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A few weeks ago I put it back on the road only to find a new and improved problem (annoyance) May have solved that problem with the ignition, although I have no idea why it was a problem or what the problem really is
Hooked up the power antenna with an inline override switch (hasn't been hooked up for a couple of years since I removed the old wiring and override as it was a PIA when working on things and the ant kept going up/down every time I'd turn on the key...)
In theory I can maybe I can drive the car again, which you can tell since it's raining out..
M
A few weeks ago I put it back on the road only to find a new and improved problem (annoyance) May have solved that problem with the ignition, although I have no idea why it was a problem or what the problem really is
Hooked up the power antenna with an inline override switch (hasn't been hooked up for a couple of years since I removed the old wiring and override as it was a PIA when working on things and the ant kept going up/down every time I'd turn on the key...)
In theory I can maybe I can drive the car again, which you can tell since it's raining out..
M
It's just been the perpetual Spring/Fall here in the GTA ... it's getting old FAST!!!
I drug mine to Atlanta for the Southeastern Chapter NCRS meet... and scored 94% - Top Flight -
Next month is the NCRS nationals... - going for a National Top Flight...
--- 71 LT1 in the show... scored 97.7% -I painted this car about a month ago
One of less than 10 Black 54's.
67 L71 Lyndale Blue over white. 239,000 miles on the car - driven everywhere.
Did a tune up after a 200 mile trip yesterday, Fixed the driver door - would not open. The door lock mechanism was gummed up. Mow it's clean and coated with graphite spray.
I drug mine to Atlanta for the Southeastern Chapter NCRS meet... and scored 94% - Top Flight -
Next month is the NCRS nationals... - going for a National Top Flight...
Seriously.
I discovered the handling characteristics of the '73 coupe the hard and scary way on I-5 this morning.
Was 70-75 mph, a tad faster than the bulk of traffic, 3rd lane from the right on a 5 lane stretch. Was very slowly overtaking a small Suzuki ?? (10-15 seconds to overtake) in lane 4, and when my front bumper was abeam it's passenger door, it darted toward my lane as if to switch. When I made a small but very quick correction to the right, the car got into a sideways oscillation, induced by my attempt to correct, and made about 4 cycles. Never reach 90 degrees perpendicular to line of travel, but the 1st swerve was at least 45. Covered 3 lane-widths of movement with, very fortunately, no other vehicles involved. How could he not have seen me, you might asked. I kept an eye on him for about 20 miles, not directly behind him, and he displayed erratic behavior; quick slight swerves into occupied lanes of traffic which made those cars swerve away as well; Occasionally turn his Hazard Lights on for 10-20 seconds at a time, and changed speeds.
Purpose of this post is to delineate the car's handling so you may not make the same mistake of correction as I did. No quick turns at speed!: It seemed to me that with a relatively light end, the car did not want to swing completely forward. But what I learned about this Corvette's handling is that a very quick turn of the wheel, even relatively small, can get a fishtail going. 235/60R15 Cooper Cobras with 2K on them, a 1 1/8" front Sway Bar, standard Coil Springs, and a 383. Fuel tank was 3/4 full.
Scary ride for sure.
Glad you made it without a scratch.
Just imagine living in an area where the motivation is to drive from winery to winery to taste more wine.
Many DUI drivers here.
Many DUI arrests.
Thank you CHP!!!
Seriously.
I discovered the handling characteristics of the '73 coupe the hard and scary way on I-5 this morning.
Was 70-75 mph, a tad faster than the bulk of traffic, 3rd lane from the right on a 5 lane stretch. Was very slowly overtaking a small Suzuki ?? (10-15 seconds to overtake) in lane 4, and when my front bumper was abeam it's passenger door, it darted toward my lane as if to switch. When I made a small but very quick correction to the right, the car got into a sideways oscillation, induced by my attempt to correct, and made about 4 cycles. Never reach 90 degrees perpendicular to line of travel, but the 1st swerve was at least 45. Covered 3 lane-widths of movement with, very fortunately, no other vehicles involved. How could he not have seen me, you might asked. I kept an eye on him for about 20 miles, not directly behind him, and he displayed erratic behavior; quick slight swerves into occupied lanes of traffic which made those cars swerve away as well; Occasionally turn his Hazard Lights on for 10-20 seconds at a time, and changed speeds.
