Some changes for LemonWedge

[LemonWedge]

Embarking on some changes, and LemonWedge will become a little more of a real racecar over the winter.
Last race of this past season I broke something in the Calvert suspension. So I figure as long as I have to take it apart, I might as well make some improvements; and this will be a big step for me.
I’m going to install the US Cartools mini-tub and leafspring relocation kit. I’ll be moving the axle rearward 1/2” to make room for taller tires. Plan is to go with the M/T 29.5x10.5 PBR (which are listed as 30” tall). Also going to resize the wheels. I love torque thrust originals, so The plan is to stay with that look in 15x8.5’s out back, and I’m going to mount 27” ET fronts on a 15x5 up front. Since I’m moving from 28” to 30” tires, I’ll be swapping my current 4.10 gears for a set of 4.56’s. The effective gearing will get slightly deeper, which should work well with the one change I’ll be making up front: Swapping my Performer RPM for an M1 single plane I was able to pick up. I’m also going to finally jettison the street exhaust system that’s been under the car since I got it. I run 3” cutouts, but the weight of the full exhaust is something I could stand to drop. I picked up some 3” FlowFX mufflers that I’ll run with some turndowns. That’ll drop weight and be better flowing.

lots of work, I hope I can get through all of this by spring. I’ll post updates here. Let me know if you have experience and tips for these modifications.

 

[dvw]

All good improvements. You'll like it.
Doug

 

[Aron Gleason]

Good luck with your project. Sounds like a solid plan

 

[Tex013]

Looking good . I would say a Victor 440 would be better if you have a RB , used both .
The PBR 29.5x10.5 are great i use them , if you can go a wider rim i would they are designed around a 10" rim . I started with PBR 28x10,5 on 8s then T thrustd 8 1/2 now 10s contact patch widened with each rim increase . Mini tub kind of makes it a no brainer . I moved the diff back 1/4" to fit the 29.5
Good luck

Tex

 

[66Satellite47]

Good plan.

 

[BSB67]

Sounds great. Looking forward to the stories to come.

 

[67MPRFAN]

I know you mentioned running 29.5 10.5 MT and a 27 inch front tire here's mine 1 using a 10 inch rim and the other with a 12 inch rim and also how mine sits with a 28 front runner. Good luck my Fab guy used the US cartool kit on mine and didn't move rear axle back

 

[67MPRFAN]

Also what's your plans for fuel system 1 issue I ran into was stock tank would fit but the filler line ran through where spring was moved to , so if you are thinking of weight reduction removing the spare tire well might be a good start

 

[Dan64]

You can get the torq-thrust in a 15x10 but i think it only comes with a 3 3/4"b.s. I works with my 64' with usct mini tubs/ spring but the rear was slighty narrowed , not sure about your year/model.

 

[Fizz66Coronet]

Just did the same to the Coronet 15x10 with 7 inches bs. I also used rear sliding shackles from Afco. This winter time for frame connectors and torque boxes and new fiberglass hood. The tire is MT type R 325-50-15. New best time 11.4 at 117mph

 

[PRHeads]

Last race of this past season I broke something in the Calvert suspension.

What broke?

 

[LemonWedge]

I don’t have it completely apart yet, and can’t remember how exactly the split mono segments are located on one another. But there must be a pin between the two locating them(???). If so, that pin must have sheered somehow, because @ the passenger side, the rear segment was creeping forward on the front segment. I felt something was wrong; looked it over and noticed the rear shackle was angled forward (should be angled slightly back, as the driver side still was). I can see on the spring where it has creeped forward by about 3-1/2”. You can see in this picture the telltale scrape along the edge of the spring. I’ll get the assembly torn apart today and see exactly what happened between the two segments. I’ll also call Calvert and see what they have to say about it.

 

[LemonWedge]

Sure enough..... here’s the locator pin that holds the split mono springs in place. This was still in the top segment, but sheered off and no longer extending into, and locating the lower segment.

 

[LemonWedge]

Here’s the two springs side by side. You can see the locator stud is missing, and the dimensional difference here.

 

[Budnicks]

Interesting keep US all updated

should all be good improvements

good luck & go fast

 

[66Satellite47]

That's scary to have a pin/stud like that fail in sheer. I'd ask Calvert if it's parts quality problem or a design issue. Or possibly the spring movement was excessive?

 

[LemonWedge]

I talked with John Gay at Calvert this morning. He says they have seen this before, but it’s very rare. He felt the weight of my car coupled with the age of the springs (7 years) and the fact that they have seen a fair amount of street use could all be factors. But said it is still a very rare occurrence. He’s sending me out a pair of new locator studs. I’ll raplace them both; Should be good to go.

That’s racing....... On to the improvements!

 

[66Satellite47]

Well, hard use & racing does break stuff. I've proved that over and over.

 

[Ragnar S]

Plans sound good. Only thoughts I have is the Eddy RPM vs M1 swap. but these are not serious doubts, mere speculations about how it will change the hp and torque curves.

 

[PRHeads]

He’s sending me out a pair of new locator studs. I’ll raplace them both; Should be good to go.