Suspension confusion.

[economiser]

Yes, I'm reading the stickies. Lots to absorb.
Hello,
I'm transforming a 71,477-mile garage refugee into a road warrior, just not high powered nor ugly.
I'm here because I need to create a new rear suspension for it, and I've chosen an offset 3 link with Watt's link.
It's also getting the front suspension / steering / brakes from an '87 RX-7, which is very different, supposedly bolt-in, and seems to need some welding and sectioning for the correct position, but my concern here is fore-aft tilt / anti-dive.
The car is at the paint shop right now.

[economiser]

More later.

[WSSix]

Welcome to the site. I'm sure you'll be able to find what you need in the suspension section. Let us know what else you're planning for the car. Good luck!

[economiser]

Thanks!
I realized it takes guts or cluelessness to post any car other than a first-gen Camaro here, but just reading the Ron Sutton stickies felt like a good reason to join. I have an '86 Camaro, and have had a '71, so maybe I won't get ejected
This RX-7 is getting the V6 engine from a '96 Camaro, the T5 from a '94 Camaro, the 7.5" axle from a '94 S-Blazer, because of a 2.29:1 axle ratio being installed.
This isn't my car, or I'd have the paint wait until after the mechanicals. The owner wants an occasional daily driver, and mostly a road trip car. So the primary goal is the capability of 50 MPG. Can't enjoy your touring if you can't afford it, right? To that end, it will be 1536 RPM at 65 MPH, and there's 2.41:1 gears if it needs more. Otherwise, I may go hunting the mythical 2.14:1 gears.
This T5 has a 3.75:1 first, and a 0.72;1 fifth. There's always the 4.03 / 0.76 set if needed, or going the other way, a 3.35 / 0.68 set.
Not much progress to show until the car returns from paint and a new windshield. I really don't like these particular exhaust manifolds, so I hope they don't fit. But I'm not changing the cam anytime soon, nor rockers, nor porting. 205 HP should suffice. I'm keeping it ULEV, because why not?
Others have made stock shifters work, I wish the B&M was in the plans.
I'll be fabbing a belly tray, I'll eventuall try both an airdam, then a rear spoiler, then both, all in the hunt for the MPG.
The rear brakes are from an '84 Trans Am I had, I re-drilled those rotors to fit '89 Mustang shafts. Now it all bolts together with the Auburn posi from a '94 Z28 that had the standard 2.73s.
Audio is simple: a brand new new, direct from Pioneer AM / FM head unit that plays old cassette tapes, plus a used Alpine 6-disc CD changer off E-Bay, and 4 new Pioneer 3-way speakers. That's it. No woofers, no subs, no bluetooth / satellite / I-pod / whatever the kids do now.
The tan interior got dyed gray, it turned out well. The new paint should be Navy blue. Seat covers will be custom.
I test-installed the gauges from a '94 Camaro, not bad, but needs work.
I sent the PCM to Ryan Gick at GMTuners.com, he's done well for me before.
The wheels were ordered before I knew about the front suspension swap, but the owner's desire for power steering sealed the deal. So now it is stuck with 195/55R15s on 15x7s. These particular wheels should allow 12.46" rotors with Evo 9 sourced Brembo 4-piston calipers up front, come spring. Partly because it will need inch thick adapters, to match the rear track, and for these high-offset wheels with smaller lug circles. I've seen how GM had 11.88" rotors inside steel 15s. Like a '77 police Caprice. So I measured the backs / insides of these.
So that's all for now.

[economiser]

[economiser]

Looks to me like the backlash was good at 0.008", but I need to replace the 0.030" pinion shim with a 0.040"

[economiser]

[economiser]

So here's my first mod, cutting for the third link. I'm copying a similar car here, and I'll post a pic of that after mine.





But mine will be adjustable.

[economiser]

64" overall width, versus 63 stock, so it'll tuck.





So I guess I'll have to space the backing plates ( which double as caliper brackets ) out a little.

[economiser]

I put a 0.045" cutting disc on my angle grinder, and started correcting the FC crossmember. In no particular order, here are the pics so far. BTW, if you copy this, you need to establish a baseline, do plenty of careful measuring and figuring, and keep track of your reference points. I'll give my exact measurements once my results are acceptable. If you do copy me, it is at your own risk, et cetera.