wwpete

I could use a little help springing my 54. We are building this car for a road rally. The race is on streets so we do not want to spring it too hard as it needs to be compliant enough to follow the road and not skitter across it. Our intention is to run 375-400lb springs up front with a 3/4 inch swaybar and a standard 5 leaf on th rear. The car will have 100 lbs of cage, about 100 lbs of tools and spares as well as driver and co-driver. Does anyone have experience racing a C1?

threewinmag

Rats! I wanted to read your list of "54 spring recommendations."

Sorry, no help here. Bump for your thread.

geerookie

A general "rule of thumb" or starting place is:
The wheel rate is 35% of the weight for that corner.
You will need to figure out the mechanical advantage for the control arm/spindle setup you have, taking into account spring location and angle.
Then calculate 35% of that corner weight.
Then multiply that number by the mechanical advantage you figured out and you will have the rate spring needed for that corner.
This will give you a good starting place.

96CollectorSport

I would call Ron at Corvette Perfection, he's in Hartland (within 1/2 hour of Milwaukee), he has vintage raced a 58 for years. I'm sure he'll be able to help you out.

dmiz0420

Your going to need to know the basics of control arm length center of tire and to the shock/spring point, shock angle, car weight, ect

A good way to know where you need to go is to know where you have been. Any idea of the original spring rates?

wwpete

I spoke with Ron before but he is racing on track and uses a very stiff setup. I was interested to see if anyone else has raced a C1. The original front spring, as I measured it, is a 310 lb spring. It was an original and may have lost something. The 4 leaf rear is an 85 lb. spring and the 5 is 160 lbs. I think that would work well but I am looking for someone with first hand knowledge. Probably going to be over 65.

redvetracr

If I was you I would ask the race car guru Gerry at SRE or look on the C-1/2 page....

wwpete

I know he's a genius but he doesn't go back quite that far.

mashinter

I installed a 5-leaf in my '59 for autocross. It's too stiff for use on rough pavement (unless you're in your 20s). I'd keep the standard springs and go bigger on the bars; Chevy did this for '60-'62; see if you can get a ride in one.

Just saw your post waiting for Daytona to re-start!