| American muscle cars of the past had one mission - get to the next stoplight or to the end of the strip in a straight line as fast as possible. If you have ever driven one of these legendary beasts of the streets, then you know the emphasis was on the power and acceleration and not necessarily on the handling. Well, today you can upgrade the suspension parts for your classic muscle car to make it handle like a sports car. In this segment of Eastwood Garage , Dennis is joined by Keith Maney of Year One, Inc. He has some of the latest goodies to make your muscle car handles like it should. He also has some brake system upgrades that make sure that you can slow down safely and more efficiently.
Keith begins by focusing on some parts that will fit today's feature car, a 1969 Pontiac Trans Am. Concentrating on the front suspension first, Keith shows Dennis a tubular upper control arm from Global West. These arms are extra stiff and won't flex. That means precise handling. In addition, the bushings on these heavy-duty arms are made from polyurethane rather than rubber, and that means less wear. Next, Keith hands Dennis a lower control arm for the rear suspension. These parts are from Metco Motorsports and are made from billet aluminum. They are lightweight yet strong, and they also don't allow any flex or twist. Keith also has one of the upper control arms for the rear suspension and notes that they are thoroughly adjustable to allow owners to set up their cars to handle just the way they want them to. Next, Keith shows Dennis a set of anti-sway bars from Hotchkis. These parts help to “tune the suspension,” therefore preventing sway and keeping the car right where it should be - glued to the road! Now, everyone knows that muscle cars had plenty of “go power,” but it is also important to be able to slow down safely and securely. Keith also brought with him the latest in aftermarket brake technology from the folks at Baer. Keith tells Dennis that the key to stopping faster lies with the ability for a braking system to dissipate heat quickly. Cross-drilled rotors and bigger calipers are a way to achieve that desired result, and the new upgrades from Baer are available to fit most every car you can name. Dennis also notes that the popular trend of “restomods,” using modern technology with original looks, is a perfect place for these types of upgrades for they increase performance, safety, and reliability! In other words, it's the best of both worlds! Now remember, you can get all these parts and many more to upgrade your muscle car from Year One, Inc. To take a look at their large selection of parts and accessories, give them a call for a catalog at 800-Year-One, or better yet, just visit their website at www.yearone.com .
Don't forget, when you are looking for unique automotive tools and supplies for your automobile restoration, you should give the folks at Eastwood a visit at www.eastwood.com .
|
