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Austin A30

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I recently considered purchasing a Devon A40. It was immaculately restored, beautiful. Then I drove it. I was introduced to the "Austin Courtsey", and annoying bounce in the front suspension. I figured what I would want to do to the front end would ruin the efforts the guy had made to restore the car, so I let it go.
 
I have never heard of this. Is it sprung too stiff? Or too soft? If it has lever shocks, I know there are valving kits available to change the rebound rates.

My A30 was a "Hunter" until I got rid of the bias ply tyres. It would not drive straight down the road. It would hunt from line to line. A set of new, safer radials fixed the problem. They may not be factory, but I like to drive them and I don't want to kill anybody.
 
Just stumbled into this thread and gotta compliment Curtis and ThomP on the absolutely CHARMING examples! We went to a recent "British Car Day" show in Safety Harbor, FL and a fella had a nicely done A40, but sadly hadn't the "lifetime experience" with LBC's one would've expected... but he stayed true to the car's original build condition fairly well. Gotta give 'im credit for jumpin' in tho.
 
The gentleman who had done the rebuild on the Devon I drove said that the front end bounce was inherent in the vehicle. He had spoken at great length with the guy who runs Austinworks who told him that without a complete replacement of the front end, the bounce was there to stay.

The other thing I didn't like was the extremely low geared rear end. I needed to shift out of first before I got across the crosswalk!

My Vanguard is a 4.52 or so, the Devon was like 5.27.
 
My A30 differential is 5.23. I have a 4.22 from a midget I'll be installing soon. I live in "FLAt land" so I don't really need the grade climbing capability. Top speed is around 55 with the 5.23 and the 803cc engine.

DrEntrophy; thank you. I can't take credit tho. The car is the way it came from New Zealand! The restoration isn't better than factory, like many cars here. I liked the fact that the car was well maintained, but not overdone.
 
You may get the lovely li'l beastie to top out over 60 with that diff!

"Flatlander" here as well: left coast, mid-state. We make several trips a year to Dade: "Obligatory Semi-Annual In-Law Visits." I usually can be found loiterin' about at a friend's shop in Miami so as to keep outta th' way at "home." It affords me my "grease fix" while away from my LBC's.
 
Thanks for the comments Dr. I have had the car for 20+ years.Just couldn't sell it. So much fun to drive.You can stay in 4th gear nearly all the time without changing.Should be starting the rebuilt engine this weekend.If I can get off this forum and finish it!!
Curtis
PS That's enough French bashing in the Dauphine thread /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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