How Can You Minimize That Floating Ride At 45 Or Higher?

chromebumpers

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
I’m not quite sure how to explain this, but I’ll give it a try.

I’m happy with the steering on the Cat. It does’t do that constant wiggle left, right, left, right that makes you keep your hand on the wheel. It’s not like the way kids pretend they’re driving at the wheel.
Traveling at highway speed it stays perfectly true center and if you watched the wheel on a video you would think the car is parked. Moving on . . .

What I don’t like is that feeling of the steering being way too easy at speed. As if I had to steer around an object on the road I could loose control for over swaying like shifting your weight around on a cheap waterbed. (Still trying to articulate this).
I don’t know if it’s weak, old shocks, too small diameter sway bar, if the valving in the steering rack needs something, something amiss with the power steering pump, or are the springs too old - too weak?
I just know it makes for a bit of un-easiness driving. I can certainly understand it’s not a late model car, a bit of the “Old car character” is inherently part of full size car handling, but I’ve owned and drove plenty of cars this size and weight and they were not this bad. The one factor of those other cars - they were mostly restored.

Must I replace every aspect of the suspension to get a firm ride or a tighter feel of the wheel?
 
Try replacing the front and rear shocks.
The Monroe brand gas charged shocks are discontinued.
Have to look at Gabriel brand.
Summit Racing doesn't show part numbers to use on old Full sized Pontiac correct.
Use an ebay search and Google internet search I got my part numbers for Gas charged replacement shocks for the 63 Gp.
Was going to replace today but got involved in other projects.
Tomorrow going replace the front and rear shocks.
Report how they work out.
Made in USA gone . Got Mexico and China stock style replacement.
Monroe is China now.
Some NOS USA on ebay not paying the prices they want.

Pontiac Fullsize never meant to handle like a Corvette or Trans Am.
Long wheelbase cars.
Ways to make them handle using modern Drag racing parts. Have to spend lots of money, $5000.
Stuff parts used on those Modern Big Rim Donk cars with up to 2000Hp Twin Turbo power.

They actually will corner hard, feels like going to spin out , scary but will corner when need to.
Tons of understeer turn the steering wheel more and floor the gas pedal so The Back ass end tires spin rubber.
 
One Pontiac engine builder Famous he asked me similar a few months ago.
He has a 1962 Catalina.
Discussed using C4 Corvette Front upper and lower control arms. All Alcoa forged Aluminum.
Last I knew he was going to try it.
 
Addco makes Aftermarket frint and sway bars for my 63 Pontiac Gp.
Unknown how they perform.

The Pontiac station wagons had Factory rear sway bars installed stock.
Often used as a truck towing a camper back then .
 
Interesting! Last night I was thinking of Monroe OE Spectrum 5801 for the front $23.79 each

and
53020 {#88945188} Professional; Premium Gas Charged
Rear also $23.79 each
 
I was just checking my inventory. I bought a few sets of Monroe Gas-Matics for Corvettes, never touched from 2013. I WAS close to installing this set so I sprayed them. *I don’t like Monroe colors.
Moved a box that contains a Quadrajet for a 1969 442 Stick and a QJet for a 1970 Cadillac 500
 
I was just checking my inventory. I bought a few sets of Monroe Gas-Matics for Corvettes, never touched from 2013.
Moved a box that contains a Quadrajet for a 1969 442 Stick and a QJet for a 1970 Cadillac 500
I bought another Best Gasket brand Graphite coated Kevlar Core Rope Rear Main seal for a 455-428 Pontiac.
It came in from Tennessee.
Falcon Global on Ebay.
I like him and a Seller in New Jersey.
Used on the 1976 Pontiac 455 Zero rear main oil seal leaks. So Happy about that.
Makes a huge mess when they leak even blows onto the back bumper engine oil !
Counted my inventory of for 389, 350P-400 & 428-455.
Should buy 1 for a 421, special Diametric cross section used in 421 Pontiac only.
 
<Might be feeling the large coil springs front and rear surging oscillating from blown out worn out shocks.>

So the springs should be still good, just install the shocks.
Back in the good old days shocks would leak and you knew they were bad. Now they can still be bad if they pass the bumper bounce test!
 
<Might be feeling the large coil springs front and rear surging oscillating from blown out worn out shocks.>

So the springs should be still good, just install the shocks.
Back in the good old days shocks would leak and you knew they were bad. Now they can still be bad if they pass the bumper bounce test!
Yes the internal valveing of the shocks malfunction.
Carrera made the Best Shocks back in the day for all GM cars.
Unbelievable on a C3 Corvette my friend Bill had.
Rode super soft all the time like a Lincoln Mark IV Continental.
Handled almost as good as a C4 Corvette.
Felt like you were in an Aircraft Warbird with 572 cubic inch Big Block Chevy Power !
 
The New Gabriel Gas Charged shocks are a Big Improvement on my 63 Gp.
Handles better at 100+ mph than ever before.
I can Aim the Big Pontiac like my 1970 Trans Am and my 87 Corvette Convertible for high speed driving.
It doesn't ride as smooth over bumps as it used to though.
Was like a Cloud going over bumps prior in the blacktop.
But had to Concentrate hard 100+mph Steering .
Now the Huge 63 Pontiac Gp feels drives like a Sports Car.
Wish I could get Carrea shocks for it they Are The Very Best ever made.

Gabriel gas charged shocks also helped with Hard Launches from a dead stop controlling axle wrap up.
Hooks hard your Gone like a 44 magnum bullet.
 
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