Finally got my '72 Vette convertible back after a long while (very long while) in body and mechanics shops. I never really drove it before as it needed quite a bit of work. I'm not really sure how it should handle, it is 38 years old. Those of you that use yours a lot...how does it ride?? Is the steering tight?? The steering seems to be sloppy.
I have never had an older vehicle so I'm not sure what to compare it to.
Obviously, I don't expect to ride and handle like a new vehicle...or should it??
Thanks for ther input.

 

What you did to the suspension will have a significant effect.
Sway bars, tie rods, rubber or poly bushings. leaf spring or coil overs, etc. The list will be long. However, and I'm sure I will get noise for saying this, no matter what you did, it will not handle like a new AMG. I'm relatively sure if you went to the BMW factory in Germany, they would have no idea what a "rag joint" is.
Which could be part of your "slop" issue...

zmanc3

 

Mine handled kind of loose and sloppy, until I replaced the ball-joints and got new tires.

Now it tracks straight and true, and the handling is very crisp. Plus it rides smoother than I would have imagined over rough roads.

But then again, my points of reference are a 2000 Ford Excursion and a 2002 Grand Cherokee, so maybe it's just relative...

 

I drove my 1972 bb for 2 months, and is was very sloppy and lots of play in the steering. I don't know how it drives now (polyurethane and Steeroids, 18" wheels) still have to put in the engine.

 

Yep, I agree. Ball joint changeout would be on my long list of "stuff".

 

Mine still has the original balljoints (riveted in), and they need to be replaced.

 

My '77 handles great but only has 40,000mi.. My current points of referance are an '07 Tahoe and '08 Silverado. For a non rack and pinion vehicle it is very nice. mike...

 

My 1979 was sloppy but after poly bushings, new control valve and new firestone indy 500 tires handles very tight. compared to a 2002 Z06 itgoes where you point it JAY

 

Thanks for the responses.....I did replace the tie rods and other suspension elements. The biggest complaint is the steering "play". The steering coupler was also replaced, is that the "rag joint?". I guess I'm trying to see how tight the car should drive. Those of you that say it tracks great, is that compared to new cars?? or relatively speaking??
Thanks for the help.

 

Mine is as it was when I bought it in '81. Very tight and responsive. You might want to ck. the steeering box for proper adjustment/worn parts. Ck. Jim Shea's papers for procedures on all things steering related. mike...

 

I dont have PS and the car is tight and handles good with zero free-play in the steering wheel and also another factor it only has 28K miles.

 

I put new springs and all new suspension components except for rebuilt T/As' on my 69 before I ever drove it. I was completely shocked at how smooth and receptive it was. I still kind of marvel over it.

I am comparing this to my last C3, a 68 which I didn't really do much to the suspension with other than changing the shocks. Its' unruliness was one of the reasons I grew tired of it and sold it.

 

I ALL boils down to the tires, wheel diameter, width....after that, all the snakes or pearls come out of the rest of the suspension/design....

and if you have modern ~17"+ tires on it, you will feel the antiquated design....it's outta the late 50's for Christsakes....1/2 century ago....

but there are all sort of options of just what to do....

 

On my 69 I recently changed to 18's with low profile tires and the improvement in handling was fantastic...

Sort of goes against what I read on here....

 

My '69 roadster was recently refurbished, but I use only stock design, except for red line radials. hey were originally bias. They are the stock width though, not very big.

Car feels great to me. I compare it to my older Corvettes, so naturally its much better. It cannot compare to a C4-5-6 of course, but those are just late model sedans with Corvette nameplates anyway.

If your shocks, suspension and radials are newer, I dont see why the car would not ride well. You could step up a bit and add a fiberglass rear spring. I'd never, ever put the big wheels of today on the car- I don't know how they perform, I just hate how they look.

 

On my 68 I replaced the upper and lower ball joints, the control arm bushings, all the wheel bearings (front and back), the power steering cylinder, the rag joint and the strut rods in the rear. A lot of work but worth it. The car is very tight and dependable on a trip.
68 Vetteman

 

My 80 drives very smooth but has 1/2 or 1 inch of play in the steering. Stock wheels with new firestone firehawk tires. 55k miles on the car

 

Thanks for the responses...I guess I just need to drive it more and get used to it. But 1 more question...when you guys say it's tight, is that compared to a new car or for a 40 year old car??

 

I'd guess a 40 year old car. Modern cars most often have rack an pinion steering which will be tighter in terms of play in the steering. Tight in the context of 40 year old technology. I enjoy mine none the less.

 

I have the VBP 550# coil springs; they've been cut a little to level out the nose of the car. I've taken about 200 pounds out of the stock wieght, so my 68 Vert probably weighs about 2850 pounds. I have a spreader bar also. Rear springs are the 360 lb/inch VBP's. I have 17 inch wheels. The suspension is far to stiff. The front of the car feels like there's no suspension at all. I get a lot of body noise driving over rough places on the freeway. If I did it over, I'd use some softer coils in the front.

The steering is very tight, no play. It's an all new steering box. I'm pretty sure it's a real Saginaw. I bought it new maybe 25 years ago and just now installed it for the first time. The steering is "edgy." Slight motions of the wheel cause an immediate steering motion. What I dislike most about the stock Power Steering is that it has no feedback. Turning the steering wheel takes no effort at all...this is the traditional steering feel of the 60's. With the stiff suspension, the car bounces around and as my body moves around, holding on to the steering wheel, I inevitably end up moveing the wheel a little so bumpy roads makes it a little hard to keep in a straight line.

Driving at speed around a curve (freeway offramp), in my 08 C6, I can feel the wheel trying to straighten up, so muscle power is required to keep the 08 in a curve. With the 68, theres no feel at all, you can easily drive and park the car just using the end of a little finger.