posted 05-29-2004 10:28 PM                  

** - Jerry Scholten peek = hood opened and slammed back shut within five seconds,
Just kidding on this!

Texas,,,,,,,,,here we come!!!

posted 05-30-2004 01:01 PM                  

I'm very happy with my new product and can't wait for AlleyCat to make his road test and report.
If all goes as expected the new FMB Stabilizer Bars will be manufactured, heat treated, powdercoated and ready for shipping by mid July.

------------------
Larry (Cruise Control) Lord
Larry@FMBbox.com
Products for your Prowler and Trailer:
Upright Trailer Storage Stands - Trailer Latch Reinforcement Kits - KatRack Stowable Cargo Carriers - Deck Lid Hinge Protectors - Pro-Strap Velcro Tie Straps - Keyed Alike Chrome Locksets - Logo Caps - Chrome Receiver Locks - Chrome Coupler Locks
FMB Prowler Products.

posted 05-30-2004 02:12 PM                  

Stabilizer bars are part of a car's suspension system. They are sometimes also called anti-sway bars or anti-roll bars. Their purpose in life is to try to keep the car's body from "rolling" in a sharp turn.

A stabilizer bar tries to keep the car's body flat by moving force from one side of the body to another. To picture how a stabilizer bar works, imagine a solid metal rod about 2 foot long that is 1.25” in diameter with 2 fixed arms extending perpendicularly about 8 inches from each end. Attach the rod to the frame of the car in front of the front tires, but attach it with bushings in such a way that it can rotate. Now attach arms from the rod to the front suspension rocker arms on both sides by using a straight links that will force the bar to move vertically when the suspension moves up or down.

When you go into a turn, the front suspension member of the outside of the turn gets pushed upward. The arm of the sway bar gets pushed downward, and this applies torsion to the rod. The torsion them moves the arm at the other end of the rod, and this causes the suspension on the other side of the car to compress as well. The car's body tends to stay flat in the turn.

If you don't have a stabilizer bar, you tend to have a lot of trouble with body roll in a turn. If you have too much stabilizer bar, you tend to lose independence between the suspension members on both sides of the car. When one wheel hits a bump, the stabilizer bar transmits the bump to the other side of the car as well, causing a rough ride and handling characteristics that you do not want.

A too stiff stabilizer bar will cause the car to feel like it jumps sideways when you hit a bump or pothole while making a turn. Too stiff of a stabilizer bar will also cause your car to have a tendency to lock it's inside front wheel when braking hard in a turn due to weight transfer off the inside front wheel.

The ideal strength stabilizer bar reduces body roll but does not hurt the independence of the tires.

Causes of UNDERSTEER aka PUSH
Too large front bar vs rear sway bar
Too small front tires or narrow rim width
Too stiff front springs
Low front tire pressure
Oversize rear tires

posted 05-31-2004 08:17 AM                  

I always avoid manhole cover dips, pot holes, and railroad tracks,,,not yesterday. Went over several without that harsh, bone jarring jolt you always feel in the Prowler. I'll have the full report in about 15 days and 3,000 mile later,,,,,,,,,,looks like another FMBox 'Home Run'.

*********************************************************

posted 05-31-2004 10:43 AM                  

Yes, the stabilizer bar is great.
You can glide over railroad tracks & rough roads with ease.
You should have a very enjoyable ride to the Stampede.
You'll arrive with enough energy to harrass your fellow prowlers. Ooooh Lucky Them!!!

posted 06-01-2004 07:33 AM                  

Thanks,
Steve

posted 06-01-2004 08:21 AM                  

For one lucky Prowler owner, Larry and Robyn Pennington from Suffolk, Va. attending the Texas event, will be allowed to test drive my car. After driving 2,000 miles to get to Texas, I figure their butts will be willing to do a test drive and report back on their findings.

Maybe,,,,, a few other concessions might be made on a short/short test?

posted 06-02-2004 12:13 AM                  

I didn't take a picture of the prototype bar before I sent it to Alley Cat for installation on his car.
Here are a couple of pictures of the STOCK stabilzer bar to give you an idea what it looks like.

Larrypen,

You're going to like it!

posted 06-02-2004 08:04 AM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by ed monahan:
Larry Lord, I am surprised you could not find a responsible adult to test drive the new piece. lol.

---

FYI Ed,,, LL called me and said it was coming down to you and I as the test pilot choices. I told him you were having a hard time getting your cat greased up for the trip, but he still wanted you in the running. So it came down to a coin flip in Mesa on my kitchen counter, while Larry was on the phone in Colton. I flipped the coin, called the toss, and of course I won! (I don't think Larry was aware that I might cheat)

posted 06-03-2004 08:18 AM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by CJ:
A/C...........I didn't know you were a test pilot!

---

CJ - Yes, it's true. On my resume I list one day experience at the GM Proving Grounds in Mesa (May, 1988). After torturing some Pontiac and Olds' for eight hours, they told me not to come back,,,,,they couldn't afford the abuse to their cars Too bad,,,,it's such a nice track to test vehicles.

I thought I had posted my other picture,,,,what I use to fly in:

The World's Fastest Prowlers are Silver!!!

posted 06-16-2004 12:35 AM                  

Check out Alley Cats comments after his "Texas Test Drive".
Alley Cats Texas Test Drive Report