polara71
Old Man with a Hat
I should just let you wear my shoes ...
Meet Regina FQ3, a 1970 Polara convertible who turns 51 today
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
Virtually all my cars that I will be keeping are 2 door hardtops and while I like the factory ride quality I prefer a slight rake to my cars that I am not sure the factory set up actually had. My recollection is that in the past Dave recommended going with ESPO and specifying a 1" higher than stock ride height for the leafs.
So for my case, what would you both recommend I pursue with ESPO for my cars to end up with a slight rake (yours looks fine to me) and a close to stock ride quality (I am OK with a little stiffer ride from the leafs, but not much but I will not compromise on having at least a slight amount of rake)? I am not sure which options remain at present compared to what was available in the past especially for 2 door hardtops?
Thanks for any additional insights.
So for my case, what would you both recommend I pursue with ESPO for my cars to end up with a slight rake (yours looks fine to me) and a close to stock ride quality (I am OK with a little stiffer ride from the leafs, but not much but I will not compromise on having at least a slight amount of rake)? I am not sure which options remain at present compared to what was available in the past especially for 2 door hardtops?
Thanks for any additional insights.
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Who needs air bags to change the attitude? Just a few bags of dirt and mulch will change the ride height, smooth out the bumps and yes, make it into a tail dragger. I could likely benefit from new springs, but not too bad when empty.
Probably close to 400-500 Lbs in the trunk plus full tank of gas.
Empty, except for about 50 Lbs of tools.
Probably close to 400-500 Lbs in the trunk plus full tank of gas.
Empty, except for about 50 Lbs of tools.
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Everyone who has replaced springs here has their supply guy. 20 plus years ago I chose ESPO because they used to do Spring & Fall Carlisle, plus they were close to home.
After my first set I was hooked on their 1 inch over stock height spring. Honestly, I have no way of knowing what is 1 inch over but this derivative looks and rides great in my eyes.
Are all your cars 7 leaf cars? With Adleen I stayed with the factory 6 leaf set up. Three others I replaced 7 leaf with 7 leaf. My first was a 5 leaf that I went to 6 on.
You would know but do you really remember the true ride feeling of the C body? Certainly they were floaty but after 50 years our memories are that of legend, not necessarily of fact.
I was always satisfied with the outcome but I was never restoring.
Our shock absorber of choice has a big impact on ride too. With Adleen I went with NOS ( Oriflow I think). My blue 71 had KYBs ( I hated them )This car has Bilsteins on them which are great for stability but horrible ride quality.
After all my ramblings the only way to truly know is to try a set of stock height ESPO springs. Though now they're made in Mexico? I'm likely done with them .
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
Regina doesn't have Torque Boxes like every other convertible I have experience with...
Why? Has anyone ever seen this? Factory mistake?
Why? Has anyone ever seen this? Factory mistake?
Must be because it looks like it's never been messed with...never seen that before.
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
Thats what I was thinking it doesn't look like they were cut off.
Maybe because its a 383-2? I was under the assumption convertibles got all the extra support/bracing because the lack of a roof...
Maybe because its a 383-2? I was under the assumption convertibles got all the extra support/bracing because the lack of a roof...
That’s what I’ve always thought, that all convertibles had them for structural support
I had a 70 Satellite convertible, 383-2, it had the torque boxes
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
The other three all have them ?
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
I believe so yes.
Btw they also have heavy angle iron in the rocker panels on A and B body convertibles for strengthening.
I would assume C bodies have them too
I would assume C bodies have them too
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
The 69 fury vert i cut up had them...I learned that the hard way...cutting the rockers...
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Yeah those beams are massive
One thing I do remember from the past is an old saying, "the more things change, the more they stay the same" but now I am beginning to believe is is more appropriate to claim that "the more things change, the more we have to learn to adapt"!
It seems the world these days is increasingly upside down with everyone trying hard to learn how to cope with it all.
It seems the world these days is increasingly upside down with everyone trying hard to learn how to cope with it all.
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
@saforwardlook — I ordered 6 leaf springs with stock ride height.
The headlights need to go. I have ordered Wagner H5001 and H5006 halogens from Rock Auto (details in this thread) and I will be getting a relay kit to accommodate the slightly higher wattage on high beams.
Meanwhile, work is progressing apace on the front end. The goal is to bring Regina to @sixpkrt's 5th C-body Show in Union, IL on June 26 and to @Pete Kaczmarski's Waupun, WI show on June 27. Here are a couple of photos that @71Polara383 sent to me last Sunday.
Meanwhile, work is progressing apace on the front end. The goal is to bring Regina to @sixpkrt's 5th C-body Show in Union, IL on June 26 and to @Pete Kaczmarski's Waupun, WI show on June 27. Here are a couple of photos that @71Polara383 sent to me last Sunday.
You installing disc brakes from Summit on Regina ?
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