"So, do folks who add compensators and front sway bars to their Speedsters also have to swap out the torsion bars, too?"
It depends. Usually, for street driven cars with most of the drivers who show up on here, the answer is no - you just add the camber compensator, set it up for the amount of pre-load you feel good with (which directly affects the rear ride height) and drive it.
I've noticed that most of the people on here adding camber compensators don't do much with pre-load; they just install it as-is and go with that. We used to have adjusters below the tranny and others at the wheel ends to adjust each side separately up and down to set the cornering pre-load we wanted so we could "dial it in". Seldom saw that attention to detail on a street (non-track) car.
If, on the other hand, you want to track race it a little and need that extra cornering ability to be competitive, then you start looking at the combination of torsion bar and camber compensator and shock dampening rates to get the right amount of resistance to the rear suspension travel to match your driving (or the track, or both). What you're trying to do is manage the amount that the body rises off the wheel when cornering, because as it rises, the wheel begins to tuck under, loses grip as it rides up on the sidewall and/or breaks the tire bead (in extreme cases). Most street driving can be managed by "over stiffening" the rear spring rates by simply adding the camber compensator as an additional spring. The ride will be stiffer overall, but the amount of cornering roll will decrease (the car will corner flatter). Also, most people on here aren't that aggressive driving on the street and don't need to go all out with suspension mods. Simple stuff will suffice. BTW: Porsche had a number of torsion bar thicknesses offered (mostly for racers) to allow tuning of rear suspension feel.
So.....long winded answer summed up: 3/8" - 3/4" (15mm - 19mm) Anti-Sway bar up front, decent camber compensator in back (installed stock) and that should do it. If you want more cornering "oomph", just add a pair of Bilstein shocks. Be forewarned - your ride will be stiffer than no bar/compensator.
There was a good article written a while back by an Australian VW Sedan racer which outlined how to make your swing arm suspension really handle. If I can find it, I'll post a link.
*****(Edit)****
I couldn't find the link I wanted, but the Shop Talk Forum is always a good place to OD on information. Try here:
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewforum.php?f=51&sid=a9372c406934fdf2ade39293ba66a988
Thanks again for these great replies, folks.
Now I'm off to do some research into the best fermented beverage to have with an egg sammich.
Now I'm off to do some research into the best fermented beverage to have with an egg sammich.
No, No, No......Egg sammiches are from the Carlisle High School Marching Band food booth at the Carlisle show. Best we can do for beverages in the AM is orange juice, coffee (good stuff, there, I'm told), tea or hot chocolate.
If you're adventurous, you can do scrapple at the Pennsylvania Dutch food booth, right next door (which has terrific shoo-fly pies, believe me!)
Ahhhhh, Grasshopper.....Much to learn.
If you're adventurous, you can do scrapple at the Pennsylvania Dutch food booth, right next door (which has terrific shoo-fly pies, believe me!)
Ahhhhh, Grasshopper.....Much to learn.
"Ahhhhh, Grasshopper.....Much to learn."
And that's half the fun of it!!
As you can see if you have a question - someone here will have the answer or be able to point you in the right direction.
And that's half the fun of it!!
As you can see if you have a question - someone here will have the answer or be able to point you in the right direction.
I'm no stranger to scrapple, having grown up in the town of its birth, not too far east of Carlisle.
In the late '70s, I wandered into a Porsche dealer there and was tempted by an immaculate 356C coupe that someone had preserved in showroom condition, right down to the bright yellow decals on the engine. Not restored, just well kept.
But they wanted an outrageous sum for it - $6000.
Sometimes, it's best not to dwell on the past too much.
In the late '70s, I wandered into a Porsche dealer there and was tempted by an immaculate 356C coupe that someone had preserved in showroom condition, right down to the bright yellow decals on the engine. Not restored, just well kept.
But they wanted an outrageous sum for it - $6000.
Sometimes, it's best not to dwell on the past too much.
Then you should be know of another local favorite here... Slippery Pot Pie.. locals thrive on it but IMHO it will gag a mangy dog.
In south Georgia and Florida we have Armadilo road kill, AKA possum on the half shell...
That's a new one on me. That town I grew up in was 90 miles away - the one where they keep the liberty bell - and I didn't get to Pennsylvania Dutch country too often.
But what do you expect from folks who drive one horsepower cars?
The Amish may have a few lessons for us, though. While their religion allows them to ride in cars, they're forbidden from owning them. Of all worldly possessions, the car is considered the most corrupting. I think they use GERD and Vinnie as examples of where this corruption may lead.
