How do I make my 69 Charger less bumpy??

[elanmars]

the '73 I had was definitely more of a smooth ride but I knew going in with this one that it would need some work in that department.
so anything you all can recommend, because I'm so new at this that I don't know where to start regarding the topic, is appreciated.

and nothing that's too outrageously expensive.

Right now I've been concentrating on the safety of the car and making it nice, comfy and a decent daily driver. Years down the road, then I can think about performance and all that.

[Mike DC]

   
Some of the increased ride harshness of the 69 is designed-in compared to the later car. 

The 1973 Charger has the K-frame and axle riding on the rubber isolators, unlike earlier B-bodies.  Mopar's earlier unibodies weren't isolated (and they handled tighter for it), but with more NVH.  The rubberizing job for the 73 and up cars was basically Mopar attempting to compete with the body-on-frame competitor cars from GM and Ford.    Handling feel went down, living-room-sofa ride was improved.

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IMHO the entire 1970s subframe stuff was an example of Mopar being ahead of its time, as usual. 

Modern hi-tech sports sedans are generally built with this same format today.  They use a unibody structure to hang everthing onto because it gets the car as torsionally stiff as possible.  And then they put all the drivetrain & suspension assemblies on big subframes to get as much isolation as possible.  It's better than just individually isolating the control arms with huge rubber pieces because it keeps the suspension geometry tighter.  And it's a double layer of isolation for the drivetrain.

[Long Island RT]

Start with 80 grit and work your way down to 400 using a flat...  Oh wait, wrong bumpy.

What size engine?
What size torsion bars?

[HPP]

Simpliest, easiest, biggest change you can make is to put good quality shocks under there. Not KYB or some off the shelf parts store stuff, but spend a few bucks and get some good ones. Edelbrock inertia sensative units would be about entry level. Single adjustable QA1 would be nice if you don't mind turning the knob until you find the settings you like. Koni or Bilstien will transform the manners of your car until you get in to massive 1.12 or bigger t-bar sizing.

Think of it this way, much like a cam controls the operating range and manners of an engine, so to do shocks control the suspension.

However, like mentioned in earlier posts, the 69 will always ride differently than the 73 and you will never get them to be identical.

[elanmars]

Thanks, that gives me a good start!! I don't want them to be the same, just as a comparison, it was a smoother, less bumpy ride. I don't have a problem with it as it is now but it is an issue with my pregnant girlfriend haha.

I just want it to be less bumpy/rough like it is at the moment.

[tan top]

try sticking to 70 series tires also !! more shock absorbision 

[Mike DC]

 

I would also throw this in:  rebuild the front suspension if it's worn. 

People usually don't think of replacing the old bushings and softening the ride, but it can actually help a lot compared to rotted out old ones (assuming that you put repro rubber back in it and not poly). 

[bull]

Air ride.

[chargerbr549]

Kind of along the lines of what tan top said, stay with 14 or 15 inch wheels and stay with taller tires around 26-28" tall is probably your best bet for a more cushy ride.

Kevin

[elanmars]

so don't mess with any wheels bigger than 15? when people go up to 16-18, does it make the car more rough/harder to handle/etc?

[Foreman72]

well by the time the 3rd gens came around, chrysler had begun to make them as more of a comfort ride...so i don't think a 69 will ride like a 73...stock anyways...

but yeah if your have poly bushings that'll contribute to it...obviously stiff suspension= bumpy but tight; soft suspension=smooth but soft/plow-like...

but the adjustable shocks are the first things i'd go for...edel IAS



maybe you need a new front seat    

[elanmars]

oh I definitely need a new front seat, I guess in the 60's a cement block as a front bucket was considered comfy! plus it's pretty ripped up anyway.

it's really not THAT bad but the progress chrysler made in a few years is pretty interesting.

[375instroke]

Simpliest, easiest, biggest change you can make is to put good quality shocks under there. Not KYB or some off the shelf parts store stuff, but spend a few bucks and get some good ones. Edelbrock inertia sensative units would be about entry level. Single adjustable QA1 would be nice if you don't mind turning the knob until you find the settings you like.

I've heard many bad things about KYB, and nothing good about them.  I put some QA1s on my '69, and what a difference.  It was hard to keep in my lane at times, and now, it's great, and the car doesn't feel any harsher.  The previous shocks were trash, so probably anything would have helped.  I've got the front set to 5 clicks out of 12 from the softest setting, and the rear at 2.

[b5blue]

On the cheap....make sure all the rubber bushings are good front and back, not rock hard old or split, get a new set of Monro-matic shock front and back.It is not high tech but these cars ride nicer than you might think given 1/2 a chance. My neighbor has asked me to use her 2003 Mustang to keep it running while shes on vacation.....nice car in cherry condition.....rides like my uncles Nissan Pickup truck.....my 70 Charger rides much smoother.