gen 2 roadrace 3 link

race-rodz · 12-03-2007, 02:11 AM

i normally post in 1st gen section, but i had a lil project goin that fits in to this section.

the truck had a standard belltech hanger/shackle drop. a lil road trip to so cal last week (1500 miles) netted 2 busted shocks, snapped the top ends off of both shocks.....long story, but got it home with stock length "cheapo" shocks from autozone, installed in the parking lot with 2 cresent wrenches.

anyway, i was planning on doin this with my 1st gen, but "pops" truck got it instead. 3 link roadrace style, coilovers, and a watts link. lowere links use jonny joints in the front, bushings in the rear, top link is rh/lh 3/4x5/8 heim joints. coilovers are qa1's starting out with 550# springs....may be changed to better suit the ride/handling needs. geometry was done with perf trends software. all parts fabricated in my shop.

still finishing up the watts link and rear frame crossmembers, will be framing in for an ATI fuel cell to be added later. but here are the pics so far.

DISSASSEMBLED

SPARE TIRE CARRIER REMOVAL

LOWER LINK/COILOVER MOUNTS

UPPER LINK MOUNT

race-rodz · 12-03-2007, 02:16 AM

LINK BARS

LINK FRAME MOUNTS

DRIVERSIDE HANGER/LINK INSTALLED

TOP LINK INSTALLED

COILOVER MOUNTING

race-rodz · 12-03-2007, 02:20 AM

i will post more pics tomorrow when it gets finished up, expect a full report on ride, performance characteristics.

ilaybrk · 12-03-2007, 03:07 AM

Wow I think it all looks great and the third link works to adj your pinnion angle but I think you need a 4th link as in a panhard bar to keep the dif centered who made that kit.

race-rodz · 12-03-2007, 03:47 AM

it uses a watts link to keep it centered (not installed yet, the gold colored links in the pic go to the watts link). watts link is more complicated, but far superior to a panhard.... from both a performance and a migrating roll center standpoint.

nothing is a "kit", everything is designed and fabbed in house.

this set up should work extremely well for drag racing also, as designed, it has 96% anti-squat, while i could have made it over 100% AS, but the svsa gets too short which will cause brake hop and roll steer issues(similar to a typical drag race 4 link)

rpm620 · 12-03-2007, 04:06 AM

Think about making this into a kit? how much welding is required for installation?

race-rodz · 12-03-2007, 04:16 AM

if you notice almost everything is, or could be bolt on except on the housing. the lower link/shock mounts would need to be welded on....and minor grinding on the top needed to let the top link bracket sit flat/level.

the only problem with making it "kit form", every truck is different, this set-up is designed for THIS truck, ride height will change everything in the geometry. a "kit" would need to be made adjustable.... for fine tuning.

im not saying its out of the question, but i have a lot on my plate right now....as im sure you can tell from the background of the pics.

tow man · 12-03-2007, 06:26 AM

Looks like a very nice system. The only part i'd worry about at all is the size of the upper link. It needs to be realy strong. Expect more rear end noise. They tend to be noisier then a four link. Good looking job tho. Let us know how it runs. Thanks

cthunder55 · 12-03-2007, 08:13 AM

you reduced a lot of rigidity in the frame by cutting out the rear X brace.

Pitstain · 12-03-2007, 08:40 AM

I sit here looking at these pictures, and while the setup looks great it still makes me a bit sad, I have been designing a 3-link setup for a little while now, and then you go and beat me to it......LOL

The setup really looks great, and I would really like to discuss a few things about it with you, WAYYYY too much to type out on here, expect a PM from me.

Ian

Tim Skelton · 12-03-2007, 09:57 AM

Awesome. Simply awesome.

All of the joints look exactly like what I have penciled out.

My only concern is whether the crossmember needs to be reinforced.

I want one!

Tim Skelton · 12-03-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthunder55

you reduced a lot of rigidity in the frame by cutting out the rear X brace.

Perhaps, but what rigidity is needed back there? This system focuses all of the forces all the way up by the front crossmember.

Pitstain · 12-03-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Skelton

........I want one!

Traitor !!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Skelton

Perhaps, but what rigidity is needed back there? This system focuses all of the forces all the way up by the front crossmember.

The upper coil over mounts are applying force to the framrails slightly behind the axle, but I am sure the crossmember for the watts link will make that area plenty strong.

I would remove the factory X as well if I were going to install a fuel cell, there are not many other ways to do it.

Tim Skelton · 12-03-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by race-rodz

. . . the only problem with making it "kit form", every truck is different, this set-up is designed for THIS truck, ride height will change everything in the geometry. a "kit" would need to be made adjustable.... for fine tuning. . .

