wheel hop

tsmall114 · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject: wheel hop

i have a 1964 impala is in the process of having a 496 bbc put in wich is replacing the 327 that was in there. its backed by a muncie m-22 4 speed tranny, and a brand new last summer ford 9 inch with 4.11 gears and a posi. we also replaced all rears upper and lower control arms and panhard bar with hotchkins kit. with the 327 it wheel hopped bad, and then with the new rear end and parts, along with new springs wich are station wagon springs and competition engineering adjustable shocks it got alo better but still does it, and my guess with the big block it will be really bad. so my questions are what can i do to minimize that? we will b putting mt et street tires on and be wider than whats on it now, should i maybe go taller? i dont remember but i think we set pinion angle like -1 or -2 degrees. what should the rear lower and up control arms be torqued to because the instructions didnt give torque specs and i figured maybe the bushings are binding up? the shocks have hard med and soft setting and they are on medium? i just would like to minimize this before i blow a brand new expensive rearend.

Geezer · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:38 am Post subject: I'd look

at the tire width vs the wheel width. Your tire mfgr should recommend a wheel width for your choice.
I'd also look at air pressure. Too low, and the tire will "wad up" and cause the hop.
A look at how the car pitch rotates on launch can help determine why it's hopping. A good video goes a long way, there. The vids will also give insights into tire "behavior".
A set of shocks w/ double setting controls would be a useful tuning tool.
As for the suspension: I'd jack the car up under the axle, putting the stands under the frame. Disconnect the shocks, take out the springs, and see if the axle moves freely thru it's travel.
here'as a link to a very good site for tech help w/ your problem[s]. Billy Shope is one of the best..
http://home.earthlink.net/~whshope/

FWIW, "as Madman says.. Girls squat, race cars don't". Laughing

_________________
Chuck L.
Hotrodding since 1955.
Injector Inspector.
Turbo Buicks in the 9's...