There are good threads on handling mods already on the board, but I'll give you my 2 cents. First off, you have to look at the frame and suspension as a system. Older sport standards had a wider steering head angle, narrower tires, and less rigid frames than the new stuff. Newer designs require a steeper steering head angle because fatter, stickier modern tires would otherwise slow down steering. Modern frames are made to take the stresses that result.
If your goal is quicker, more linear steering on your Special, mount a 2.15/18 rear rim with a 110/90 tire and lift the rear with the best shocks you can afford in 13.5" to 14" eye-to-eye length. Add a fork stabilizer; the T-Kat unit is a good one, Google it. The front forks are typical for the period--undersprung and overdamped. I've used Race Tech emulators with correctly rated straight rate springs for years. There are cheaper options out there (YSS for example), but if you get the emulators and springs from Traxxion Dynamics you'll also get the best customer service and tech support going: www.traxxion.com Finally, get rid of useless weight wherever you can.
The above is just one way to liven things up; gggGary has done some great work with a different approach, give his threads a read. Remember: when you tighten things up in one spot, you'll be adding new stresses in others.
If your goal is quicker, more linear steering on your Special, mount a 2.15/18 rear rim with a 110/90 tire and lift the rear with the best shocks you can afford in 13.5" to 14" eye-to-eye length. Add a fork stabilizer; the T-Kat unit is a good one, Google it. The front forks are typical for the period--undersprung and overdamped. I've used Race Tech emulators with correctly rated straight rate springs for years. There are cheaper options out there (YSS for example), but if you get the emulators and springs from Traxxion Dynamics you'll also get the best customer service and tech support going: www.traxxion.com Finally, get rid of useless weight wherever you can.
The above is just one way to liven things up; gggGary has done some great work with a different approach, give his threads a read. Remember: when you tighten things up in one spot, you'll be adding new stresses in others.