[Canuk40]

Hi Jac, Cliff,

Jac, On the surface it would seem the simplest solution to track width while keeping 10" wide wheels would be to increase the length of the upper lateral link and reversed lower a-arm. In fact our control arm jig has the provision to make both lengths and we have cars so equipped. So our first version went as you suggest.

When the first wide track conversions were done we were still using the original old pre Autofutura uprights, our CNC Steel part didn't even exist.

After closer examination of the relationship between the change in suspension operating angles (as the inboard lower pickup points also have to be moved to keep the trailing arms from touching the sill boxes) keeping the arm lengths the same and manufacturing a dedicated upright made more sense.

Having done so, and used in combination with the new Lower A-Arms the suspension is optimized to the limit dictated by the chassis pickup points. Really a good working setup.

Cliff,

The original cast uprights from Cape Advanced Vehicles (pre Autofutura and pre s/n100 cars) are fine for pleasure drives when properly installed and maintained.

The problem is that in order to align the toe-in shims must be installed under the rear most mounting bolt of the steel block that goes across the bottom of the casting. Since both parts are machined flat and parallel something has to give to make up for the shims.

Deflection forces are absorbed by the casting and steel block, you can probably quess which metal fails first.

Anyways we designed the new Steel Uprights to improve the geomtery to improve traction, thereby performance and balance, as well as provide a stronger mount for the bearings (we've seen oversized and egg shaped bearing bores) at the same time.

In the process of making it light, the ring of holes around the bearing bore also reduces heat soak to the bearings from the brakes and improves cooling to the brake vents, both obvious benifits. Hopefully this will increase the life of the CV joint lube as there has been boiling of the lube which leads to a joint failure (under track conditions).

The new Steel Uprights came after the Reversed Lower A-Arms so you can see how one improvement creates opportunites to refine other components in the vehicle system.

A customer with all the all four corners on his car, and an experienced racer too, said that a completely stock CAV GT was "scary" to drive in comparison. It certainly underscores why the new Autofutura CAV GTs have been so impressively upgraded and owners of the early style (pre s/n 100) cars are opting for our performance upgrade parts.

To be fair "scary" would be at track speeds, although guys who never drive their cars in anger report the car feels better to drive just around town. CAV Canadas' Race Parts are designed first and foremost as performance improving components, in the case of the uprights, you get a vastly stronger part as well with no weight penalty on the rears, with the fronts being about 2lbs heavier for the pair.

Again, kudos to Jean and Jean for the fabulous work in taking the production CAV GTs to a higher level, our Race Parts are meant only for the pre s/n 100 cars.

Cheers