Geography Dependant Front Chassis?

[Bob Riding]

I just finished reading this month's "Hemmings Classis Car" magazine article on Kay and Harold Norton's P19 Deluxe 2-dr sedan. Great article. It said that "1950 Plymouths used front coils with different rates on the right and left sides...because Plymouth engineers realized that highways in the eastern US and Canada were more steeply crowned than those in the West and that a Plymouth built in Evansville Indiana would have slightly stiffer coil springs on the right front than one built in San Leandro CA, to compensate for the more severe camber it might be facing."

Just yesterday I was removing the springs and front suspension on my P10 wagon to get it ready for sandblasting, and found that the left front (drivers side) spring had a spacer (looks like a huge washer) , but the left didn't.

This wagon was built in LA in 1939, and lived out it's days on a Turkey Ranch in Tonapah Nevada. I'm pretty sure the front end hasn't been apart for at least 40 years, so what gives?

Bob

[Niel Hoback]

That sounds like the kind of thing an alignment shop would do to avoid replacing a weak spring. Look for a mopar part number on it just out of curiosity.

[Bob Riding]

I just checked the Plymouth parts list and it lists "spacer" - used on drivers side of car only. Maybe they were assuming normal driving conditions were single occupant, therefore more weight on the driver's side?

[greg g]

I have also read somewhere that on P15's at least the rear springs were different some having an extra rear leaf on one side. Also there were longer taller springs and different rears for rural circumstances and that 17 or 18 inch rims were available for folks living in the sticks so to speak.

[62rebelP23]

that's no joke; even VW sets alignment specs for the predominant road style of the dealer's region. fer instance; here in Charleston, the pavement has little or no "crown" so the suspension is set up "neutral"; in palces where there is significant crown, the bias is set to favor the passenger side (to pull the car OFF the crown of the road and AWAY from traffic should the driver lose control). i would imagine that in RHD regions the opposite would be true.

[Plymouthy Adams]

now for the real facts...when I lived in Charleston (20+ years) and last visit was just two weeks ago..the road is crowned left, right and center..the same ole paving company has been in that area for years..they could not crown a co-worker let alone a road..they cannot even get the common car track area from sinking into ruts..the rain comes and you have so much standing water from no drainage from the pavement that hydroplaning and wrecks are as common as beer cans aside the highway...as a friendlky reminder to anyone who visits downtown area..watch weather channel for rain and high tide..never go down town when they happen at the same time...other than the roads about the area it is truly a nice place to hang out...

[62rebelP23]

that's not fair... we have the finest paving in the state! (it just HAPPENS to have been laid down over sand and landfill....)

and if it is even CLOUDY avoid downtown.....

they SAY there's been "big improvement" in drainage downtown; i think they mean that the TAX COFFERS have been drained......

[Norm's Coupe]

This wagon was built in LA in 1939, and lived out it's days on a Turkey Ranch in Tonapah Nevada. I'm pretty sure the front end hasn't been apart for at least 40 years, so what gives?

Bob

My guess is, one of those Back Yard Turkey's put that spacer in there after the one spring bagged out, to save money.

[Plymouthy Adams]

that's not fair... we have the finest paving in the state! (it just HAPPENS to have been laid down over sand and landfill....)

and if it is even CLOUDY avoid downtown.....

they SAY there's been "big improvement" in drainage downtown; i think they mean that the TAX COFFERS have been drained......

I did not call the company name out..they have been the only contractors in that area for as long as I can remember..could be they just bad...could be good ole boy kickbacks..low bidder...what kills me and this is evident everywhere is the long time to build or redo a section of road these days..it appears that they get the contract, start..get another contract start that and so on..I don't think they have the equipment and manpower to support the contracts awarded..but hey..may Brad can shed some light here..think he was associated with this business one time..don't think it was the companyin question though.

Did you get to Tea Farm creek and check out the 51/52 Business Coupe?

[PatS....]

I was in the biz too for a while. There are testers onsite of every city job testing the mix, the compaction, the crown and a myriad of other specs. As well, the company owns the road for two years after, and is responsible for any repairs or failures. After 2 years, it is turned over to the city.

The company I worked for does the complete job from raw land to paved road. Some areas, the soil conditions are crap and things are challenging, but they are able to lay down a good road that withstands the wild temp extremes from 90 above to 40 below. Roads here last 40 years before they are top-lifted.