When does money outweigh sentimental value? 1968 notchback build thread

-
Wow!!! :thumbsup:

Very nice stuff. That's very close to the same suspension set up that I run, I run 1.12" torsion bars and the "cobra style" 13" rotors up front with QA1 LCA's, but pretty darn similar otherwise. Those sway-away bars look great! Mine's dirtier :D
img_4412-jpg.jpg


One thing to note though- your upper bumpstop. You need a low profile bumpstop on the LCA, but for the upper bumpstop if your car is going to be lowered you will probably need a taller bumpstop, not a shorter one. If you think about how you're moving the suspension when you lower the car this makes sense, the taller bumpstop goes along with recentering the range of travel. Also, with a large torsion bar, you don't get much twist with the weight of the car. Meaning, if you have too much travel, you can actually unload the torsion bar completely and drop the adjusting bolts off the LCA levers (that's bad). That part depends on how low your car sits (well, the adjuster setting).

I use these for upper bump stops Energy Suspension Bump Stops 9.9136G . You can see I also run a spacer under those, my car is lowered to the point that I needed a little more height to keep the adjusters loaded when the suspension was fully unloaded and sitting on the stops. That stuff all shows up as you test the range of motion for the front suspension with the ride height etc.

The 415's are the 1" arch for the oval track springs right? You may be ok, they're the MP stuff that's made in Mexico. If they're anything like the XHD's I put on my Challenger they will settle down pretty quickly.
 
One thing to note though- your upper bumpstop. You need a low profile bumpstop on the LCA, but for the upper bumpstop if your car is going to be lowered you will probably need a taller bumpstop, not a shorter one. If you think about how you're moving the suspension when you lower the car this makes sense, the taller bumpstop goes along with recentering the range of travel. Also, with a large torsion bar, you don't get much twist with the weight of the car. Meaning, if you have too much travel, you can actually unload the torsion bar completely and drop the adjusting bolts off the LCA levers (that's bad). That part depends on how low your car sits (well, the adjuster setting).

I use these for upper bump stops Energy Suspension Bump Stops 9.9136G . You can see I also run a spacer under those, my car is lowered to the point that I needed a little more height to keep the adjusters loaded when the suspension was fully unloaded and sitting on the stops. That stuff all shows up as you test the range of motion for the front suspension with the ride height etc.

Good catch on the bump stops. Didn't even think of that. I'll check out the ones you posted. You wouldn't happen to have any good starting measurements on the SPC uppers, do you? I don't have the original uppers and need a good starting place.
 
Good catch on the bump stops. Didn't even think of that. I'll check out the ones you posted. You wouldn't happen to have any good starting measurements on the SPC uppers, do you? I don't have the original uppers and need a good starting place.

No worries, I didn't think of it either until my torsion bar adjusters unloaded at full extension. :D

Based on where my SPC arms are set I would say start with about a 1/4" of threads showing at each end on the arms, with the stock camber bolts set in the middle. That should put you in the ballpark, all 4 adjusters on mine are between about a 1/4" and an 1/8" for threads showing past the lock nuts.
 
I think that brings everything up to date
I'm in the middle of brakes and suspension. Doing mock up. I've got rear tires enroute and using a buddy's front tire for measurements for wheels.
Tires will be Toyo r888r's
Fronts will be 275/40-18 (hopefully)
Rears 325/30-18 (also hopefully)

275/40-18 is 26.7"; that is a bit tall for the front! I have 255/40-18 on the car now (26") and ultimately plan on running 275/35-18 (25.6"). Did you do the front fender mod? If not you will not be able to go that tall... tire will hit fender when you turn. I think you did, I just wasn't sure. Not aware of a 325/30-18; 335/30-18 yes. I like the 325/30-19 myself.

DSC00049.JPG
 
What are you doing for a steering column? Working out details on something for mine now...
 
275/40-18 is 26.7"; that is a bit tall for the front! I have 255/40-18 on the car now (26") and ultimately plan on running 275/35-18 (25.6"). Did you do the front fender mod? If not you will not be able to go that tall... tire will hit fender when you turn. I think you did, I just wasn't sure. Not aware of a 325/30-18; 335/30-18 yes. I like the 325/30-19 myself.

Yup, mistyped that whole post. I'm doing:
335/30-18 and 275/35-18. Also did the fender cut so shouldn't have any issues with clearance.
 
Did this to a caliper, not sure if I like the call-out? What say you? Thumbs up Or down

View attachment 1715159801

View attachment 1715159802

I'm on the fence myself, especially since they are essentially a copy of the old Brembo "F40" caliper. I like the way they look even without the sticker. What would be cool would be the word "Barracuda" in the same font. I need to find the matching paint color for my rear calipers.

IMG_0637r.jpg
 
I've got 25.7" up front and 26.7" in the rear, great fit on my '68 (trimmed inside lips for extra clearance). Dr Diff's old 4x 13" Cobra discs all around.

Rear_34.jpg
 
What are you doing for a steering column? Working out details on something for mine now...

Column is stock and it's an original console shift car. So, since, the only thing in the column are turn signals, I'm just gonna leave it alone.

And I hear you on the stickers. I'm just not thrilled about them.
 
Last edited:
I've got 25.7" up front and 26.7" in the rear, great fit on my '68 (trimmed inside lips for extra clearance). Dr Diff's old 4x 13" Cobra discs all around.

View attachment 1715160185

That's a sharp looking car. I also have my front and rear fender lips trimmed. I wish Toyo made the rear tire a bit taller, I like the look of the 27" tire on yours. We'll see this week how the rear fits.
 
This thing looks tough! What wheels will you be using?

Personally, I like the Brembo stickers, but not crazy about the bright red color. I think a black caliper with charcoal logo or vice versa would be subtle yet noticeable.
 
That's a sharp looking car. I also have my front and rear fender lips trimmed. I wish Toyo made the rear tire a bit taller, I like the look of the 27" tire on yours. We'll see this week how the rear fits.

325/30-19 is taller...
 
This thing looks tough! What wheels will you be using?

Personally, I like the Brembo stickers, but not crazy about the bright red color. I think a black caliper with charcoal logo or vice versa would be subtle yet noticeable.

Didn't have a choice on caliper color. I have a plan for wheels. Just not going to reveal my idea yet.
 
For anyone following along. Here's some updates. 'dynamat' and
Hydrophobic Melamine Foam under roof skin.


IMG_20180617_134459112.jpg


IMG_20180617_134449469.jpg
 
Last edited:
Been cleaning glass. found I have one tinted quarter window??? And the other is extremely pitted. So I'm on the look out for clear quarter glass for a '68

1529269087890-505658569.jpg


IMG_20180616_155619568_HDR.jpg
 
steering components, borgeson box and steering sector bearing. FYI, the borgeson box has a m22x1.5 thread pitch and the firm feel sector is obviously threaded for a stock Chrysler pitman. So Matt at firm feel said he'd have one made in the next batch. But that it might be a looooong while before they have more made.

IMG_20180617_150122418.jpg


IMG_20180617_150109477.jpg


IMG_20180617_150102166.jpg
 
-
Back
Top