Hey guys,

For you chassis gurus out there.

If I lower the front leaf spring eye, what is the effect if any on the Instant Center? And what would the effect be on the way the car launches?

I ask because my Nova now has Camaro front spring perches in it, and they keep the spring eye up close to the underside of the car. If I change these to the original Nova spring perches, the front spring eye will move down about an inch.

I used the Camaro parts to get the ride height correct........

Just curious, I have to admit I haven't done any research on vehicle dynamics for a drag car.

Ron

On a leaf spring car, the front eye IS the instant center. The front half of the spring pretty much is the lower two links on a tri 4-bar, so to speak.

If you drop the instant center, you will reduce anti-squat...this will reduce wheelhop if your springs are weak, but will lessen traction on a launch. Really, the question isn't what will happen to your IC, it's what will happen to the anti-squat. And since this is a drag car, we'll leave out anti-dive. Have you calculated your A.S. yet?

Thanks Matt.
No, I haven't calculated anything. But I'm gathering that I should leave the front spring eye where it is.
Ron