Joined: Fri Jun 19 2009, 07:51AM
Location: Eastern, IN
Posts: 4
Happened accross this website by accident, awesome stuff you all are doing for the land Yatchs.
I found a 66 Newport 2 door hardtop for sale, and it's been for sale for 2 years, solid,solid very solid car, cept mother nature has started her attack.
Been trying to get this guy to come down on the price, every couple months or so I ask and he does, he owns it, never driven it, heck it wont run, (the first time I seen and checked on it it did barley, sounded like it was drag car making the whole car shake, sounded like crap)
But I digress.... I have been reading and rereding the threads on the bigger brakes and rear suspenion upgrades , man even a custom made front air ride suspension.
Wich brings me to this question.... the front suspenion clip that was removed to do the airride front, Thats removeable? with torsion bars?
I ve been a GM guy for most of my life, but owned a few Mopars in there, mostly Abodies, they had Kmembers... the 66 C-bodies don't?
The goal for the 66 Newport (if I get it) is to go the Pro touring route.
I know, I Know.... it's big and the brake and suspension upgrades are few, but I like different, and not ordinary stuff to work on.
I've been evsioning a Three-link style rear suspension, Use the front leaf mount points for the traling arms, and work from there, a decent thrid front torq arm can be mounted to the front on the 8 3/4 using a stud mounting system for the pig mounting.
Then follow that with a watts link behind the axle with coil overs, up front simalar to the airride set up I read about, if that part assembly is removeable.
Crazy? ......... dunno thought it would cool, 17's, a Super Stock hood scoop, and a bumble bee stripe around the rear. Its got a 383, and air, and adapt a GM OD trans, 700R4...
Joined: Tue Aug 07 2007, 01:15PM
Location: Blackpool Lancs England
Posts: 314
Hi Chris !welcome !welcome
As Tony P says anythings possible given the time and $$$$$$$. Yes the front CLIP is removable,fitting air onto it is another thing. Pro touring in my opinion doesn't require AIR just low & firm for which all the parts are available off the shelf . Stump up the green and join in the fun !!!!!!!!!!!
Joined: Tue Aug 07 2007, 01:15PM
Location: Blackpool Lancs England
Posts: 314
Hi Chris The "clip" is bolted in, but its a big job to remove. Requires the removal of all the front end sheet metal,and engine & box. With regards to fitting coil overs . all C bodys use a torsion bar front suspension up rated ie thicker less "twistable" bars are available along with HD shocks.These mods should give u the adjustability and ride you are looking for with out the need for a custom fabricated coil over set up. users of these pieces report superb results . With the greatest of respect if you are not sure how torsion bar suspension works get a work shop manual for the newport,avalable on cd from EBAY it will be invaluable if you buy the Newport. Also check out the FIRM FEEL & JUST SUSPENSION web sites.
Just to give you an idea of the size of a front clip or subframe.
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
People keep wanting to rip out what made Chrysler ahead of the rest - their superior handling and lower stance came from the torsion bar setup. Those tubular K members were only designed to get rid of the bars for engine fitment (Hemi in a early A or B body, header and oil pan clearance, etc). The coil overs put a lot of stress on unibody parts that were not designed to support that kind of concentrated weight. Drag cars are one thing, a good handling, safe C body is another.
Remember...if it doesn't have torsion bars or a noisy starter, you might own a GM or Ford....cuz it ain't no MOPAR!
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Sat Jun 20 2009, 02:05AM ]</span>
As mentioned the front subframe and suspension is self contained, here is a shot of my 69's.
Has someone completed a front air bag setup and I missed it?? It would be very complicated from my investigating. But unless you want to bounce, they really aren't needed to get low. Just get some new beefy torsion bars and drop it! Just Suspension says that their bars don't have offset hexes specifically for that reason.
It sets about an inch higher now, it was just too low for typical driving. The headers drug occasionally and the new deep oil pan would surely be a goner. This is a solid pro touring car! Handles like a slot car!
......... dunno thought it would cool, 17's, a Super Stock hood scoop, and a bumble bee stripe around the rear.
just testing the water
Tony P.
