The Handling Thread
Veteran Member
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: New York City
I have the same experience as Roger... SBC converts weigh less and handle great. With modest upgrades the ride quality and handling of these cars rivals contemporary luxury vehicles.
I have mentioned this before... My current convert uses my own mount design which moves the engine about 1 inch further back. Alu intake, heads and accessory brackets really lighten up the engine package.
I've added Bilstein shocks, a rear sway bar and 17 inch wheels. It all adds up to much much better handling and crisper road dynamics yet very little stiffness and the ride remains very complaint but more controlled. I've made these type of suspension and wheel changes on other cars and it seems like when you do the harshness increases more then the handling.
I have mentioned this before... My current convert uses my own mount design which moves the engine about 1 inch further back. Alu intake, heads and accessory brackets really lighten up the engine package.
I've added Bilstein shocks, a rear sway bar and 17 inch wheels. It all adds up to much much better handling and crisper road dynamics yet very little stiffness and the ride remains very complaint but more controlled. I've made these type of suspension and wheel changes on other cars and it seems like when you do the harshness increases more then the handling.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 287
Likes: 50
From: Canberra, Australia
While the idea of a lighter lump is a possibility in the future, for now I'll be sticking with the XK.
Even with worn rear shocks the handling wasn't disgraceful by any measure.
I think my next move is to source some thicker anti-roll (sway) bars.
Even with worn rear shocks the handling wasn't disgraceful by any measure.
I think my next move is to source some thicker anti-roll (sway) bars.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Austin tx and Daytona FL.
i been reading this thread!
has anyone actually weighed there car,total weight, no driver, 1/2 tank fuel??
has anyone corner weighed there car,all 4 wheels, no driver,around 1/2 tank fuel?
has anyone actually weighed there car,total weight, no driver, 1/2 tank fuel??
has anyone corner weighed there car,all 4 wheels, no driver,around 1/2 tank fuel?
not me, I like it fast, and I like it sticky like contact cement. Actually, cornering is one of my best abilities as a driver, I trained in an MG-B starting in 1969, in a local racetrack at night, then moved to a Volvo 1800-E in 1973, talk about a fast car.
my '65 S type corners as good if not a lot better than the XJ. Think of it as a MK-2 with XJ IRS, which is exactly what it is. A lot more fun to drive because it makes a lot more exhaust noise than the XJ and you can hear the carbs breathing the gasoline and you can smell that classic car combustion! Some people never grow up and I have nothing to prove. Remember those 1960's Italian movies where the S type driver was escaping from the crooks in the Peugeot? That's me.
my '65 S type corners as good if not a lot better than the XJ. Think of it as a MK-2 with XJ IRS, which is exactly what it is. A lot more fun to drive because it makes a lot more exhaust noise than the XJ and you can hear the carbs breathing the gasoline and you can smell that classic car combustion! Some people never grow up and I have nothing to prove. Remember those 1960's Italian movies where the S type driver was escaping from the crooks in the Peugeot? That's me.
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From: Pacific Northwest USA
Years ago I weighed the Series III XJ6 that I owned at the time. As I recall it was 4350 pounds with driver....so about 4150 without driver. Can't recall how much gas was on board
V12s are about 100 pounds more
Cheers
DD
Veteran Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 25,522
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From: Pacific Northwest USA
What do you have now?
Be cautious about going too big on the rear bar, if you have one
Cheers
DD
Be cautious about going too big on the rear bar, if you have one
Cheers
DD
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6,796
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From: Walnut Creek, California
Peugeot?
I've strained my brain trying to recall the name of the character played so well by Peter Faulk. why, because his police inspector character
drove a bedraggled Peugeot. No chases, though, merely classic application of questioning and clue analysis
Carl
I've strained my brain trying to recall the name of the character played so well by Peter Faulk. why, because his police inspector character
drove a bedraggled Peugeot. No chases, though, merely classic application of questioning and clue analysis
Carl
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