When I purchased my 62 rag, it was complete with a 4 pump set up and 14" cylinders. Everything worked rather well, however two things became readily apparent:
1) When the car is locked up, the trac-arm causes the diff to get pulled to the front of the drivers side wheel well. So much so that the tire actually touches it. This is caused because the trac arm is a fixed length. As the diff moves through its range of motion, the trac arm cannot adjust for this amount of travel. Thus in turn it pulls the diff forward and to one side. That was an easy fix: Ron @ Black Magic supplied me with a wishbone. After several hours with the plasma cutter and welder, the diff moves straight up and down with the added plus of maintaining correct driveshaft geometry.
2) Now the reason for this post: When you drop a rear corner to three wheel, the bushings on the lower control arm bind and twist. My solution to this is to fabricate new lower control arms, but instead of retaining the bushings at either end, use heim joints (also called ball ends). This would provide a more positive manner in which to locate the rear end, as well as allow for full articulation of the diff. The upside of rubber bushings is that they provide an additional amount cushion, and soften the blow from potholes, bumps, et cetera. The downside of hard mounting the control arms is a more harsh ride. Since I am running hydros, ride quality is not a paramount concern.
Is there anyone else that has encountered the same problems, and had or has the desire to fix it? I went to a well known hydraulic shop and when I inquired about this issue I was told, and I quote "We just deal with it. Nuthin you can do about it. Ya just gotta deal with it."
Oh hell no.
While I am an experienced fabricator, I am not in the mood to re-invent the wheel. Somewhere someone has encountered this problem, thought about it, and solved it. My car is not going to be a hopper, so merely cobbling up some square tubing is not the answer I am after. I am kicking around some ideas as I write this, and if it means sitting down at the drafting table and designing it myself, then so it shall be. However, there are for more knowledgable people out there than myself, and there may be potential issues that have not yet crossed my mind. I do not do this for a living; others do, so it is their advice I seek.
I have to go to Las Vegas on business this week; I will visit Ron and see what he has done to remedy this.
1) When the car is locked up, the trac-arm causes the diff to get pulled to the front of the drivers side wheel well. So much so that the tire actually touches it. This is caused because the trac arm is a fixed length. As the diff moves through its range of motion, the trac arm cannot adjust for this amount of travel. Thus in turn it pulls the diff forward and to one side. That was an easy fix: Ron @ Black Magic supplied me with a wishbone. After several hours with the plasma cutter and welder, the diff moves straight up and down with the added plus of maintaining correct driveshaft geometry.
2) Now the reason for this post: When you drop a rear corner to three wheel, the bushings on the lower control arm bind and twist. My solution to this is to fabricate new lower control arms, but instead of retaining the bushings at either end, use heim joints (also called ball ends). This would provide a more positive manner in which to locate the rear end, as well as allow for full articulation of the diff. The upside of rubber bushings is that they provide an additional amount cushion, and soften the blow from potholes, bumps, et cetera. The downside of hard mounting the control arms is a more harsh ride. Since I am running hydros, ride quality is not a paramount concern.
Is there anyone else that has encountered the same problems, and had or has the desire to fix it? I went to a well known hydraulic shop and when I inquired about this issue I was told, and I quote "We just deal with it. Nuthin you can do about it. Ya just gotta deal with it."
Oh hell no.
While I am an experienced fabricator, I am not in the mood to re-invent the wheel. Somewhere someone has encountered this problem, thought about it, and solved it. My car is not going to be a hopper, so merely cobbling up some square tubing is not the answer I am after. I am kicking around some ideas as I write this, and if it means sitting down at the drafting table and designing it myself, then so it shall be. However, there are for more knowledgable people out there than myself, and there may be potential issues that have not yet crossed my mind. I do not do this for a living; others do, so it is their advice I seek.
I have to go to Las Vegas on business this week; I will visit Ron and see what he has done to remedy this.
