I tried towing my Scamp with a towbar, all four wheels on the ground, and discovered the wheels start to go hard over. Looks like I can't tow it this way. BTW no engine or tranny. Any suggestions or is it too dangerous to do it this way? Thanks

I towed a 77 Volare all the way from Louisville to Chicago that way last Labor Day weekend. It still had its powertrain intact. Pulled the driveshaft, though. My guess is that without the motor/trans, no weight (downforce) on nose of car to help the steering return to center. I have had that prob before and depending on how far you are going could you have a 2nd person ride in the towed car to help steer?? I have also towed with a dolly, never a car missing motor/trans, though, and the last time I rented a dolly the guy at the rental yard told me that it wouldn't tow worth a squat w/o the motor in it.

When I hauled my dart from one place to the next I found it was only $10 difference from a tow bar and a flat bed tow behind trailer. We decided on the trailer. It was obvious with my father doing 75 with a smile on his face that we made the right choice.

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Slant Six... out of the ordinary - just like me!

The front end alignment is off with the motor/trans out. The higher ride height from less weight throws it out of whack. Back off the torsion bar adjusters. This will get the ride height back to where it was with the motor/trans in it. The front end alignment will then be back to normal, allowing you to use the tow bar.

Cecil

Close Cecil but not quite. The weight distribution is way off w/o motor and trans. On any front suspension, in addition to camber caster and toe, there is another angle involved that can be measured but not adjusted called steering angle inclination. Similar to caster but instead of the tilt between the ball joints relative to front/back, it is the lean in/out toward the center of the K frame between the bjs. More like a 2nd camber sort of. It has a lot to do with the returnability of the steering wheel to a straight position when you let go of
it after a turn. But w/o the weight of the m/t on it, it don't come back like it should. He has 4 choices; trailer, tow truck, put motor in it or have someone ride in it to help steer it back straight. If it is on the way to the body shop to get painted I would eliminate the put motor back in idea for now.

Back in the days before I had a trailer to tow with, I used a tow bar. One time I tried towing my Duster when the motor was out. Had to tie the wheel. Turns were hard because I had to drag it around the corners. Before my return trip, I backed off the torsion bar adjusters. Made it home without having to drag the front tires on corners. The wheels followed the track once the ride hight was original. Maybe I was just lucky.


Cecil

I backed off the torsion bars to a more original height. I tied the wheel and tried it and it worked much better. I am taking it to be steam cleaned and a few other odds and ends. Paint and body as well but I am budget constrained right now. I can't afford to rent something every time I want to take it someplace. Also I only need to go a few miles so I'm gonna try it on a day when the roads aren't too busy. Also there is a ton of construction going on and there are a few roads I can take where the speed limit is 25 so I won't be buggin too many drivers. I drove it around the neighborhood this evening and it seems to ride fine but I just may have someone ride in it. Can't get the motor in for while.

Thanks.