>I can tell you that we have now set the Konis on the softest setting, and
>are using standard springs at front. My father tells me that it is better
>(havent driven the elan myself for quite a while now), but it is still
>pretty stiff(you cant't bounce the car much at the front), is it supposed
>to be that way?
Even at their softest, Konis are stiffer than stock shocks so this is the
way it will be.
>The front suspension has benn modified by PO with nylon
>bushings and other "racing" parts(Most of the rubber parts has been
>removed and uprated I think).
Ah, that's where some of the harshness comes from, I think. On an
Elan, you can get away with stock bushings for everything, including
racing (although, for racing, if it never has to see the street, solid
bushings give you an improvement... especially true for the tops of
the Chapman struts at the rear where spherical bearings come in
handy).
>TW: Do any of you have any experience of using Yokohama tires on your
>elans? My father has just ordered Yokohama tires for our elan.
Yes. When I first converted my racing Elan (now sold) from serious SCCA
racing to vintage racing, it had flares but they let me use them even
though none are allowed in vintage on the condition that I limited myself
to 6" wide wheels as originally allowed when the car would have been
raced new (1965).
Guessing at type and size in converting from race tires to treaded
street-type tires, I used Yokohama A001R 205-60 tires. In my first race
at Palm Springs, I found that the car had very little grip (fine with me
because these cars were *made* for 4-wheel drifts). In fact, when I
finally changed tires after three race weekends, I sold the Yokohamas
which still had nubs all over them! They had shared the 1350 pound
weight of the car so well that they never got warm! Once I switched to
softer compound, 185-60s, the tires heated up and stuck much better.
In general, I like something not too wide but with a stiff sidewall for
quick, linear response.
Rod
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