The "Wonder" of IFS.

[morrag]

This is really for Mr. M. on how we achieved the "wonder", at that time! of Independent front suspension on a chassis similar to his original, in the mid. 50's. This is the type of suspension mod. that I put on the first E93A engined, Falcon bodied Ford "special" that me, my Dad, and brothers built, way back then. I should add that that 'vast' sum of money was way outside the scope and budget of a young apprentice, as I was then, so we "cribbed" the system, and converted our own axle! Copyright, what..... past times, ho hum, Morrag

[Manky Monkey]

And we spent ages trying to make ours look old fashioned & basic!
I assume the original beam axle was cut in 2 & pivotted in the middle?
When we took my truck for the SVA test, the examiner remarked to his colleague that he couldn't understand why we had a nice triangulated 4 bar linkage with adjustable Gaz shocks on the back -& a transverse "buggy" spring on the front.

[morrag]

Cheeky bugger, no soul!! but yes, your right, two "silentbloc" bushes in two welded, tubular housings,the front end realeased from its original steel body was so light that I believe we used a pair of AJS/Matchless units, as they were "available" How did it work? to be honest I'm buggered if I can recall, but the bragging rights made it all worthwhile! just like a Lotus! yeah, right!.................Morrag

[panthershaun]

if it's still there, I have been given another Pop rolling chassis with one of they independent converted beam axles on it....

[spanners]

dad and so called uncle ,terry, built two so called specials whilst i was still little (well at little school) both were on E93A chassis one with an ashley body and the other had a ,rochdale, body one had the auqaplane head with twin SU,s which were removed for saftey,s sake after the first or second outing -- said to be to fast for its own good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Manky Monkey]

You lucky git Shaun.

[panthershaun]

 

[morrag]

Believe me Spanners, "fast" is purely a relative term here, as the E93A motor I had with alloy Aquaplane head and twin S.U.'s was indeed faster than a bog standard 'Pop', but no where near as quick as yer modern, family type Hatch,and I don't mean "hot" hatch, just the regular "cooking" type! honest, Morrag

[spanners]

Believe me Spanners, "fast" is purely a relative term here, as the E93A motor I had with alloy Aquaplane head and twin S.U.'s was indeed faster than a bog standard 'Pop', but no where near as quick as yer modern, family type Hatch,and I don't mean "hot" hatch, just the regular "cooking" type! honest, Morrag

back in the late 60,s  on the A515 between buxton and ashbourne  over the TON in a home build  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes it was  aqueplane head and su,s
banded wide wire,s on home made spacers upgraded home built g/box (ratio,s now unknown) dad built and knew how to ,, but it even scared him and terry ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i,ve only got some ,,spacer,, wheel adapters left /surviving from thee original build,,

[morrag]

That's what I meant, its relevant to the time, but the fact is yer average family runabout would leave E93A's for dead no matter how they were "modded" I'm afraid, and I can say that from experience of my own 'specials' of the
'50's, honest,mind you they made enough noise as I recall to sound a deal faster than they were!! Morrag

[Manky Monkey]

Speed ain't all it's cracked up to be though.
I bought a Triumph Speed Triple a few years back, in a moment of mid life crisis. Rode it at warp factor 6 everywhere for a year, then sold it cos I was going to lose my licence or my life, or both. Had a second one since, but now got an XS650 Yam' bobber project on the go. The novelty of always being first away from the lights & being able to outrun virtually any car you come across soon wears thin.
Older vehicles may take more effort to pilot, but you get a lot more pleasure out of them too.

[panthershaun]

rather have fun on a slow bike than ride a rocket ship, same with cars, speed isn't everything and driving an old beater around at 50 is much more fun for me than having a machine capable of losing my licence and not being able to use it....

[Manky Monkey]

I'm with you Shaun -& I'm definitely up for that foreign jaunt in our Pops next year. 

[morrag]

I have no argument with those sentiments,Gents, merely reminding everyone about what "fast" really was all those years ago! actually not very in most cases!! well mine then..............y'all, Morrag

[BikerGran]

I'm no longer the only triker in our club, a new member has never had a bike, and only had his trike a little while.  Followed him home the other day as he lives near me, and he kept taking off like a rocket from junctions, with me trailing behind wondering why I don't do that any more?   Then I thought, been there done that, cba!