Hey, make the kit, and I'll set my ride height to whatever you want.

svtrickey · 12-03-2007, 11:35 AM

Looks great let us now how it rides. I do the Auto-cross seen a lot and would love to see this turn in to a kit.

12-03-2007, 02:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
race-rodz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 90 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	gen 2 roadrace 3 link i normally post in 1st gen section, but i had a lil project goin that fits in to this section. the truck had a standard belltech hanger/shackle drop. a lil road trip to so cal last week (1500 miles) netted 2 busted shocks, snapped the top ends off of both shocks.....long story, but got it home with stock length "cheapo" shocks from autozone, installed in the parking lot with 2 cresent wrenches. anyway, i was planning on doin this with my 1st gen, but "pops" truck got it instead. 3 link roadrace style, coilovers, and a watts link. lowere links use jonny joints in the front, bushings in the rear, top link is rh/lh 3/4x5/8 heim joints. coilovers are qa1's starting out with 550# springs....may be changed to better suit the ride/handling needs. geometry was done with perf trends software. all parts fabricated in my shop. still finishing up the watts link and rear frame crossmembers, will be framing in for an ATI fuel cell to be added later. but here are the pics so far. DISSASSEMBLED SPARE TIRE CARRIER REMOVAL LOWER LINK/COILOVER MOUNTS UPPER LINK MOUNT

12-03-2007, 09:57 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tim Skelton El Jefe Join Date: May 2002 Location: People's Republic of Los Angeles Posts: 6,553 View this user's gallery iTrader: 6 / 100%	Awesome. Simply awesome. All of the joints look exactly like what I have penciled out. My only concern is whether the crossmember needs to be reinforced. I want one! Last edited by Tim Skelton; 12-03-2007 at 10:01 AM..

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12-03-2007, 02:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
race-rodz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 90 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	LINK BARS LINK FRAME MOUNTS DRIVERSIDE HANGER/LINK INSTALLED TOP LINK INSTALLED COILOVER MOUNTING

12-03-2007, 02:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
race-rodz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 90 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	i will post more pics tomorrow when it gets finished up, expect a full report on ride, performance characteristics.

12-03-2007, 03:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
ilaybrk 11.73@117.28 stk blk 4dr Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: bealeton VA Posts: 1,961 View this user's gallery iTrader: 14 / 100%	Wow I think it all looks great and the third link works to adj your pinnion angle but I think you need a 4th link as in a panhard bar to keep the dif centered who made that kit.

12-03-2007, 03:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
race-rodz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 90 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	it uses a watts link to keep it centered (not installed yet, the gold colored links in the pic go to the watts link). watts link is more complicated, but far superior to a panhard.... from both a performance and a migrating roll center standpoint. nothing is a "kit", everything is designed and fabbed in house. this set up should work extremely well for drag racing also, as designed, it has 96% anti-squat, while i could have made it over 100% AS, but the svsa gets too short which will cause brake hop and roll steer issues(similar to a typical drag race 4 link)

12-03-2007, 04:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
rpm620 95 E36 M3 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Great Falls, VA Posts: 763 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	Think about making this into a kit? how much welding is required for installation?

12-03-2007, 04:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
race-rodz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 90 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	if you notice almost everything is, or could be bolt on except on the housing. the lower link/shock mounts would need to be welded on....and minor grinding on the top needed to let the top link bracket sit flat/level. the only problem with making it "kit form", every truck is different, this set-up is designed for THIS truck, ride height will change everything in the geometry. a "kit" would need to be made adjustable.... for fine tuning. im not saying its out of the question, but i have a lot on my plate right now....as im sure you can tell from the background of the pics.

12-03-2007, 06:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
tow man New Ride GT500 Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,024 View this user's gallery iTrader: 4 / 100%	Looks like a very nice system. The only part i'd worry about at all is the size of the upper link. It needs to be realy strong. Expect more rear end noise. They tend to be noisier then a four link. Good looking job tho. Let us know how it runs. Thanks

12-03-2007, 08:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
cthunder55 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Back on the right coast... Posts: 1,558 View this user's gallery iTrader: 0 / 0%	you reduced a lot of rigidity in the frame by cutting out the rear X brace.

12-03-2007, 08:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
Pitstain I am a jerk and banned! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gone! Posts: 0 View this user's gallery iTrader: 4 / 100%	I sit here looking at these pictures, and while the setup looks great it still makes me a bit sad, I have been designing a 3-link setup for a little while now, and then you go and beat me to it......LOL The setup really looks great, and I would really like to discuss a few things about it with you, WAYYYY too much to type out on here, expect a PM from me. Ian

12-03-2007, 11:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
svtrickey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 485 View this user's gallery iTrader: 1 / 100%	Looks great let us now how it rides. I do the Auto-cross seen a lot and would love to see this turn in to a kit.