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Bryan & Paul,
If there is really something wrong with the front end of my PV, I'd sure like to know what it is. I have the ipd bars front and rear, standard Volvo front shocks, Monroe shocks in the back (recently dumped the KYBs for being too stiff); no play in tie rod ends, steering box, Pitman arm, wheel bearings, king pins, or control arms. The Bronco II rims have the same offset/back spacing as the originals, but they are a bit heavier and, of course 1" wider. Tires are wearing even and are well-balanced. Caster: +1°. Camber: -1/2°. Toe-in: 0.06".
The car feels nimble and perfectly secure up to around 75 mph, from there on the steering just starts to feel a little light, and it gets lighter as I go faster, which I do regularly for passing and, I shamefacedly admit, ocassionally to show off. It is still responsive, but just doesn't have that nice secure feeling. Maybe I'm just chicken.
I've never had it out on a track, but I did thrash it around in the parking lot of an abandoned Wall-Mart - no sweat in a simulated chicane, panic-type breaking, and nicely balanced four-wheel drifts without any tail-wag when accelerating into the straight.
I'd like to try another PV for comparison, but the ones that I could borrow are in lesser shape than mine and don't have the B20. The owners of the ones that look in better shape and win prices at shows, won't let touch their little darlings. I, in their shoes, would feel the same. ;-)
Bob S.
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'62 PV544 (B20, M41), '71 142E, '93 240 Classic Wagon.
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