5.7L Hemi into a 74 Duster, Front suspenion questions
yes drive-ability is what persons seek but the fact remains that torsion bar suspension is still king among cars like the Mercedes and Porsche as well as many newer American vehicles. To me Mustang II front ends like the Heidt and Alterkation are just an excuse for a simpler solution. In 1990 I put a rack and pinion in my Signet yet still using the torsion bar front end and for some strange reason after a while removed it, granted I do not have the hi dollar vehicles you may own that I see here on FABO and I appreciate the eye candy but the fact remains torsion bar suspensions are still king in the real world and if I were to change anything it would be the engine. I've done things on my Signet back some 20 plus years that we see today and I will do some more that we'll see tomorrow
Understand this, it took Chrysler more then 30 years ( that's 3 decades as the 360 came out in 1971 ) to add another great engine to their list as not everyone wanted a K-car and the only engines back then which would work in an A-body like mine would be the LA small blocks and now that this has changed it seems that its cool to use another manufacturers design whether Ford or Chevy just as long as you don't change the engine.
I still believe this to be the best Mopar site even if we disagree.
You keep say Mercedes and Porsche both still use torsion bar suspesion. Please for the rest of the users, back up those claims. I've checked each and every one of the current Mercedes and Porsche vehicles in the line up today and not one of them used a torsion bar set-up. I also don't remember any automobiles other than a few trucks still produced with a torsion bar suspension. Maybe you can name a few so the forum can check those out as to why they are so superior.
As for torsion bar suspensions still being king. Highly unlikely, most auto manufacturer's are using a McPhearson style suspension or have gone to an active electronic suspension type as found in Mercesdes, Audi, Porsche and other high end vehicles.
While you may not like the wave of the future, new meeting old, it's more advanced, better handling and over all a better suspension. Since you haven't crawler out from under the rock your under, maybe some light reading so you can see what most vehicle manifacturer's are using now-a-days.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McPherson_suspension
Is the Alterktion a simplier solution? Yes and that's why many people have bought it. It's easier to use, provides more space for larger engine/trans combo's, out performs torsion bars, has modern steering in the rack and pinion.
I'm sure you'll find some reason to still think Torsen bars out handle other types of suspenions but I can't find one reason why it's superior.
Riddler