dummies

i'm the dummy!! ever sincepassing my test many many years ago have always been smitten by old cars therefore have never owned a modern one as time goes on now its gettin more and more apparent that im going to need to put a modern engine in my ride can someone please explain to me how they work...

For (today's) dream project ;) I'm thinking of an IFS with inboard coilovers, mainly for aesthetic reasons. Can anyone point me in the right direction for reading/research material relating to the ins & outs of suspension (more specifically IFS/IRS). Don't want anything overly technical, but...