RE: Zamani's suspension

[Joe Elliott <jee@domain.elided>]

><snip>
> > to the Beninca Alfetta.  It seems to me that the SZ, with its
> > unfortunately coilover front suspension, lacks 50/50 weight
> > distribution and weighs more than a GTV6.  I blame the coilover
> > suspension and necessary changes made to the structure of the front
> > of the car.  Transaxles are great but face it, the torsion bar
> > suspension is the real reason that our Alfas have 50/50 weight
> > distribution.  Consider the 928, C5 Corvette and new Maseratis...all
><snip>
>
>I blame the V6 motor.
>
>The Alfetta coupe and Sedan had 50/50 weight distribution, the GTV6 and
>Milano are heavier in the nose.  I think the weight distribution is 52/48.
>
>No comment wrt the coil over front suspension on the SZ.  Obviously they had
>some problem they were trying to solve, and the coil over offered the best
>solution.  Can't imagine this mod would be cost effective for a Milano, I
>agree with Joe that larger torsion bars are the way to go.  I think Zamani
>was concerned over a cost difference of a couple hundred bucks for the parts
>(heavy torsion bars vs coil over kits), however I've got to believe that
>after installation the coil overs will end up costing a whole lot more.

The Milano isn't perfect, but I believe the GTV6 is (or at least w/in 
1%), and that the SZ is further from perfect than the Milano.  If you 
want to blame the V6 remember that Hans Milo runs the stock 115 
suspension (sans spacers!) in his "73 GTV6."  The SZ was basically a 
badass composite body on a 75 Competizione 3000 or whatever it was 
called, that used the coilovers only (as I understand it) because of 
their greater adjustability in terms of short-term pit lane changes 
to ride height and stiffness.  I believe that for the street car they 
would have preferred to use torsion bars, but the only reason that 
the SZ was remotely feasible in the first place was because it was 
going to be a rebodied 75 Competizione.

I'm sure John can correct me on the historical info,
Joe Elliott

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