Hi Kerry,
Dave Terrick here in Winnipeg, MB.
I have many experiences with the TR 4-6 range but am now in GT6 mode
personally. I am restoring a 74 TR6 for an accountant (who's time is
apparently more valuable than mine as a financial planner/inverstment
broker). I had a 74 '6 with the <long> springs from TRF and a 65 TR4a
(waiting for my reutrn and dollars) with a Moss comp spring kit, spax
front end, and addco big bar on the front, nylatron bushings, a telescopic
rear kit from Enlander automotive.... and a nut loose behind the wheel.
If you do no touring, you can lower therear end (TRF springs). O/w, leave
it alone. Pretend the frnt end is lowered. This allows you to power on
earlier in ther corner - since the <lower, relatively> front end can give
up more weight to the rear on acceleration. A big anti roll bar works well
in conjunction with 70 or 60 series tyres and spax shocks at about "7". I
dont recommend nylatron bushings for the street, new is preferable but
change every two years to keep the <crisp> handling.
The crab tracking of your body has been observed on everything from a TR2
through 6 here in Winnipeg - both on my '4 and '6. One had a body off, the
other not. Thus, I suspect the factory spec is to blame. Yes, camber
<could> make appearances a body shift but only a string box allignment test
can tell you for sure. Works great for allignments too, so long as you
have the centerline correct!
As far as the springs and bushings, bushings give negative camber,
springs a sliht positive if new and slight negative if collapsed. Severe
camber is often trailing arm bushings. This bushing failure will also
provie "rear steer" or very erratic high speed transitions. Beware. BTW,
stiffer trailing arm bushies are a good thing.
The general rule about springs vs sway bars is "spring for the biggest bump
only" and "sway bar for the most important turns". For street, this means
(practically) bars at both ends and a slightly stiffer spring but not
longer unless loads are a factor. One TR6 driver in our club followed this
recommendation and fitted the "TRF lowered rear" springs <and> the addco
bar - all in combination with stock shocks and <standard> front comp.
springs. It corners flat and fast, rides comfortably on the street, and
looks hot!
There is the real world example. Your mileage may vary.
Dave Terrick
|