And the Google tells me that new buggies are no longer made from the original wood, but are replicas of those older designs, made of - what else - fiberglas.
But what do you expect from folks who drive one horsepower cars?
The Amish may have a few lessons for us, though. While their religion allows them to ride in cars, they're forbidden from owning them. Of all worldly possessions, the car is considered the most corrupting. I think they use GERD and Vinnie as examples of where this corruption may lead.
And the Google tells me that new buggies are no longer made from the original wood, but are replicas of those older designs, made of - what else - fiberglas.
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Mitch, when you get out here to So Cali MUSBJIM and the gang will take you for a Pansand at Flo's in Chino Airport... Nice drive too...
S/M, I will be getting my new speedster from VS next week.(see profile) I am 25 minutes east up by Folsom Lake/ American River in Granite bay. Feel free to come check mine out also. I too am a mini (s) owner, but some times I can be seen scooting around Granite Bay village on a restored 1975 CT90 trail bike- in warmer weather, but I fear that soon the mini and the 90 will be getting very jealous of their new garage mate! Steve
Thanks for the invites, guys.
Chino is a bit far, but Steve, you're just down the road. We're actually in Fair Oaks - closer still.
I guess everyone here will want to know how the new ride works out. Keep us posted!
Are you driving it back or having it delivered?
Chino is a bit far, but Steve, you're just down the road. We're actually in Fair Oaks - closer still.
I guess everyone here will want to know how the new ride works out. Keep us posted!
Are you driving it back or having it delivered?
For the $275, just deliver it! And yes, I will put some photos up and some words about it. Fair Oaks is a nice town, except those damned chickens running around the town square :) Steve
We value our chickens, Steve. They're a source of civic pride.
If you're driving through, be careful. To have survived here as long as they have, our chickens have become tough and street smart. In a Speedster-chicken showdown, my money's on the Fair Oaks chicken.
If you're driving through, be careful. To have survived here as long as they have, our chickens have become tough and street smart. In a Speedster-chicken showdown, my money's on the Fair Oaks chicken.
my girls rock!
Ernie the chicken-man in WILTON.....
Ernie the chicken-man in WILTON.....
Actually I have a lot of affection for chickens.
I love them,.. roasted, fried, baked, and BBQ'd :)
I love them,.. roasted, fried, baked, and BBQ'd :)
Lest we forget chicken fricassee. Yum,yum!
I've always wondered which came first - the chicken sammich or the egg sammich.
'Nuff Said!
Let's keep our cameras ready so that we can capture Vince and Troy getting ready to bite into an egg sammich. Yea, I know Vinny, bite this. bwahahahaha!
My mouth is watering already!
More from the 'Egg Sammich Hall of Fame'...
Troy, your mouth is watering but your arteries are shaking in fear. I usually ask for 1/2 the normal amount of egg. Few people bother with lunch after an egg sammich for breakfast.
But MMMMM are they GOOD!
But MMMMM are they GOOD!
I'm not worried about my arteries; my doctor said I have "the heart of a 20 year old!" Too bad the rest of my body is 62 years old!!!
It's a myth that eating cholesterol raises your cholesterol. There's never been one study indicating that eggs are bad for you. Egg Sammich on!
Mitch!
I found that article on how to make your beetle handle better, here:
http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/handling.htm
I found that article on how to make your beetle handle better, here:
http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/handling.htm
Thanks, Gordon. Fascinating reading - if not the type I will be reading aloud to my wife.
What I really liked about the guy is that he was willing to try stuff and document the results and how he corrected things that he didn't like. I found that article while I was messing with my suspension to improve it and his direction saved me a lot of effort. I'm very pleased with the handling on Pearl.
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I have the Pertronix Flamethrower II billet distributor and coil, and have been quite pleased with it. The cars seems to start more quickly and generally run more smoothly.
I have one too. Much better quality than a 009 plus you can change the springs to adjust the advance curve. I found one on Ebay for a good deal. Not sure if it would clear that 911 fan shroud.
~WB
~WB
True. It's notably larger than the 009.
Bill and Lane are correct. The 911 shroud gives you two options: A:deal with the 009 or 034 or whatever, and B:get rid of the distributor and go crank-fire.
Mallory, Pertronix, whatever, they won't fit. Good luck!
Mallory, Pertronix, whatever, they won't fit. Good luck!