Upgrades to historic cars

["JONES,DOUG (A-USA,ex3)" <doug_jones@xxxx>]

Ladies and Gents,

My short take on this topic goes like this ...

If you intend to drive an old car (any old car) regularly, but especially at
high speeds and surrounded by exceedingly capable modern cars, it would be a
good idea to subtly upgrade the handling, safety, and stopping equipment on
your car. Ideally, this can be achieved without destroying historically
interesting, and perhaps very rare, original parts. One can upgrade AND
preserve, and that is a worthy goal.

If you intend to drive modestly, taking into account that what was
considered excellent stopping / handling 40 or so years ago is not competent
against modern traffic, then by all means keep your car original and
preserve it as a rolling testiment to just how good the Chrysler engineers
were way back then. I have done so (so far) and I just leave a really big
cushion to make up for the difference in stopping power.

Do a reality check by comparing a contemporary road test of your Brute
against, say, that new BMW 3 series that is cutting you off. Technology has
come a long way, no doubt about it.

I have to say that this choice is harder for a '300' owner because the car,
in the context of its time, was REALLY REALLY GOOD. We Jensen owners have a
much easier choice, as leaving an Interceptor or Healey in factory stock
condition will virtually guarantee that it will 1) overheat and 2) catch
fire. So we upgrade and don't look back!

Cheers,
Doug



-----Original Message-----
From: quentsmith@xxxx [mailto:quentsmith@xxxx]
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2001 11:09 PM
To: moparted_70@xxxx; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] I knew I was gonna get in thouble


Fellows, If you cannot stop and kill yourself(selves), you will not be able 
to enjoy your 300. I purchased a 57 C from Kent Hurt in 1989 and he had put 
disk brakes on from an 1971( I believe) Imperial. I can lock up the front 
tires at over 140 miles an hour. This car will not only stop, but it will
not 
fade. I have other 300's and they cannot stop more than once from a hard
run. 
Then the brake fade will kill you. George Riehl indicated to me that he ran 
regular brake linings in combo with heavy duty metallic linings, split one 
regular, one metallic per drum. He said he could make a stop with his J at 
over 140, hard to the wall and not experience any brake fade. I am going to 
try this on my Ram K. If it does not work, the disk package goes on! I love 
to drive fast and stopping is a prerequisite. The life you save may be your 
own! Quentin Smith


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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