Purpose of this post is to delineate the car's handling so you may not make the same mistake of correction as I did. No quick turns at speed!: It seemed to me that with a relatively light end, the car did not want to swing completely forward. But what I learned about this Corvette's handling is that a very quick turn of the wheel, even relatively small, can get a fishtail going. 235/60R15 Cooper Cobras with 2K on them, a 1 1/8" front Sway Bar, standard Coil Springs, and a 383. Fuel tank was 3/4 full.
Steve
The lesson to be learned here is that if you are going to drive these things, put sticky modern tires on them.
I am running Conti Extreme Contacts in a 245/45-18 size, and the change in performance is noticeable.
Seriously.
I discovered the handling characteristics of the '73 coupe the hard and scary way on I-5 this morning.
Was 70-75 mph, a tad faster than the bulk of traffic, 3rd lane from the right on a 5 lane stretch. Was very slowly overtaking a small Suzuki ?? (10-15 seconds to overtake) in lane 4, and when my front bumper was abeam it's passenger door, it darted toward my lane as if to switch. When I made a small but very quick correction to the right, the car got into a sideways oscillation, induced by my attempt to correct, and made about 4 cycles. Never reach 90 degrees perpendicular to line of travel, but the 1st swerve was at least 45. Covered 3 lane-widths of movement with, very fortunately, no other vehicles involved. How could he not have seen me, you might asked. I kept an eye on him for about 20 miles, not directly behind him, and he displayed erratic behavior; quick slight swerves into occupied lanes of traffic which made those cars swerve away as well; Occasionally turn his Hazard Lights on for 10-20 seconds at a time, and changed speeds.
Purpose of this post is to delineate the car's handling so you may not make the same mistake of correction as I did. No quick turns at speed!: It seemed to me that with a relatively light end, the car did not want to swing completely forward. But what I learned about this Corvette's handling is that a very quick turn of the wheel, even relatively small, can get a fishtail going. 235/60R15 Cooper Cobras with 2K on them, a 1 1/8" front Sway Bar, standard Coil Springs, and a 383. Fuel tank was 3/4 full.
Steve
These cars can be twitchy if not set up correctly. If you haven't done so, might I suggest you find a nearby autocross to discover your car's bad habits and tune up your reactions. And maybe add another day if you decide to make some changes.
With an 1-1/8" front bar, Van Steel would normally recommend a 3/4" rear bar. Knowing that it is bad for handling to have too big a bar in the rear (oversteer), I think a 9/16" or 5/8" would be a good conservative choice. A little change in sway bar diameter yields a large change in twisting stiffness (Diameter to the 4th power). Bigger is not always better! See the attachment.
You know, when I bought this project John, only the A-Arms w/Knuckles and tires were mounted and the "Box" had in it three front sway bars, all different sizes. The car was an L48 off the assembly line, so I'm assuming that the smallest bar was stock (car did have A/C) and the P.O. wanted to replaced it with something bigger. What did I do when I got the Power Steering/Idler Arm installed?: Put on the biggest one, of course.
I can now understand what you're sayin'
If you have the smaller diameter front bars you might just put the OEM bar back in and try that.
1 1/8" front is a big front bar especially with nothing in the rear.
If you have the smaller diameter front bars you might just put the OEM bar back in and try that.
1 1/8" front is a big front bar especially with nothing in the rear.
Shoppin for a rear sway bar right now!
If I went with the stock front bar, I feel the car would be safer, but would lose the responsiveness I've come to know.
When I was researching suspension upgrades, Van Steel provided great advise for everything.
They said that with a BB corvette used for spirited street and mountain twisty roads, stay with stock bars, or, to go with nothing bigger than 1 1/8" front and the stock bar in the rear which is 9/16" on my 73.
If I find I need bigger in the rear they would gladly sell me one, but unless I was tracking my car they suggested against going bigger.
They did warn me that some aftermarket rear sway bars, theirs included, required removing the spare tire and spare tire tub.
When I was researching suspension upgrades, Van Steel provided great advise for everything.
They said that with a BB corvette used for spirited street and mountain twisty roads, stay with stock bars, or, to go with nothing bigger than 1 1/8" front and the stock bar in the rear which is 9/16" on my 73.
If I find I need bigger in the rear they would gladly sell me one, but unless I was tracking my car they suggested against going bigger.
They did warn me that some aftermarket rear sway bars, theirs included, required removing the spare tire and spare tire tub.
With such a light end, I wonder why (other than placing costs above safety) a rear sway bar wasn't standard on these cars. Maybe with the stock front bar, it just wasn't necessary.
Good info. Thanks.
06-15-2019, 05:16 PM
