Yesterday I replied to the POTD thread with a few pictures and explanation of a pinion angle gauge I made. I built the gauge so I could check the pinion angle on my wife's 1968 Camaro before I begin installing a canted four bar rear suspension I'm building. Below are a few pictures of the suspension parts I've made. Been working on this for about two years but some work still needs to be done. I'm now at the trial and fit stage. As I move through the project I'll post more pictures.
The first two pictures are of the side and lower stiffener plates. The lower plates will be welded to the side plates once they are positioned on the frame side rails. The holes in the lower plates are for square U-bolts. Still need to drill six holes in each side plate for plug welding.
These next three pictures are of the lower links, spring plates and lower coil over shock mounts. The holes in each end of the links will be bored to fit high misalignment spherical bearings. The link attaches at the front leaf spring mounting location using the original bracket.
The lower shock brackets will be welded to the spring plates once the rear end is located correctly under the car. U-bolts over the axle tubes and through holes in the spring plates attaches this assembly to the rear end. Didn't take a picture of the upper shock mount but it's a 1-1/2" x 3/16" wall square tube that will span between the two frame rails and weld to the side stiffener plates.
These last two pictures show the upper links and attachment brackets. The links are made of heat treated 4340 steel about 40 - 45 Rc. Probably overkill but I got a good deal on three feet of TGP that I couldn't pass up. As of now they are machined for poly bushings but I may change to the same high misalignment spherical bearings I'm using on the lower links. The front brackets weld to the side stiffener plates and the two tabs with the large internal radius get welded to the rear end. The links have adjustment so the pinion angle can be adjusted.
As you can see these are the major components of the project. Still have several gussets and brackets to make and some machining to do. Should be a fun project.
Tom S
The first two pictures are of the side and lower stiffener plates. The lower plates will be welded to the side plates once they are positioned on the frame side rails. The holes in the lower plates are for square U-bolts. Still need to drill six holes in each side plate for plug welding.
These next three pictures are of the lower links, spring plates and lower coil over shock mounts. The holes in each end of the links will be bored to fit high misalignment spherical bearings. The link attaches at the front leaf spring mounting location using the original bracket.
The lower shock brackets will be welded to the spring plates once the rear end is located correctly under the car. U-bolts over the axle tubes and through holes in the spring plates attaches this assembly to the rear end. Didn't take a picture of the upper shock mount but it's a 1-1/2" x 3/16" wall square tube that will span between the two frame rails and weld to the side stiffener plates.
These last two pictures show the upper links and attachment brackets. The links are made of heat treated 4340 steel about 40 - 45 Rc. Probably overkill but I got a good deal on three feet of TGP that I couldn't pass up. As of now they are machined for poly bushings but I may change to the same high misalignment spherical bearings I'm using on the lower links. The front brackets weld to the side stiffener plates and the two tabs with the large internal radius get welded to the rear end. The links have adjustment so the pinion angle can be adjusted.
As you can see these are the major components of the project. Still have several gussets and brackets to make and some machining to do. Should be a fun project.
Tom S