs

[cengles at cox.net]

Dear Dick,

IIRC one of my Panteras runs front 375 and rear 550; the other one runs 400 or so and rear about 600. They both have Konis and I find the ride-handling to be very satisfactory on the street and track.

Warmest regards, Chuck Engles


---- Dick Koch <arkoch at earthlink.net> wrote:
>I would like to get input from the forum brain trust before I upgrade
>the stock springs on my Pantera.
>
>Comments would be appreciated on ride, handling, structural
>implications, and modifications that one would suggest by going to a
>stiffer spring.
>
>The car is used primarily on the street with occasional track time (once
>or twice a year).
>
>I have 245/17 tires on front, 335/17s on the rear, with a stock front
>sway bar and a 1" aftermarket rear sway bar.
>
>It has the original inherent problem with understeer.
>
>I use Magneshock shocks which I can adjust to whatever setting I want
>for rebound/compression. To reduce understeer on the track, the rear
>shock had to be set high on both rebound/compression (dialed in at
>Pahrump a few years ago for current suspension setup). On the street,
>the shocks are set for a much less "rigid" ride.
>
>I have replaced the rear cross member brace with an adjustable one that
>locks in the rear suspension at the stock position. Other than that, I
>have not added any chassis bracing and to date have had no problems with
>body stress cracks, except the usual one on the corner of the outside
>lower rear tail lights.
>
>The stock springs I have on the car are 315 lbs/inch front, 445 lbs/inch
>on the rears.
>
>I am looking at replacing them with 550 lbs/inch front, 600 lbs/inch
>rear, which as I remember some folks have said they used on their car.
>
>SoBills database documents 400-450 fronts, 600 rears.
>
>Suggestions and comments would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Dick Koch - Atlanta
>