how to make your bluesmobile handle

[sigmfsk]

"how to make your bluesmobile handle" was the name of a thread on BBC, and I liked the name so much, I thought it would be good to use it here.

I scanned in all the handling articles that I thought had some interest for our 74-77 c-bodies, and, along with brochures and engineering information, put them here:
www.74monaco.com
I call it the
74-77 c-body information annex for bluesmobiles.proboards.com

Some items I noticed while putting it all together:

- gusset the subframe, as it can flex a lot, making steering imprecise

- mount the steering gear sector shaft in double-sheer, so it won't move around

see Dec 2011 article, and:
c-body kit from firm-feel:

www.firmfeel.com/sectorkit_a.htm
I expect it's for 73 and earlier. I'll see what they might be able to whip-up for 74-77. If I just get the "nut" and bearing, I can make my own bracket if need be.

- ensure the idler arm is mounted to the subframe in double-shear (it is)



- replace idler arm-to subframe bushing with bearings. See 2012 Feb article.

It talks about a firm-feel kit, but I don't see it on their web-site.

- replace subframe-to-body rubber spacers with aluminum biscuits.
Firm Feel has them for b-bodies:

www.firmfeel.com/bodymnts_b3.htm
I'll see what they have for 74-77 c-body.

- quadrashock kit.

Years ago, mopar action pasted this blurb:



and years ago, Just Suspension offered such a kit:



but they no longer do ("the market has moved away from that area").

But check out the 2011 Apr article. They write that Firm Feel whipped up such a kit for them.

I'll check in with them on that.

your friend in Firm Feel excitement,
arthur

[sigmfsk]

Spoke with Dick today, and got the skinny.

sector support kit

He doesn't have a 74-77 subframe, and therefore my best bet is to get a kit minus the bracket.


idler arm kit

He'll get to our 74-77 c-body idler eventually (surely before my car will be ready for it). I asked him why both ends of the idler could benefit from this kit while the pitman arm and tie-rod ends don't, and he explained that the pitman and tie-rods studs actually pivot, but the idlers are mounted solid (in rubber). Why? Who knows.


subframe to body aluminum biscuits


He said to send him some samples of a 74-77 c-body, and he'll whip them up.

I think I see them in the bucket on the lower left:

I'll pick them up next time I'm at the panel beaters.


Quadrashock kit:


They're available now.


Urethane bushings for leaf spring front eye

The three mopar types of eyes are:
oval
1.5" round
2" round
He said to measure my cop eye, and he could set me up. My original cop eye was round:



And the Eaton ML5569 spring style that I plan on using have round eyes:



[Photos by Bluzman]

I just need to measure them.

The last paragraph of the 2012 Feb Mopar Action, after raving over the idler arm kit, says:
> But, there's more, and you'll find it in our next issue.

Wowsers!

[scatpack]

I rely on Mopar Action when it comes to modifying an older Mopar to make it handle like a new car. I'll be doing some of these mods to my Monaco when the time comes.

[scatpack]

here is a simple bolt in steering upgrade.
www.moparaction.com/next/next.html
a dealer for Borgeson who makes the steering box.
bergmanautocraft.com/

[scatpack]

www.streetperformance.com/speedGateV2/results/?yearID=1974&makeID=40&modelID=32179&implementation=borgeson