Driving and Handling Question?????
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 252
Likes: 83
From: State Of No Return
I drove an 81 low mileage (29K) car that is extremely stock and very well maintained. I was just curious if much had changed over the years. I can definitely see how wider tires and factory handling packages could change the feel as well, but I'm guessing that if you at least added the wider tires to an older model that didn't have them that the lack or addition of the FE7 package won't make it dramatically different....????
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
In 81 and 82, without FE7, C3s came stock with a fiberglass rear spring. You will feel this difference. It makes the rear smoother. Also, 80-82 cars are 250 lbs lighter, which helps, but their chassis are made of slightly thinner steel, which doesn't help. Almost any 81 you find will have the optional N90 aluminum wheels with 225/60R15 tires, unless they've been upgraded to even bigger wheels and stickier tires.
That said, putting a fiberglass rear spring on an earlier car is just about the best suspension upgrade you can do, dollar for dollar.
That said, putting a fiberglass rear spring on an earlier car is just about the best suspension upgrade you can do, dollar for dollar.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 252
Likes: 83
From: State Of No Return
In 81 and 82, without FE7, C3s came stock with a fiberglass rear spring. You will feel this difference. It makes the rear smoother. Also, 80-82 cars are 250 lbs lighter, which helps, but their chassis are made of slightly thinner steel, which doesn't help. Almost any 81 you find will have the optional N90 aluminum wheels with 225/60R15 tires, unless they've been upgraded to even bigger wheels and stickier tires.
That said, putting a fiberglass rear spring on an earlier car is just about the best suspension upgrade you can do, dollar for dollar.
That said, putting a fiberglass rear spring on an earlier car is just about the best suspension upgrade you can do, dollar for dollar.
