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@Bob: IM S6 posted:

"Danny's well-sorted, 1500 lb, mid-engined, coil-over equipped, limit-strapped, purpose built, lowered Spyder honed to a razor's edge over 15 years of constant refinement and driven by a racing-license holding hot-shoe can run neck and neck with a 2000 lb IRS equipped, rack-and-pinion steered, Koni shocked, heavy torsion-barred science-fair Speedster with fluffy seats, good rubber, and 3/4 sway bars... but driven by a deaf and blind ham-fisted gorilla with a bad case of juvenile delinquency."

I just have to join you two next year...let's hope.

Wow, that is a good idea, I always thought it was a bit late in the season but  I feel so much like I am in prison at times with the times we live in maybe when the border opens I may join you guys and see how those twisties are to drive in real life.  Sounds like the drive is real fun.

Hey, speaking of the border opening up (or not....)  I want to share a story:

Back on December 6, 1917 a French ammunition ship bound for Europe blew up in the harbor in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after striking another ship in the narrows.  1,500 homes were completely destroyed (most of the area of North Halifax), 2,000 people were killed and over 9,000 injured.  Word quickly reached Boston where a large medical and supply train was assembled at lightning speed, complete with a large staff of Boston doctors, nurses and battlefield-style medical supplies.  

Because of the threat of snow in the Maritimes, the train was fronted by a special snow-plow engine followed by four more drive engines and included a number of cars of medical personnel and many cars of supplies.  It sped to Halifax to help in whatever way they could, arriving literally the next day and the first train to arrive from the Northeast USA.  Many lives were saved by this effort as the local and regional hospitals were totally overwhelmed with patients so the trains dispatched to help were converted into "mobile hospitals" and staffed with the arriving medical personnel.

Halifax has never forgotten this effort and for many years, now, has presented Boston with the Christmas gift of a 40' - 50' tall Canadian Balsam Evergreen as Boston's lighted Christmas tree on Boston Common.  It is a big deal in Nova Scotia for a farmer to have their tree selected for this honor (the farmers are always invited to the celebration, too) and this year was only a little different.  The border is closed between our two countries for road traffic and the tree traditionally comes to Boston via truck, complete with the flag of Nova Scotia on both sides.

Apparently neither side, Halifax nor Boston, wanted to deal with their respective national governments for a transport waiver (and Boston is not one of Trump's favorite cities).  It's simply too big to fit into an aircraft to fly it over, but someone found that there is still some container ship traffic allowed between our countries, so the tree was carefully bound in netting and slings and lowered into an open-topped shipping container, loaded onto a Finnish (I believe) container ship who's next port was Boston and arrived the next day.  It was erected on Boston Common and we had our annual (virtual) tree lighting ceremony just last evening, all broadcast on TV with the smiling farmer couple in virtual attendance from their home in Nova Scotia.

You Canadians are really cool.

Boston Tree

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  • Boston Tree

Ricardo, first of all, you do you. Our opinion don't mean jack to your enjoyment.

For a nice original style swing axle car, I do think the advice of a camber compensator and sway bar is sage advice, though.  Even a relaxed, cruising style driver will eventually have to take evasive action when some texting yutz wanders into their path.  It's super cheap insurance you'll never notice otherwise.

The big thing that's changed since the 50's is that an old, round shouldered, bias ply 145/16 tire would break traction pretty early and allow the "Wischen" slide, tail happy cornering of the early 50's.  Now, even an El Cheapo modern radial will supply more traction than a mid 60's race tire, overwhelm the system in evasive maneuvers, and then we're off to jacked axle city.

You know exactly what you want to do with your car, and that's good.  Go with Greg's advice.  He really knows what he's talking about and he's great to work with.  He's building me a coupe and my plans is: IRS, tuning the suspension to the best it can be, sticky tires, Suby power, and an up to date will&testament.  And that's me, and I bet we'd still have a great time sharing a beer.

Good luck with the project!

Michael

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^See Above^^^^^^^^^^^^^^See Above^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Also not mentioned (except obliquely): A Spyder's torsion arms are noticeably longer than those on a Bug or 356: about 26 inches long instead of 16. I think that makes them less prone—though not immune—to jacking.

That an IRS 356 can out-handle the best swing axle 550 tells you all you need to know about the IRS advantage.

@edsnova posted:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^See Above^^^^^^^^^^^^^^See Above^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Also not mentioned (except obliquely): A Spyder's torsion arms are noticeably longer than those on a Bug or 356: about 26 inches long instead of 16. I think that makes them less prone—though not immune—to jacking.

That an IRS 356 can out-handle the best swing axle 550 tells you all you need to know about the IRS advantage.

I guess we'll see once the two cars are on the same tires.

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