Randy Ayers' Nascar Modeling Forum

[shawnh24n43]

I found a pic of the stock Torino rear suspension from someone on the board, (forgot who, but thank you!)



What will a race version look like?
Still have the springs over the axle?
Do the race version arms bolt under the axle like the long arms, or would this actually be a three link system?
Would they still use the stock style mounting brackets on the axle?
Where exactly would the shocks mount to?
Would they change the angle how it's mounted to the frame and axle?

[Tom M.]

I won't have time to scan the article until I get back from NNL East on Sunday night but I have an article from Stock Car Racing magazine showing how Bobby Allison set up the Monte Carlo rear suspension. I would assume the Red Farmer car was very similar. Bobby ran a 3 link with the upper link attached to a bracket on one of the axle housing tubes if I recall. Typically the shock mounts are attached to the big bracket on the axle housing where the lower arms attach.
_________________
The Dark Side, when cars were steel, bumpers were chrome and men were iron...

"You should never point a loaded gun at anyone. This is not a hard and fast rule, however. A hard and fast rule is that you should never, ever, point an unloaded gun at anyone." P.J. O'Rourke

[Firefly]

I think it was me that originally posted that image. The thing about the stock configuration is that the arms are linked at the frame rails and angle inboard toward the axle, opposite of a long arm, which links from a crossmember. Not sure how this would have affected handling. The guy who owns the Sta-Power car showed a picture of his setup, which looked fabbed, but I'm not sure how close to the original it is. Our TruxmoreFord member here has an original Junie chassis, but I'm not sure how that rear is set up. PM him maybe.
_________________
On the bench: Dean Dalton Laguna,
Pearson '76 D500 Victory Lane version,
'72 Bud Moore Torino.

[shawnh24n43]

I think they set them up at the factory that way to keep the rear end centered in the car, especially since I don't see a panhard bar. I know GM's four links are angled in at the top and straight front to back.

[Democar00]

Speaking as a person who's run big scale Torinos on a short track... and has no knowledge of what the NASCAR guys actually did, but...

The stock rear end geometry on the 72- up Torino family is really good, I wouldnt be shocked if they did little more than beef the lowers up and race it. On my cars, I'd only change the shocks and springs, nothing radical.
The Monte Carlos of the 70s had a funny rear suspension geometry that allows them to rear steer just a titch and be loose on exit, the Fords handle predictably, and like glue in the corners. Making the front suspension work is a little different, spring height and camber/caster etc, but that wouldnt look any different on a model.

[shawnh24n43]

Here is the pic Tom found in Stock Car Mag, showing some details about how Bobby Allison set up his Monte Carlo suspension. Since Red's car was likely out of the Allison shop, I could see how the Torino might be set up the same, like Tom mentioned in an earlier reply.