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BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.... A's, G's & E's


4 posters

    66 front end options

    Vmaverickv
    Vmaverickv


    Number of posts : 1
    Location : South Georgia
    Registration date : 2015-08-30

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    Post by Vmaverickv Tue Sep 01, 2015 6:42 am

    I'm new to the van world and have just acquired a 66 g10. I would like to get away from the leaf springs in the front and was wondering what opinions/solutions some of you guys had. If there is a previous post please drop me a link

    thanks in advance
    1966G10
    1966G10


    Number of posts : 138
    Location : Wisconsin
    Registration date : 2009-10-14

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    Post by 1966G10 Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:28 am

    Why would you want to get rid of the leaf springs? Leaf springs have worked fine for over 80 years now.

    Xelmon
    Xelmon


    Number of posts : 361
    Location : Smell-A, CA
    Registration date : 2011-10-11

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    Post by Xelmon Sat Sep 12, 2015 1:02 pm

    Hoooyyy I've seen a conversion or two. I would honestly advise against conversion job, unless you are dead-set on it and willing to do a lot of testing and fabrication.

    Still, newer solutions include torsion spring, MacPhearson, and double wish-bone.

    I can't imagine how would effectively do torsion springs. At that point you would either go with MP or double wish-bone suspensions. Difference between them is MP deletes the upper wish-bone, which makes it lighter and less complex, at the cost of long-term durability.

    Your No 1 hurdle is building strut towers, as there is only thin sheet metal in the wheel well. This would mean that you would have to build a box-beam tower and suspension attachment points, which is lots of cutting, welding, and fabrication.

    Your No 2 hurdle that you'd have to figure out before that is geometry of your suspension. Do it incorrectly and due to caster your wheels chamber could be positive, which is pretty bad as that reduces your tire-patch. Your van also squats a lot more with independent front suspension, so you'd also have to account for that too.

    Your No 3 hurdle is the spindle, which you would have to adapt from somewhere, by my guess a K5 or as such. However off hand I really don't know how difficult that would be.

    All of this that I described is basically advanced fabbing and entry / mid-level automotive engineering so that you would end up with a stable vehicle.
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

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    Post by Twinpilot001 Sat Sep 12, 2015 4:16 pm

    1966g10 is correct!!  seems  if i remember - the steam cars in the late 1800's used them too?? Wernt  those leafs on stage coaches & buggys too? Even under the seats? Think  now - we need to re-invent the wheel!  affraid
    Stability =is the key & ease of building all!! Lets see??- If I remember correctly?? = Its better to have a "Bottle -in front of me -Than a =Frontal Labotamy!"" affraid cheers lol! lol!

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