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From: hakanson@orstcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Re: 84 Corvette Handling, etc.
Message-ID: <3000034@orstcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 29-Jun-84 02:14:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: orstcs.3000034
Posted: Fri Jun 29 02:14:00 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Jun-84 00:51:37 EDT
References: <153@oliven.UUCP>
Organization: Oregon State University - Corvallis, OR
Lines: 55
Nf-ID: #R:oliven:-15300:orstcs:3000034:000:2646
Nf-From: orstcs!hakanson    Jun 20 22:14:00 1984

<betcha can't eat just one>

In the June issue of Road & Track, in Miscellaneous Ramblings, is a fairly
extensive article on the improvements to the '85 Corvette.  The "weaker"
suspension includes the following changes:

	Base suspension:  Front ride rate reduced from 125 to 100 lb/in.
			  Rear ride rate reduced from 170 to 120 lb/in.

	Z51 suspension:   Front ride rate reduced from 160 to 120 lb/in.
			  Rear ride rate reduced from 220 to 160 lb/in.

	To retain the same overall roll stiffness, the front anti-roll
	  bar diameter has been increased on both suspensions.

	Shocks revalved front & rear to reduce ride harshness.  Bilstein
	  shocks now come automatically with Z51, free option with base.
	  These supposedly help tune out minor road disturbances.
	
	To reduce "dartiness," improve directional stability and
	  returnability, and to slow down the steering a touch, caster
	  has been increased from a nominal 3 degrees to 4.
	
	The Z51 gets 16x9.5 inch wheels at front and rear ('84 had 8.5"'ers
	  up front) -- better directional stability and braking stability.

According to GM, the improvements are worth 3 counts on their ride-harshness
scale.  According to the editor, "On rough surfaces where the '84 Z51 would
shake your teeth out, the '85 Z51 rattles them and the '85 base suspension
introduces just a mild case of chatter."  So it apparently isn't "Wimp-City"
for the new '85 Z51 suspension.  In fact, it is predicted that it will have
as good or higher (i.e. "better") numbers in the slalom and on the skidpad
as its '84 counterpart.  It's an exceptional balance between ride and handling
that they are shooting for.

To give you an idea where I stand on the issue of handling, I will quote the
editor again and say that I agree wholeheartedly:

	In a sense, it [the '84 Z51 Corvette] is a race car for the
	street.  [Some] will say it's a little too racy.  Without
	disputing the Corvette's incredible handling characteristics,
	I would argue that its exceptional handling numbers are of
	little use if you can achieve them only on the rather artificial
	confines of a mirror-smooth proving ground.


With that, I will point you to the excellent article for discussion of the
other improvements (port injection, better brakes), and give yet another
plug for the magazine by suggesting that you who are interested check out
the March, May, June, and July issues of R&T -- they contain an enlightening
series of articles in which the authors and editors attempt to define the
notion of a sports car.  Happy driving....

Marion Hakanson			CSnet:  hakanson@oregon-state
				UUCP :  {hp-pcd,tektronix}!orstcs!hakanson