1985 Monte Carlo SS known as Barney

[rixtrix1]

Interesting, Lance. Will you now have to box your frame and add more support for the third link or will this bolt in under the floor? The upper bracket template looks a lot shorter than most "racecar" 3-links.

[SSLance]

3 link parts are in, install has begun. I'm so stoked about this, for sure the biggest upgrade I've made to the car since probably the Big Brake kit 4.5 years ago. I guess the big front sway bar was a big upgrade also, but this install will take care of a need this car has wanted for over 10 years. So happy to finally be making it happen.

First pics of the parts...



Upper link frame and axle mounts



Where the upper link bolts to the frame crossmember.



There is an included backing plate with locknuts welded to it that slides up between frame and body that the link bracket through bolts too.



Axle side gets welded to the housing.



Frame side Pan Hard Bar mount bolts to frame in several locations with load spread all over the frame on both sides. Uses some existing holes to line up and some new holes had to be drilled. Here it is almost in it's spot during mock up.









Today's tasks involve drilling the holes and getting the frame side upper link bracket installed, then cleaning up and painting all the frame areas before attaching the PHB bracket for the last time. Then the plan is to take it to a friends place to weld the bracket to the housing and fab up some extra support for the axle side PHB mount then install it. I've got a local race on January 16th and really want to finish this up and get some street time on it tuning before then. It'll be tight, wish me luck.

[SSLance]

Originally Posted by rixtrix1

Interesting, Lance. Will you now have to box your frame and add more support for the third link or will this bolt in under the floor? The upper bracket template looks a lot shorter than most "racecar" 3-links.

See above ^

Bernie Duplan that designed this setup has been running it on his MCSS for a year, including several autocross events and has had no issues. The short answer is "we'll see" but I do not anticipate the need for any further reinforcement.

The car needed to get the axle side upper link mount lower to correct the horrible Instant Center and Rear Roll Center height. IC was 35" in front of axle centerline with 100% Anti Squat as it was, looking to get AS in the 70-75% range and RCH somewhere below axle centerline to start out.

[ScotI]

That link looks to be about a similar length vs. the GNX piece.

I'm liking the way everything looks! Let Bernie know there's interest.

[Tinker]

Looks good Lance.
I really like the fine adjustment on the panhard bar instead of just several holes. We ran a similar adjustment setup on our stock car some years ago. It sure makes it easier to creep up on your adjustments.

[mfain]

Looks great Lance! Have you measured the pinion angle change with travel with the short third link? Where are you racing in January?

Pappy

[SSLance]

Originally Posted by mfain

Looks great Lance! Have you measured the pinion angle change with travel with the short third link? Where are you racing in January?

Pappy

No, not yet as the axle side isn't welded on yet. I don't expect t it to be much different then it easier though as the OEM uppers were at such an angle and pretty short themselves effectively.

We are at AMP on the skid pad January 16 with SCCA.

[SSLance]

More progress made today. All fab work finished up, all parts freshly painted and shop cleaned up. Tomorrow final install, then road test!!! The turn downs on the mufflers really quieted it down a lot, I think it'll pass sound like this.

[rixtrix1]

Originally Posted by ScotI

That link looks to be about a similar length vs. the GNX piece.

I'm liking the way everything looks! Let Bernie know there's interest.

Also looks a lot like the S197 Mustang upper link. 8.5"RCH worked out fine roadracing our 94 Mustang GT with a MM TA rear suspension. It looks like you will have plenty of adjustment to get into the sweet spot. I doubt if you will have enough axle movement with your setup on an autoX course to worry too much about pinion angle change, as long as it's set right static.

[SSLance]

Looking at it today after getting the axle mount in place, the new link will actually be longer than the OEM links are now, front to back wise, by a couple inches at least. Axle upper link mount is about 2" behind and 2" lower than old axle side link mounts.

I'll get exact measurements tomorrow as I'll need to plot pivot points for initial setup.