FIRM FEEL

CM360

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Anyone use their suspension upgrade 1,2 or 3 on a daily driver?
 

Magnum Aspen

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I have the FirmFeel level 3 steering box up grade and the quick ratio Pitman and idler arms on my other car, a B body, and I love them. It feels like a modern car.
My Aspen has the level 2 steering, according to the previous owner and reciepts, and has a nice feel, but I have only moved the car around in the driveway.
 

Duke5A

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I'm kind of there with what I've got. I used to daily drive my 5A with most of those parts installed with the exception of the sway bars and their gear box. My car has the factory front and rear AHB sway bars and the gear box is a Borgeson unit.

It handles great and used to ride good too even with the 300# torsion bars. When I went from 15" rims to 18" that's when the ride quality went to poop. I'd say so as long you keep a tire with good sidewall on it FF parts will make it ride and handle like a modern car.
 

kmccabe56

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I'm kind of there with what I've got. I used to daily drive my 5A with most of those parts installed with the exception of the sway bars and their gear box. My car has the factory front and rear AHB sway bars and the gear box is a Borgeson unit.

It handles great and used to ride good too even with the 300# torsion bars. When I went from 15" rims to 18" that's when the ride quality went to poop. I'd say so as long you keep a tire with good sidewall on it FF parts will make it ride and handle like a modern car.

Yep, as the aspect ratio drops, so does the ride quality.
 

Duke5A

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Yep, as the aspect ratio drops, so does the ride quality.

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Ele115

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I have the "firm feel" on the diplomats and much prefer the way the 78 low miles Lebaron drives with what Chrysler put under it. Chances are it would not act the same way through some orange cones, but I really like the way I don't have to feel the crappy roads. It's like sitting on a bed. Maybe it's just that I'm an old fart.
 

Opticon77

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If you like cars that handle like beds... you might be an old fart.
 

Aspen500

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A lot of times it's what you're used to. If you drive the old style daily, it seems OK. If you drive say, a rack and pinion newer vehicle daily, all of a sudden when the time comes to get the F, M or J out, it feels sloppy and vague.
Of course there is also the age thing. What I thought was great 25 years ago, somehow isn't anymore. Now I like more comfort, quieter interior, nicer ride, ice cold A/C when way back when, none of that concerned me at all. Getting old,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,sigh………...

That said, I'm very glad I changed my overhauled stock box for a Stage 2 FF. Made a night and day difference. Went from a PITA to drive to not so bad, and literally every single suspension and steering part was brand new but until the FF box, didn't seem like it. It doesn't drive like my '08 Mustang or even '96 Dakota with R&P of course, but it's a lot closer than it used to be.
 

Ele115

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I drive a Highlander hybrid and an older Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Mainly what I drive in traffic or trips, love them both. But I also like the older cars. I like the 77 Fury with the 440 but I have to watch for gas stations that have good fuel and the tank empties very quickly. Love the 78 Lebaron too. I have an AAR Cuda and that has a really rough ride but it takes curves and turns very well at high speeds, it feels like a "road car". It's almost impossible to wash out in it. I would love to run that wide open on a good road course. Some of the old GM's were nice but the ride was so fluffy and vague it could be downright scary, especially if you had those powerful big cars with skinny tires on it.
 

Ele115

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The thing about this LeBaron is that my M bodies have all been Police cars so I thought that hard firm ride and the back pain from the seat was all there is. I won't take one on a trip, even when they were new I hated the seat. The LeBaron is obviously made for a different customer. It was 8 Grand in the summer of 77. I have already been on two trips in it and loved it. Totally different car. Especially the stuffed leather seats. Those seats in an AHB would make for a really nice car.
 

Opticon77

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For reference, I've owned things like a 2000lb gutted turbo Omni, and a 2600lb Chevy Sonic lowered on coilovers. You could weld the suspension of an FMJ solid and the tire sidewalls + floppy old unibody alone would make for a softer ride than some of my cars... That said I don't mind using rubber bushings for NVH reduction but I'll weld gussets, braces, and connectors (or upgrade to heavier duty FirmFeel parts) anywhere I can.
 
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