After driving the Falcon for awhile during the Austin's engine rebuild, I realized the Falcon has a lot nicer ride! The combination of longer wheelbase, and softer springs makes it feel luxurious next to the Austin! So this morning I decided to see what I might do to take some of the stiffness out of the suspension. I dropped the front axle and figured I'd remove the two shortest springs. They probably don't do a lot, so I gave it a try. After removing the springs, and reinstalling the axle, I measured ride height again. Front dropped just the thickness of the two spring leafs, 1/2". Took it for a ride, and it's a bit less harsh, but could probably drop another spring easily. Might have to readjust the coilovers in the back if I remove another spring though.
I started out with a 6 spring set and removed one before I built the front axle. Two more today, so I'm down to three leafs. I'll drive it a bit more before I decide to tear into it again and take it down to 2 leafs. It's pretty light up front, and it might even run on one, but I wont consider less than two for it. I think one leaf might twist while cornering, and I'd need to add a panhard bar in front then.

 

Had to pull over twice last night on the way to and from the drags/cruise to adjust the throttle linkage. One of the two arms that attach to the carbs kept slipping, and then they'd get out of sync, and one would stay open a bit. Caused the idle speed to rise to nearly 1800 rpm, and made stopping difficult.
Got out this morning and marked the positions of the two carb arms, and the one throttle arm, and removed them from the common rod that they all operate on. Took my dremel and a stone, and ground a flat spot on the rod under each arm, so the setscrews would have a better bite, and not allowed to slip. Put it all back together with the lock collars, and arms, and tightened it all up as tight as I could. Drove it around for an hour today, and seems to have fixed the issue.
Not sure why it started this now, as it's the same setup I've had on there for 4 years, and always worked well.

 

Two years ago Gasser Wars magazine contacted me about doing an article on my Austin gasser, but nothing ever came of it. A few weeks ago I got a call from the publisher telling me they needed some high resolution pictures for their feature article. Amazing. Two years to finally get to print.
I sent off an email with a number of new pictures, and after several emails back and forth with pictures and text, it's going to print! The next issue (#95) will have a 3 page feature article on my Austin. Guess it's time for me to renew my subscription!

 

That's too cool, congrats!

 

Thanks Chuck!

 

congrats, good stuff, post up pics when you get it.

 

Thanks. Supposed to be going to print on the 25th.

 

Congrats! How do I get a copy?

 

Thanks Bill! Not carried at most local newsstands, as it's fairly spendy at $8 a copy. You can order them at their web site, but only after the issue comes out, as a "back issue" order.

 

Here's the opening page of the 3 page spread!
http://www.gasserwarsmagazine.com/magazine.asp