Premium Members Get 10% Off and Earn Rewards Find Out More
How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle
When automotive manufacturers stuffed large V-8 engines into intermediate-size cars, the American muscle car was born. Built from 1964 on, the vast majority of these amazingly fast machines did not carry cutting-edge chassis and suspension systems, and now these cars are up to 50 years old. Today, owners do not have to settle for poor handling and ride quality.

Muscle car and suspension expert Mark Savitske has built his business, Savitske Classic and Custom, on making muscle cars handle and ride at their best. With this updated edition, Savitske shows you what it takes to transform the handling of these high-horsepower machines. He explains the front and rear suspension geometry so you understand how it functions, and in turn, you realize how to get the most from a particular system. He also reveals the important aspects of spring rates, shock dampening, and ride height so you select the best spring and shock package for your car and application. He discusses popular high-performance tubular suspension arms and sway bars, so you can find the right combination of performance and adjustability. The suspension system has to operate as an integrated part of the car, so you’re shown how to select best suspension package for a well-balanced and responsive car. He also discusses how to extract maximum performance from popular GM, Ford, and Mopar muscle cars.

You can harness the potential performance potential of your muscle car and put much more power to the ground with critical chassis and suspension updates and products. A muscle car that carries modern suspension technology not only provides far better handling and ride comfort, but it is also much safer. How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle is the essential guide to unlocking the handling and performance potential of your muscle car. If you yearn for better handling, comfort, and performance for your muscle car, this is the book for you.

1029861803
How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle
When automotive manufacturers stuffed large V-8 engines into intermediate-size cars, the American muscle car was born. Built from 1964 on, the vast majority of these amazingly fast machines did not carry cutting-edge chassis and suspension systems, and now these cars are up to 50 years old. Today, owners do not have to settle for poor handling and ride quality.

Muscle car and suspension expert Mark Savitske has built his business, Savitske Classic and Custom, on making muscle cars handle and ride at their best. With this updated edition, Savitske shows you what it takes to transform the handling of these high-horsepower machines. He explains the front and rear suspension geometry so you understand how it functions, and in turn, you realize how to get the most from a particular system. He also reveals the important aspects of spring rates, shock dampening, and ride height so you select the best spring and shock package for your car and application. He discusses popular high-performance tubular suspension arms and sway bars, so you can find the right combination of performance and adjustability. The suspension system has to operate as an integrated part of the car, so you’re shown how to select best suspension package for a well-balanced and responsive car. He also discusses how to extract maximum performance from popular GM, Ford, and Mopar muscle cars.

You can harness the potential performance potential of your muscle car and put much more power to the ground with critical chassis and suspension updates and products. A muscle car that carries modern suspension technology not only provides far better handling and ride comfort, but it is also much safer. How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle is the essential guide to unlocking the handling and performance potential of your muscle car. If you yearn for better handling, comfort, and performance for your muscle car, this is the book for you.

26.95 Out Of Stock
How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle

How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle

by Mark Savitske
How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle

How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle

by Mark Savitske

Overview

When automotive manufacturers stuffed large V-8 engines into intermediate-size cars, the American muscle car was born. Built from 1964 on, the vast majority of these amazingly fast machines did not carry cutting-edge chassis and suspension systems, and now these cars are up to 50 years old. Today, owners do not have to settle for poor handling and ride quality.

Muscle car and suspension expert Mark Savitske has built his business, Savitske Classic and Custom, on making muscle cars handle and ride at their best. With this updated edition, Savitske shows you what it takes to transform the handling of these high-horsepower machines. He explains the front and rear suspension geometry so you understand how it functions, and in turn, you realize how to get the most from a particular system. He also reveals the important aspects of spring rates, shock dampening, and ride height so you select the best spring and shock package for your car and application. He discusses popular high-performance tubular suspension arms and sway bars, so you can find the right combination of performance and adjustability. The suspension system has to operate as an integrated part of the car, so you’re shown how to select best suspension package for a well-balanced and responsive car. He also discusses how to extract maximum performance from popular GM, Ford, and Mopar muscle cars.

You can harness the potential performance potential of your muscle car and put much more power to the ground with critical chassis and suspension updates and products. A muscle car that carries modern suspension technology not only provides far better handling and ride comfort, but it is also much safer. How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle is the essential guide to unlocking the handling and performance potential of your muscle car. If you yearn for better handling, comfort, and performance for your muscle car, this is the book for you.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781613251751
Publisher: CarTech, Incorporated
Publication date: 05/05/2015
Pages: 144
Product dimensions: 8.40(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Mark Savitske has been building hot rods and race cars since 1984. He has been recognized as an authority on suspension design and his specialty has been in developing street-friendly, track-capable upgrades for popular American muscle cars for the last decade. His extensive research on materials, alignment settings, and adjustable components has shown great success on some of the most recognizable Pro-Touring cars ever built. He now markets components and offers trusted advice from his growing Savitske Classic and Custom business in Coopersburg, PA.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 4 Introduction 4 Chapter 1: General Front End Geometry 7 Standard Definitions 7 Front Suspension Relationships 15 Bump Steer 17 SLA vs. Strut 21 SLA Suspension Fixes 22 Chapter 2: General Rear Suspension Geometry 27 Rear Suspension 27 Relationships 30 Leaf-Spring/Hotchkiss Suspensions 31 Four-Link Suspensions 38 Torque Arm Suspensions 40 Three-Link Suspensions 41 Ladder-Bar Suspensions 42 Truck-Arm Suspensions 43 Lateral Axle Locators 44 Solid Axle vs. IRS Suspensions 48 Chapter 3: Springs, Rates and Shocks 51 Springs 51 Ride Height 52 Spring Rate 57 Air Springs 58 Shock Absorber Technology 60 Coil-Over vs. Coil Spring 67 Chapter 4: Aftermarket Arms 71 Metal Matters 72 Design Development 73 Tubular Lower A-Arms 75 Bushings 76 Chapter 5: Sway Bars 80 Basics of Function 80 Learn What You Need 81 Selection Tips 82 Adaptation Options 83 Rear Bars 83 End Links 83 Heim Joints 84 Splined Bars 85 Quality Matters 85 Chapter 6: Wheels and Tires 87 General Tire Behavior 87 Wheel Diameter 88 Tire Selection 90 Chapter 7: Total Package 92 Chassis Stiffness 92 Chapter 8: GM Muscle Cars 98 GM A-Body 98 GM G-Body 1981 to 1988 110 GM First-Generation F-Body 113 GM Second-Generation F-Body 119 GM Third-Generation F-Body 120 Chapter 9: Ford Muscle Cars 123 Front Suspension Options 123 Rear Suspension Options 128 Ford Fox Body 1974 to 1978 131 Ford Fox Body 1979 to 1993 132 Chapter 10: Mopar Muscle Cars 135 Front Suspension 135 Rear Suspension 140 Afterword 143 Source Guide 144
From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of

Related Subjects

Transportation
Automobiles
High Performance Automobiles & Engine Rebuilding
Transportation
Automobiles
High Performance Automobiles & Engine Rebuilding

Customer Reviews