advise for suspension setup for 67 dart
What are the stock specs and what do people suggest setting them to instead? I realize that this a fair deal of personal preference, but is there a typical range that a large percentage of people tend to fall in? I have stock suspension on my front end and don't plan to replace it, but if I can get a little more stable handling with just different alignment I'd be happy with that. I know that BadDart makes a tubular upper control arm that uses stock bushings and ball joints with some caster correction which might help things out as well since the adjustment is somewhat limited, especially when you lower the front end any.
Stock specs were for stock '70's tires. Not a good idea with modern rubber.
Ideally, you want around +4 degrees caster, 0 to -.5 degrees camber, and around 1/16" toe in.
You probably won't be able to get that much positive caster without offset bushings at the least, but you can still increase it over stock specs.
I run -.7 degrees camber, +4 degrees caster, and 1/16" toe in.
As far as the suspension is concerned, the Hotchkis TVS system would be awesome. You can replicate most of that set up with other parts, but its really hard to beat it as a kit.
I'd buy another Mopar before I spent $8k on a coilover set up. You can get a pretty nice A-body for $8k. Heck, you can get a pretty nice A-body for $6k and still put a Hotchkis TVS in it.
Coilover systems have plenty of drawbacks too, especially if you're talking about a car that wasn't designed to have them. The rack and pinion is nice, but a fully rebuilt stock box is comparable in feel, just talk to Firm Feel. And then there's the fact that you could buy a decent car, outfit it with a full hotchkis set up and rebuilt parts, and still turn similar times on the track as a car that spent the same amount just on suspension. Sorry, I don't get it.
