Hot Rods The ALTERED thread

So, lemme get this straight, you’re telling me that you, are gonna get in this car and go run a 10.00? You’re kidding right?

 

40ragtopdown, Every time I see those old altereds with holes torched in the cowls for headers I wince a little, due to the work ahead for succeeding owners who want to fill / repair the cowl sections. Such is the case with my old Anglia that hasn't been together since at least 1966. Oh well, its just more work for FTF.

 

I always enjoy your cars, when you going to fuel???

 

Ah yes, the Good Old Days when Coca-Cola trucks were yellow!! ^^^^

 

Who's this ?

 

Blown altereds have a long and much loved history of dodgy handling. Well the vast majority of them in any case.

When I look at the front end set ups, very few seem to have shock absorbers tho they did have some form of front suspension (cross spring or torsion bar), even if the rear was solid mounted.

Is there a reason for the absence of front shock absorbers?

 

I think the contemporary thinking was drag strips are flat. You don't turn on a drag strip. There should be little need for shock absorbers. I also think the typical understanding of chassis dynamics was rudimentary, with torque reaction, bump steer, and roll control being of secondary importance to just making as much power as you can in the smallest, lightest vehicle possible. Hence, adequate "shock absorbers" or more correctly, dampers, were of minor concern. When traction improved in later years shocks became more important.