mrg

At about what speed does the front end of a C2 start to feel 'light'? .. Furthest I've pushed it back in the day was 110 in my car. I can't remember if that was enough for the front end to feel light, at speed. . . . Just wondering what you guys' experience has been. .. Thanks

John

MelWff

here's a thread with some information
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-on-c2-s.html

bcwaller

That's about as fast as I have been (on the track), but I have heard 120-130 is where it gets light in the front. Modifications such as a front air dam can help with front end lift.

C2Racer

I've had my 63 race car to 155+ or so with no discernible lift. Feels very stable.

Steve

MikeM

I was at about 130-135 and the steering was feeling light. Just then a whole herd of deer went across the road in front of me about midnight one night and I forgot all about the front end being light.

I don't think I have been over 80 mph in a midyear since then and that was 40 years ago.

jim lockwood

My vintage racer (see avatar) is detectably light under some conditions when north of 120.

At any air speed above 100, the hood tries to lift and tear itself off the car. Loose leather straps at the rear partially mitigate this tendency by releasing some of the air which builds up in the engine compartment.

Jim

LT1driver

agree with others, 120ish and I had my first 435 coupe with to 160 speedo indicated and couple barely keep in on the road, wandering over 2 lanes and never did that again and I was a stupid and brave 20y/o......lol

MikeM

When the air gets under the car at speed it lifts the front of the car. When the suspension unloads, it changes the toe on the front wheels. That can cause the wandering and drifting. No?

Frankie the Fink

I can see the lift on say a 63/64 but don't the side fender 'gills' bleed off some of that pressurized underhood air at speed on later cars ? I would think that would get you another 10-15 mph top end on some year cars without the lift...

I've had my '61 to 110 around the track at Sebring and the car was not lifting but was a handful for sure.

jim lockwood

It depends.

If the front of the car lifts, then front grip is compromised and the ability to change direction is reduced. (This is what I've experienced.)

If the front suspension has had the bump steer dialed out, then front end lift would have no effect on front toe.

On the other hand, tho, if there is still some bump steer in the suspension, it depends on what the bump steer curve looks like. If the suspension toes out when the suspension droops, then the steering becomes twitchy. But if the suspension toes in with droop, steering remains stable.

Bill32

Yep, it's the arc the tierods follow vs the arc the A-arms follow.

The arc the tierods follow can be changed (when dialing out bump steer) but not without changing to a different setup on the tierod ends.
The tapered mounting hole for the stock tierods prevents any adjustment.

C2Racer

Agree, my 63 race car is heavily modified in all these ways and more.

Steve

MikeM

What does a stocker do or one that hasn't been modified in the front end? That's what I was speaking of.

Bill32

I haven't bumpsteered a C2 but many of the cars I've done have toed out in droop (A-arms moving down as the front end comes up). That's what usually happens but there could also be toe in depending on the design of the steering.

And yes, the toe out will less stable on a straight. But usually not to the point of being uncontrollable.

Note that most race cars run a slight amount of toe out anyway (helps on corner turn in). It's not a problem for us at high speeds.

BTW, bump steer on the rear end is a much bigger problem than it is on the front end.



.

Ol Blue

In those early days of total new-Corvette-intoxication and youthful invincibility I regularly ran my 63 up to 135 on a hiway 24 long straight almost every night on the way home from the beach and never noticed anything feeling terribly funny about the car.

The fastest was on hiway 231 long long straight late at night, 6800 rpm and speedo bouncing around 147mph. I kept it straddling the center line and did notice it drifting a bit side to side. Not enough to make me let off though.

I've only had it up around 104 in the quarter mile since then.

jim lockwood

Couldn't tell ya. They way I drive my '63 roadster, neither bump steer nor front end lift has ever been a problem.

KENS78SILVERANNIV

Lowered my 66' by two inches... seems to sit a lot tighter at speeds over 100. 10-inch 295's on the back settled it down as well.

Jackfit

I am up to and over 100 on most days when I drive, in Europe and out west. Had it up to 124 back in 70,

Jack. Did it get light. To busy praying to notice

SpartyGW

I am not adding anything of real value to this thread, but I find it funny that my dad's 1981 C3 has a speedo that maxes out at 85mph.

The 160 speedo on my 61 seems insane.

MikeM

It wasn't very funny to most people back then when the national speed limit was 55.