Track Tested New Level I Suspension and Brakes – pics

[dqhemi]

Last week we did the track testing of our Level I Suspension and Brake packages on our 71 Cuda engineering car.  Level I suspension is a totally optimized package of stock type components – all bolt in. 

All components are matched – torsion bars, leaf springs, sway bars and especially shocks.  Initial testing was done on a four post rig with shock dyno on hand and multiple sets of Leaf springs, Torsion bars, etc.  Engineering shocks allow re-valving on site after multiple runs.

Track testing was done on a road course and the car was awesome right out of the box based upon the four post testing.  Under really hard braking there was some axle tramp due to the leaf spring loading up and unloading the rear wheels.  Shocks were adjusted and the condition was eliminated.

Car was also tested in street conditions to get acceptable comfort levels, not just maximum track performance.  We had on hand a ride and handling expert that gets hired out to the auto manufacturers for their cars and we also had a shock dyno and technician on hand to revalve the shocks if necessary (it wasn't). 

Brakes were really, really good.  We had brakes sized specifically for the vehicle.  These were modeled for the car based upon corner weights, center of gravity, target speeds, rotor size and number of pistons in caliper.  Pistons in the caliper are sized to the application.  The result is getting proper front to rear balance to the point no proportioning valve is needed.  Brakes were amazing and were there lap after lap all day long.  We ran hydro-boost on the car as well.

Car also has chassis stiffening based upon torsion tests performed on the car – more than just subframe connectors installed.  See anything unusual under the hood? 

Everyone at the track was really impressed with how the car performed, cornered and its braking.  Engine in the car is a 5.7 HEMI making about 440 HP w/ a 7,000 RPM redline, 5-speed, upgraded 8-3/4 w/ gear drive diff, alloy axles and 3.91 gears. 

You will be able to see the track testing week after next on Dream Car Garage on Speed.  The show will have before and after footage at the same track.  We really wrung the car out at the track, so it should make for some really good TV.

Car right now is having the Level II suspension and brakes installed, as well as a 6.1 Hemi.  It will get track tested in two and a half weeks and then be on Dream Car Garage as well.  The Level II stuff will be even better with totally revised geometry, SLA double A-Arm, three link rear w/ panhard bar - all done in aluminum, including an aluminum K-Member.  We're really, really happy with how well the car ran, it was a huge improvement over where this car started.  I can't wait to see how the Level II performs.

As soon as the Level II is done track testing, we will get the Level I and II done on our B Body engineering car and finalize that as well.  For the Level I, I'm trying to get final pricing on shocks valved to our specs as well as torsion bars and leaf springs to the rates we found optimal.  We'll also have torsion bars set up for small block (including the 5.7/6.1 HEMI) and big block motors.

John Buscema
XV Motorsports
www.xvmotorsports.com

[dqhemi]

Here's a couple more pics.

TV show will show it as it really needs to be seen!

John Buscema
XV Motorsports
www.xvmotorsports.com

[68Charger4me]

Thanks for the update and keep them coming !

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Looks bad a$$!!

I look forward to your segment on Dream Car Garage.   Keep 'em comin!

[Silver R/T]

Nice suspension setup. Could you post more info on brakes?

[dqhemi]

Nice suspension setup. Could you post more info on brakes?

They were made specifically for this platform - meaning they are sized for optimal front/rear balance so they don't need a proportioning valve. This is done w/ computer modeling and adjusted by size of the piston bore in the calipers.

Those are very serious brakes. 4 piston up front, 2 piston out back, forged aluminum calipers, with billet brackets. 13" two piece rotors, billet hats w/ cooling vanes -slotted, drilled or both. Shoe type parking brake inside rotor hat. They work with the stock suspension. We did heavy duty hubs in 4140 for it as well with big wheel bearings - stock ones are very small.

Level II brakes will be a bit wilder: 14" rotors up front, w/ 6-piston and 4-piston calipers front and rear. Level II brakes will only fit on our Level II suspension, but we'll have less extreme brake options for that suspension package as well.

Brake kits will also come with braided stainless brake hoses for the front and rear and we are also having prebent hard lines made up in stainless.  The shoe type parking brake will be fully functional as well - meaning we will provide all the pieces to hook it up to the stock park brake - most aftermarket kits leave you hanging on this.

We also ran hydroboost on the car.  Hydroboost eliminates the vacuum brake booster and is pwered off the power steering pump.  Benefits are you don't rely on engine vacuum, has a reserve if power is lost and cleans up a lot of space under the hood. 

Even the Level I brakes are better than anything else that is currently available for these cars. 

All the suspension and brake pieces we are doing are to make the car REALLY handle and can confidently run the car on an open track event, time trials, etc.

John Buscema
XV Motorsports
www.xvmotorsports.com

[Lightning]

I LOVE that upper subframe brace, any chance of one being made for B-bodies or F/M-bodies?

[dqhemi]

We're doing the full exercise for 68-70 B-Bodies as well. 

So yes, we will be doing a brace just like that one for the B-Body cars as well

John Buscema
XV Motorsports
www.xvmotorspors.com

[RallyeMike]

I built a an engine bay brace for my Charger a few years ago. I'm not sure it does that much to improve things as the stock box structure is quite rigid, and the brace just bolts to sheetmetal. Did you do any testing to measure body flex with and without the brace? Just curious what the results might have been...

[dqhemi]

I built a an engine bay brace for my Charger a few years ago. I'm not sure it does that much to improve things as the stock box structure is quite rigid, and the brace just bolts to sheetmetal. Did you do any testing to measure body flex with and without the brace? Just curious what the results might have been...

We did full torsion tests on the cars - see our site under the XV Engineering section.  There is definitely room for improvement on the car's torsional rigidity.  Four post testing also provided visual clues on the rigidity, but that's not it's main use.











I see you do Open Road Racing!  Awesome.  Don't run across many open road racers anywhere.  Been a few years, but I used to run Unlimited in my 97 Cobra - was a 205 MPH car.  We had some pretty cool suspension and aero tweaks on it.  I'm really itching to build an unlimited E body. 



John Buscema
XV Motorsports
www.xvmotorsports.com

[RallyeMike]

Doh ! I should have checked the link. I found info that rigidity was tested, but not anything with specific improvement data. Interesting site to browse though.

This is my 4th year of ORR. Lotsa fun. Hope to see you back out there showing off some of your products.

Good luck with your upcoming line of new parts.