Aaron my friend ... holy crap! Shocked to hear this but I love your attitude! I have not been following as much here and on FB due to a number of things in my life but will be on the look out for good news from you.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Call if I can ever be of help?
Stay strong and God Bless you and your family,
RM
Thanks a bunch Ron. It's been a crazy 6 months for sure. Hope all is OK with you and your family.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1965_SS
Aaron,
I got an email update on your thread, got really excited to see something after almost a year........................
I wish you all the best for you and your family. You can beat this. I will be waiting for some more donuts when you get done doing your massive update on the G-Velle!!
Take care
Sorry to disappoint Todd! I promise to have car related updates in the near future, as well as updates on my condition.
Thanks for the update, Aaron! Sorry to hear the physical news, but with your strong and positive attitude, I'm sure you will persevere. I'll keep you in my prayers! Hoping to hear more good news about the car and you, too.
__________________
Ric
2002 S-10, Daily Driver and autoX
1966 Chevelle MALIBU ( mine since 1971) Drag car converting to a track car!
Ok on to some updates on the car instead of me! Thank you all for the well wishes though, things are moving along and I've started treatment. So far, so good everything has been going well.
So, I've been on a quest for the last few years (well since I built the car initially) to get bigger tires under it. 315's all around. After discussing options with Mr. Sutton, we came up with a plan to do just that. I had a few sacred cows those being: use my Forgeline wheels (widened of course), keep the back seat, not modify the exterior body. Other than massaging some fender lips, we're good on all counts so far!
Step One, disassemble:
Step Two, mock up big tars!
Some of these pictures are from some time ago as I've been working on and off the project for a while. So most likely, some may be out of chronological order sorry.
RSRT supplied the front clip (TA2 if I remember correctly, Ron please confirm) with all the trimmings as well as the data for me to build the rear suspension from a design that I did from scratch. As a lot of you know, I don't have the engineering company that I was partners in anymore, well since January 1st of 2017... So thankfully I had the design pretty much wrapped up in detail before then, the only real issue is I don't have access to the CNC machines to make the cool parts now! I'll figure out something as I only need a few items now.
I'm trying Google images instead of photobucket as I've not been happy with it really. So the images come in big! And videos I can only get to work as a link, not embedded. Anyway, here is some detail on the front RSRT clip:
Bare clip
So on to the rear setup. Like I mentioned, I had designed this setup with data points from Ron. One sacred cow (keep the back seat), kept me from getting a more ideal setup, but I was willing to make that sacrafice.
What I came up with was a 3-link to replace the factory tri-angulated 4-link with the addition of a Watt's link. It almost packages completely under the stock floor/trunk pan...I say almost because the upper 3rd link bracket needs a clearance area in the trunk "shelf" above the axle.
I jigged up the frame to a frame cart, setting it at ride height and tacking it down. After everything was squared up and true, I cut out the kick-up area over the axle. I drew up and had new frame rails laser cut out. They also utilize internal gusseting with tab-in-slot construction. They are really stout.
Here's the rear rail section during fab.
I originally had planned on a factory style tri-angulated 4-link with a Watts. But upon finding the CAD model going into bind with the addition of the Watts, and then confirming it with a few guys that actually had a Watts with a 4-link, I decided to go to the 3. Glad I did in hindsight, look for the link to the video below!
Ok here is the 3-link during fab/mock up (I know, the welds suck on the crossmber side plates...it was the very first thing I ever tig welded, I got better, honest!):
Once the axle was hung, I moved on to the Watts link, or Oberlink as it's been called. I wanted a chassis mounted bellcrank that packaged well, so this is what I came up with. It has rc adjustment from 7.5-12.5".
Pcs to build it (thanks UMI!):
Bell crank assembly, built by myself:
Assembly:
The last big part of the rear is the Strange housing and center section, a Pro HD aluminum case with a Detroit Locker and 3.70 gears, DSE C7 bearings and C6 brake brackets.
Mounted up:
And now, the cool part seeing it in action!
Next post I'll show some of the other parts that were custom made.
So in order to build a rear setup that is basically a one-off, it requires a bunch of custom parts. There was a ton including all of the laser cut parts (almost 40 pcs there alone).
Here are some of the laser cut and machined pcs.
Rear lower shock mounts:
Axle tube mounts for the Watts, also the rear sway bar attaches directly to this bracket. A top clam shell clamp was also made.
Some of the link eyes in process. I made both right and left hand versions so they are on-car adjustable.
The milling steps to make them, not including turning and threading.
Here are the 3 links and the lower shock mounts all finished up and powder coated.
I went with a transmission mount that was made from tab-and-slot construction as well.
Of course, I made the bell crank for the Watts...and a few spares
Can't seem to find the other pics, but that'll do for now. Should give you an idea.
Crap, do you have a Google account? I wonder if that's it.
Thanks Marcus
EDIT: Ok, I'm working on getting the photos transferred over the photobucket...grrrr. Thought I'd try something new...but nooooo.
They should be showing up now.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
Back to the car!
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