Motorcitydak
03-02-2011, 08:55 PM
Im going to build my own front suspension for my '68 Charger, the start of that work will be next week. Im starting with a pretty much blank slate with just the bare frame rails ready for some bits to be welded on. Being at that stage, if something could be changed, now is the time to plan it. The stock wheelbase is 117 iirc. I was thinking about stretching that out an inch or two by simply not building everything quite so far back on the car.
Fenders are not an issue since I have fiberglass ones that I plan to modify anyways. I will be building my own K frame which will be welded into the frame rails, the steering will mount on that and everything can be done to how i want. I just want to see if I should do it. Id like the front end of the car to not seem like its hanging way out in front of the tires. I remember that one of the car guys (Steve Strope maybe?) moved the front wheels further forward on a project and I thought it was really cool. Other benefits I would get is more weight to the rear tires and more room in the back of the engine compartment for the motor which will be recessed into the firewall anyways. Another good thing I would gain is more space for my front diff. If you are not familiar with my project, it will be AWD so I have the added space concerns of the front driveshaft, diff and CV's to deal with.
I know that a shorter wheelbase car will be more nimble in the tight autoX stuff but a longer one will be more stable at higher speeds. I would have to live with what ever negative effect it would have on my turning radius
Fenders are not an issue since I have fiberglass ones that I plan to modify anyways. I will be building my own K frame which will be welded into the frame rails, the steering will mount on that and everything can be done to how i want. I just want to see if I should do it. Id like the front end of the car to not seem like its hanging way out in front of the tires. I remember that one of the car guys (Steve Strope maybe?) moved the front wheels further forward on a project and I thought it was really cool. Other benefits I would get is more weight to the rear tires and more room in the back of the engine compartment for the motor which will be recessed into the firewall anyways. Another good thing I would gain is more space for my front diff. If you are not familiar with my project, it will be AWD so I have the added space concerns of the front driveshaft, diff and CV's to deal with.
I know that a shorter wheelbase car will be more nimble in the tight autoX stuff but a longer one will be more stable at higher speeds. I would have to live with what ever negative effect it would have on my turning radius