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Post by chevypowered on Aug 16, 2011 17:29:51 GMT -5
i'm looking at an 85 diplomat, but if i get it i wouldn't be able to run with midsized because they don't have midsized around here. would it be a good car if i ran in an 80's class that had mostly crown vics, and GM's?
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n8
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Post by n8 on Aug 16, 2011 22:45:12 GMT -5
In my opinion, they hold up much better than 80s gms. Haven't seen enough of them run to know how they hold up compared to fords.
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dm440c
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Post by dm440c on Aug 17, 2011 15:41:24 GMT -5
In my opinion, they hold up much better than 80s gms. Haven't seen enough of them run to know how they hold up compared to fords. I think in a direct apples to apples comparison, the Ford is a better all-around car but that doesn't mean it's the obvious choice. The smart builder/driver will figure out how to play strengths vs. weaknesses to his advantage. I've run Dippys in 80's shows and 70's shows and done ok, they don't run the races on paper.
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Post by chevypowered on Aug 18, 2011 4:13:02 GMT -5
so any tips that would help make them more competitive for the fords
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dm440c
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Post by dm440c on Aug 18, 2011 10:22:16 GMT -5
the tips are the same no matter what you are running them against. Pull rubbers, bolt tight, good front bumper, weld seams, etc.
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n8
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Post by n8 on Aug 18, 2011 20:30:10 GMT -5
Welding the k frame to the frame rails helps quite a bit, as would welding the bumper shocks to the frame rails.
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kst19
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Post by kst19 on Aug 20, 2011 18:19:00 GMT -5
and compress the shocks in and weld flat to the core support and weld the seems on the inner fender to the frame rails that was my biggest weakness and i ran with old iron they ripped the lil spotwelds that hold the fenders on and ruined the stacks on the car cuz of it
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kst19
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Post by kst19 on Aug 20, 2011 18:22:54 GMT -5
take the back bumper off and notch the frame and back shouldnt go down mine folded up nice and is still real solid
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Post by derbydatpos on Aug 30, 2011 12:53:47 GMT -5
where do they notch them at?
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Post by Leadfoot on Sept 5, 2011 21:40:44 GMT -5
x2 Can somebody please post pics of the notch.
Is there a benifit to ditching the rear bumper? Wouldn't it be stronger with one? Running a no weld show. Thanks.
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n8
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Post by n8 on Sept 6, 2011 2:12:00 GMT -5
I notch 6 inches in front of the shackle, the stock rear bumper is angled down from the factory, causing the car to want to bend down and break the shackles; getting rid of the rear bumper removes this tendency. I would say it would not make it stronger to have a rear bumper.
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dm440c
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Post by dm440c on Sept 7, 2011 10:34:10 GMT -5
Is there a benifit to ditching the rear bumper? Wouldn't it be stronger with one? Running a no weld show. Thanks. like stated above, look close at the design of the rear frame. The bumper shocks are inside the frame and there is a plate inside closing off the rear section where the bumper shocks are. This whole section is angled downward and the frame loves to bend down right where that plate is because of the leverage from the bumper and bumper shocks. The rear leaf spring hangers are mounted right there at the very end of the frame, so the whole mess likes to hump up and do some ugly things to the back of the car. There are many different things you can do to mitigate this, experimentation will lead you to a favorite, but leaving it all bone stock is my least favorite. Sometimes it works out ok but mostly it doesn't. ideas: - remove bumper and shocks - notch - prebend - tuck trunk lid - wedge trunk lid - canoe trunk lid different combinations will get different results, as I suggested the best advice is to experiment and decide for yourself because if you wait long enough around here you'll hear guys tell you that any variety of the above is the "best" way. There is no consensus of a single "best" way. I've even heard some guys claim that doing nothing is the best way....
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Post by Leadfoot on Sept 7, 2011 20:29:01 GMT -5
Thanks. This is my first and I didn't want to waste or ruin my first car. How deep and wide of a notch do you do? You are doing it from the inside of the trunk right? I can't prebend or tuck only notch. Thanks again.
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n8
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Post by n8 on Sept 7, 2011 22:48:02 GMT -5
I've even heard some guys claim that doing nothing is the best way.... [/quote] This occured frequently on the old F/M/J thread. Yes to the inside of the trunk, I do not have the experience to tell you how wide and deep to make your notch. It occurs to me that if you can not tuck your trunk, you may want to prebend the trunk lid, or the car in general. Too small of a notch with a regular trunk lid, will not give you the desired effect.
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dm440c
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Post by dm440c on Sept 8, 2011 10:47:44 GMT -5
agree but this guy says he can't prebend so.... can you cut off the back half of the lid (the segment you would have tucked)? Something like this: because otherwise, the rear half of the trunklid is likely to push up and block your view when the rest of the trunk rolls at the notch
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