Watt's Linkage

[Capnbondo]

Referencing this goofy project of mine:

http://www.pbase.com/capnbondo/image/90754895/large.jpg

So - my wagon has a ford explorer 8.8 diff swap and I want to run the big beefy aluminum cover/girdle, but my panhard bar didn't clear.

Since I am running 18x10.5" and 285's, even with the modded fenders, clearance is at a bit of a premium, and a watts link will keep the axle more centered as the suspension articulates.

I always thought watts links were cool so I figured why not.

I had a tough time trying to weld to the diff cover, it's just a fairly thick piece I guess.

Having no wave balance control on my Dialarc doesn't help I think- only have 50% duty really neuters it. Even with a few hundred degree of preheat and around 230amps it was hard to get a good puddle going. Wave balance, helium, or a BIG torch for preheat or all of the above would maybe have made it easier? Anyways it's ok I think.


Make a big hole in the diff cover:
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll214/WatsonFab/watts/DSC01431.jpg

Stick a piece of 1-1/8" aluminum round bar in:

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll214/WatsonFab/watts/DSC01433.jpg

Weld the ever-loving **** out of it + gusset:

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll214/WatsonFab/watts/DSC01437.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll214/WatsonFab/watts/DSC01440.jpg

Just needs to be chucked in the mill to be faced off flat and drilled/tapped to accept a 5/8" grade 8 stud. This will be the pivot for the bell crank.

Added the mount for the lower link (6" drop link- will be a 6" long bell crank):

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll214/WatsonFab/watts/DSC01441.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll214/WatsonFab/watts/DSC01444.jpg

Just gotta make the bell crank and add studs to the subframe and it's done.

:drinkup:

[chopper5]

looking good so far:cool2:,im building a watts link for my 2006 gt mustang

[drivethruboy54]

im going back and forth between a watts and a triangulated 4 link on an explorer 8.8 (31 spline axles 4.10s and limited slip) in my 66 project.

Keep it up, looks good so far

[Kubs]

I've always needed some Cheap Warcraft gold... so convenient to have this random post on a welding website.

[Craig in Denver]

Capn:
I always enjoy your projects. :) But remember, when your pics are wider than 800, your text gets clipped. And there's no scroll bar, so others can't see the right side of the photo or text. :cry:

Kubs:
At the top right of each post is a red triangle. Click on that, wait for the box; type "spam". Then click on "Send Report". Rojo and his buddies will delete the spammer, post haste. :cool: :D

[Kubs]

Sweet didn't know that.

[Capnbondo]

Capn:
I always enjoy your projects. :) But remember, when your pics are wider than 800, your text gets clipped. And there's no scroll bar, so others can't see the right side of the photo or text. :cry:




Crap., well that sucks... :nono::mad:

Thanks for pointing it out though! That is a bummer, I will either post smaller ones or format the text to it is readable, in fact, I'll try that now...

Thanks!