Waaaay too much body roll

[Trevor Jessie]

I have a midget that has been built up out of my collection of spare parts. It is a '77 that has the bumpers removed and a 1275 installed.
The rear springs are original, but the space blocks removed. The front springs are 340 lb springs and the sway bar is stock.

I took it for another drive today and each time I push it a bit harder. Compared to my other spridgets this thing has waaay too much body roll. So I'm thinking a heavier sway bar in the front and maybe try to update the rear springs some how.

Ideas?

... keep in mind this is a rat rod type midget built on a budget.

 

[nomad]

Yes on the heavier sway bar but the square body cars tend to understeer and a sway bar accentuates that.

Kurt

 

[Trevor Jessie]

This is why I'm thinking stiffer rear springs are in order ... but I do not know how easy it would be to add to the spring pack. Anyone have any experiences they can share?

 

[nomad]

Haven't done it yet but I plan on adding a leaf to the "bachelor" side on one of my cars. I've had several sets torn down for overhaul and it shouldn't be difficult. You will need to make the center bolt longer and add a locator of some sort to keep the leafs in place. A good bit and slow speed will drill a leaf spring.

 

[JPSmit]

Not sure about the weight categories of springs, but, 1500 springs are taller than 1275 spring - I put 1275 springs in Ms Triss and de-arched the rears - I shouldn't have dearched them as thirty five years plus my weight was all the de-arch needed but, the front springs helped. I am also contemplating a sway bar - but only one lower A-arm is drilled for it.

 

[bugedd]

I have a Speedwell front anti sway bar in the mail, I'll get it in this week. I think that will solve body roll, and add some sweetness to the car
https://www.speedwellengineering.com/suspension/tubular-front-anti-swaybar/

 

[nomad]

As mentioned you could lower more and you could also add a rear sway bar. Making them work is tricky but some racers run them.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

the 1/4 elliptical cars seem to respond better to heavier front sway bars.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Apparently, I can't remember anything anymore. I looked under the car last night and it has the spring spacers and 1275 leaf springs. I now remember that the 1500 springs had a busted leaf.

I can't go any lower with the car. I'll post a picture in a moment.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Hard to see in this picture, but the rear is pretty low and the front is about the same when measuring the sills on level ground.

 

[nomad]

Look's like a fun driver, Trevor, but your BE is the best of the Spridget's! All those things like a trunk you can get into and those unnecessary windy up windows are just luxury's that add weight where you don't need it!

BTW, you have good taste....great looking RB midget.

Kurt.

 

[JPSmit]

Trevor, in the midst of all this, what are the bushings like? surely they could also cause some of these symptoms?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Bushings are new ... rubber. I had purchased them for my other midget, but decided to use poly in that car. My other midget is set up with an oversized front sway bar and it has boat loads of understeer, but I like it to understeer because my wife drives it and she becomes quickly unnerved with even a hint of oversteer.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Are those 14's on there Trevor?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Nope. they are 13" minator rims. 165/70r13 tires.