Torsioned bar alter K?

[TrxR]

Hey Bill I read on here about a torsioned bar alter K and was wondering what the Idea was behind it? Any info on it?

Thanks

[sycboi]

 

[Bill_Reilly]

Yep it's true. It's hard to explain without pics, so I'll see if I can upload some tommorow and explain a little bit.

[satellite65]

Anything like the Aspen/Volare torsion bar setup?

[Bill_Reilly]

Nope

[satellite65]

C'mon............Let's see it!

[Bill_Reilly]

Actually, I'm just stalling because I didn't get the pictures today   Tommorow afternoon I have to load the trailer for the Nats, so I'll snap a few of the display system and get them up here.

[satellite65]

  Are they going to be available for early B-body?

[Bill_Reilly]

Yea, ABE - I can't do it with the early A or the F system, but the normal ones are all fine - actually available now really. I've been building them kinda quietly since february, getting some out there in use.

[mopowers]

Yea, ABE - I can't do it with the early A or the F system, but the normal ones are all fine

Does that mean early A's aren't normal?      

jk

[Bill_Reilly]

Yes 

[Bill_Reilly]

...If they were 1.75" wider, and 1/2" taller, I'd like them alot more

[7Dart2]

Now the big question, how much? Are you using rack and pinion steering?

[NYrr496]

Bill, I'll have questions after we see the pics.    My build is taking a different direction similar to something I think I read that you were doing.

[ValiantOne]

Well this has me intrigued. Can't wait to see the pics.

CE

[jamesdart]

C'mon............Let's see it!

 

[Bill_Reilly]

[Bill_Reilly]

Initially, I thought up the idea as a way to fix the track width problems that come with coil-overs - the springs take up alot of room, so getting rid of them allowed me to move the track width back in to a drum brake location.

But I soon found a need for some custom things, plus some other upgrades I could also do because of the t-bars. Overall comparing to a regular alterktion, there are a quite a few upgrades...

Narrower track width
tighter turning radius
better camber gain, and better geometry overall
improved ride quality without sacrificing handling
over 6" of wheel travel
adjustable integral travel limiters
adjustable ride height with just a 3/8" allen wrench
better delrin lower control arm bushings
low-friction, heavy duty, sealed balljoints
specially designed, custom-valved AFCO T2 double adjustable shocks

It still retains the bolt-on status of the original alterktion, all the normal options, and the cool part - although it's all custom made, it has torsion bars instead of coils.

No matter I think about playing it down, I have to say it really took 10 years of obsessing over this stuff, 1 year of thinking about the actual design, and another year of testing ideas and throwing parts in the garbage to finally arrive at what's pictured here.

[lucasdart]

That looks like a super nice piece of equipment!! Are they available yet or still in testing phase? Any idea on what kind of price tag you want yet?

[NYrr496]

It's a custom torsion bar?  Does the back of the bar use the factory mounting point?

[satellite65]

Looks like the bar goes foreward, through the frame.

[TrxR]

It looks like a beautiful not that I expected anything else. I assume it take up a little of the header room than the original AlterK allowed?

Thanks
 

[Bill_Reilly]

No, it doesn't affect headers at all - it only stick out the back of the frame 3/4", and I haven't found any headers that run in that area.

Yes, the bar runs forward, inside the frame tube, so there's still nothing under the car at all. The back end of the bar links to the lower control arm, the front end has the adjuster on it, just behind where the radiator is.

[sycboi]

Looks amazing man!!!

-Michael

[Joe-Dokes]

When you say playing it down, does this mean you're not going to offer it for sale?

Since it has a narrower track width, does that mean you would be able to run a wider front tire?

It only looks a bit more complex than your original, if you offer it for sale have you thought or decided upon pricing?

The engineering is impressive, are you an engineer, if not why not, you've got skills.

Very nice.

Regards,

Joe Dokes

[Evildrken]

Wow!!!

              Can you put up any Data on the geometry? Do you have any clearance issues with that arm hitting the frame with the the LCA level?   On your site it said progressive rate torsion Bar's? really? how? pretty amazing looking!


Thanks KEn

[Bill_Reilly]

Well, that's kind of a trick marketing comment - all torsion bars are progressive rate by nature. Thats primarily why torsion bar cars ride smoother than coil sprung.
The arm doesn't hit the frame rail - the link is adjustable.  Geometry data, I have in the software, but I haven't extracted images of it yet - the software wont export pages as an image, so I have to sit down one night and do the print screen trick and save them all. I figured after I get back from the Nats, I'll start doing all the web stuff for this system. I haven't had time yet.

The track width change puts the backspacing requirements into a more off-the-shelf number, so more common wheels can be used. It's not a big deal on the B and E bodies, but on the A's, it's a really big deal.

Oh they're definitely for sale. The pricing is steep though(6995), and not much I can do about it. It's just alot of expensive stuff. But it's what I wanted to do, as the no-compromise system that has no flaws. So there will always be the alterktion, and for those who want to pull out the stops, the T system. You could say "standard" or "premium".

This of course opens the door to perfect the rear suspension line up in a similar manner...more late night fun

[MrPedalsworth]

 
I was wondering why you put the rack and pinion up front? Everything I've read, and I'm know expert, said you should always have your steering linkage in back of the spindles. Do you have to have longer mounting arms on the spindles for the rack up front to keep proper akerman angles? What spindles do you use? Most factory cars have the linkage in the rear, why is that?

[Bill_Reilly]

Front or rear steer is simply a preference by the designers. Both types were used in many cars, mostly based on design needs of the car - clearance with other parts is the only real factor.

[ValiantOne]

Those pics look impressive. I have got to see that in person sometime. I don't think I have close to $6900 tied up in all my cars but one can dream!!!


Neat!!!

CE