F-41

[Morris R.]

I was thinking of putting a f-41 suspension on a 66 corvette, does anyone have one on now and now do you like it? Is it as good as it's promoted? What's the difference between f-40 and f-41? Thank you

[Kenneth B.]

Re: F-41

Unless you plan on autocrossing I don't see why you need it if you already have F-40. If not pick your poison.

[Morris R.]

Re: F-41

Hi ken,
i don't have a f-40, i would like to put on a f-41

[Duke W.]

Re: F-41

What's your objective? Grip is ultimately a function of tire adhesion. All the suspension does is leverage the tire's adhension characteristics for the type of roads (bumpy or smooth) and speeds one drives at.

By modern standards F-41 is way too stiff, even for a race car.

If you want to optimize a vintage Corvette's handling and grip for sporty road driving, start with the stickest tires, install some adjustable shocks, dial in some negative camber at all four wheels, but leave the springs along. They provide a suitable ride frequency for sporty driving on normal roads that won't break your back.

The OE anti-roll bar setup is pretty good, too, but with DOT legal racing tires like the Avon CR6ZZ that can provide 1 g lateral adhesion, the roll rate might exceed 3 deg/g, which is a good limit for a sporty road car, but anti-roll bar tuning to limit roll rate and fine-tune the understeer/oversteeer balance shouldn't be done until you've completed and fine-tuned everything else on the above list.

All F-41 will do with typical cheap, S-rated rock hard tires that most guys run is create a bone-jarring ride and more understeer.

Bob Riley has said that 90 percent of setting up a race car for a specific track is shock tuning, and the same can be said of setting up a road car for sporty driving, which assumes you have already installed high grip tires, optimized the static camber, and have suitable ride frequencies and suspension travel to prevent bottoming on the worst bumps at the speeds you drive. Modern race cars use the softest ride frequencies possible to meet the above criterion.

The "difference" is that F-40 was only available with some small block engine options, and F-41 was only available with some big block options. They both substitued base suspension parts, namely front and rear springs, front anti-roll bar, shocks, and rear lower shock/strut mounts with the same "heavy duty" parts.

The base small block suspension did not include a rear anti-roll bar, and none was included with F-40. Since base big blocks had a rear anti-roll bar, this was not effected by the addition of F-41, so F-41 big blocks had the same rear anti-roll bar as base suspension big blocks.

Duke

[Morris R.]

Re: F-41

Thank you so much for your input, it will help me in making up my mind. Which i just did. Thank you again and have a great week, maury

[Joe L.]

Re: F-41

I was thinking of putting a f-41 suspension on a 66 corvette, does anyone have one on now and now do you like it? Is it as good as it's promoted? What's the difference between f-40 and f-41? Thank you

Morris----


I would not install F-41 on a primarily street driven Corvette under any circumstances. As a matter of fact, I have all the NOS parts necessary to convert a 63-74 Corvette to F-40 or F-41 [none for sale] but I'd NEVER, EVER do it to my car. NEVER, EVER!

By the way, F-40 and F-41 are the same as far as components are concerned.

[Mark D.]

Re: F-41

I'm with y'all about the harsh ride but, F41 is a way cool option if the car came with it, originally. Those big ol' rear shocks with the hats look so cool. I remember Lou Groebner, Sr. telling me, not having original, dated shocks on an original F41 equipped car was heresy.

[Morris R.]

Re: F-41

Thank you joe i decided not to install the f-41. Thank you for your input.

[John M.]

Re: F-41

I don't normally disagree with those guys but I have a 67 BB and my friend has one. His has F41, mine standard suspension and I have to tell you that I love that ride. Mine seems just a bit too "soft". It's just a seat of the pants thing but...

I'm restoring a 65 that came with F40 so I' anxious to see what that one rides like.
John McRae 30025

[Paul J.]

Re: F-41

I don't normally disagree with those guys but I have a 67 BB and my friend has one. His has F41, mine standard suspension and I have to tell you that I love that ride. Mine seems just a bit too "soft". It's just a seat of the pants thing but...

I'm restoring a 65 that came with F40 so I' anxious to see what that one rides like.
John McRae 30025

My '78 L82 had an FE7 Gymkhana heavy duty suspension. Boy, was it fun in the curves, but this was my traveling and every day car and it was tough over the expansion joints. I loved it, but I was a lot younger then. I would'nt do it again.

Paul