Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice Granny's Luxo-Muscle-Barge

[Scott Liggett]

Whatever the camber is when the top of the tire leans in. It's the same specs on the Impala and it handles great. The original specs were for crappy bias ply tires, not modern radial tires, so they don't mean jack to me.

This car still rolls over in the corners. Much of that is the 800 lbs of iron on the nose. I can improve that by getting a bigger front sway bar, like the one on the Impala. Not sure if the Edelbrock shocks on it are adjustable, but if they are I will tighten them up too. It rides like a Caddy now, so I can deal with stiffer shocks.

[Casey the Impala guy]

Putting a shorter tire on the front helped the handling on my car , the suspension and steering is a bit sloppy, but going from a 235/75 to a 225/70 helped a ton. But your car could be different as to what works seeing as you have a couple hundred more pounds with that Rat under the hood!!! then throw tighter shocks and a bigger sway bar :D

[Huskinhano]

Yes, that would be negative camber. Your specs are almost exactly what I set mine too. I'm currently at 3.5* pos caster, 1 3/8* neg camber and 1/16" toe in. You can easily run 1* neg camber with out any excessive tire wire. My tires are wearing normally.

On Mustangs almost every one has heard of the Shelby or Arning drop. It's where you lower the mounting location downward. On Mustangs,it improves the camber curve which makes the car handle better. I think what most people don't realize is that it improves the front roll center by raising it. It's an intersection of the control arm pivot points. Anyway, what's important is by raising it makes the car inherently want to corner flatter. It feels like you've installed a big fat sway bar. Dick Guldstrand use to do this on 1st gen Camaros in Trans Am racing back in the day and his cars flat out out handled other teams Camaros. I wonder if there is some published info for your Impala. Next time you have the front end apart it might be something worth doing. It'll take that 800 pound lump of steel.

[Scott Liggett]

Shelby moved the upper A arm down an inch and back a half inch, if memory serves.

[Scott Liggett]

Took the Caprice to Omaha, three hours drive each way. First real road trip in a long while. Car ran fine, only it leaked then burned enough oil to qualify for gross polluter status. About 3 quarts each way. (Really funny to see people's freak out reaction to see the car smoking down the highway.) The rear main caused some of it, but most came from the dipstick and tube. Still using the original stuff. One time it leaked from the top because I didn't get the dipstick shoved in all the way. Next pouring out of the tube out at the pan. I also have the perfect aero at 75 mph to blow it all back to the H pipe on the exhaust where it is conveniently burned instead of leaving a trail of oil all the to Omaha and back.

I finally picked up a tube of Right Stuff and glued the dipstick tube into the pan. Hopefully, that will quell most of the run off until I pull the engine very soon.

PIcked up an engine stand today at HF. Got the mondo 2000 lb version. Which means it really holds 1000 lbs. Found the local rental yard has engine hoists fro $20/day to $60/week.

[TheSilverBuick]

Makes me feel better about my Firebird at a hair over a quart after 3 hours of highway driving.

[Scott Liggett]

Broke into the parts department today for some toys.

[Scott Liggett]

Here are the Hooker headers. I need gaskets and reducers to go with them. They are 2" primaries.

[Scott Liggett]

The engine is also getting this windage tray. All of this stuff is hopefully stop my oil aerating problem.

[Huskinhano]

Christmas in April I see.

[milner351]

NICE Love your cars and your work ethic. Consider the oil rust proofing... LOL.

[Scott Liggett]

I was looking at this extra four speed sitting on the shelf and thinking I need to shove this somewhat small snow ball over the cliff. I need a 454 flywheel, the little frame bracket for the clutch Z bar. Possibly a new drive shaft.

[Russell]

Granny would not approve, but we do! Is that the 3 speed w/ OD box?

[Scott Liggett]

A833OD. Nearly identical gear ratio of a 700R4. The reason the 3-4 shift lever is upside down is they switched them. 3rd is 1:1 ratio and 4th is .74. They are tough, but speed shifting is a no go.

[Whelk]

PIcked up an engine stand today at HF. Got the mondo 2000 lb version. Which means it really holds 1000 lbs. Found the local rental yard has engine hoists fro $20/day to $60/week.

HRM tested some of those stands a couple years ago. They held up a lot better than expected.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_1112_budget_engine_stands/