Since I dislocated my shoulder, I knew I had some time between Hallett and ECR... Something Richard Pedersen said at Hallett really struck me.
"Why try and move everything to the back for weight balance when you can just move the entire car..."
Well, that's what I've done.. The rear axle is now 1" further forward and the front hubs are 2 1/2" further forward since the last time anyone has seen the car.
Rear End
I started by cutting out the rear torque boxes (they suck anyway, right) and building my own boxes from 1/4" and 1/8" plate. This would allow me to go from a 14" tubular rear control arm to a 23" tubular rear control arm, ala "World Challenge" of the early 90's... The torque arm frame mount was welded in, so I had to shorten the torque arm by an inch. Since the rear end was 1" further forward, I wanted to keep the relative angle of the rear shocks the same, so we built some aluminum spacers 1" thick in the same contour as the shock mount. I had to have a custom driveshaft built which is 1.5" shorter than stock to ensure I don't destroy the tranny under bump. I can't leave well enough alone, and to allow for more tuning, I cut out the panhard bar and installed a Griggs Racing Watts Link so I can adjust the rear roll center. With the rear moved forward 1", the tire still can go thru full compression without hitting the wheel well. I still have to flare to use the 1" spacers. For ECR, it will most likely run a narrow track width, unless I get really good at building flares between then and now...
Marshall's take on World Challenge torque boxes
Here they are installed.
Torque arm in pieces
Torque arm back together
Rear partially assembled with rear shock spacers installed.
Watts link partially installed (no frame mount yet)
Rear moved forward 1".
What I will eventually cover with some flares, which hopefully will be integrated into side skirts... maybe.
Here are the flares without the side skirts.
Front End
To move the front track forward, my idea was to utilize the stock MM K-member and modify the lower arms to accept heim joints and them push the arms further forward. Nothing that a few weld inserts and rod ends from Coleman can't handle. The front went forward about 2 1/2", so I had to move the rack as well. I was able to get right at an inch of foward movement before the front oil pan sump stopped me. There is no real way to move the rack in front of the oil pan (at least that I could tell). I still have to finish cutting the fenders and dealing with how to flare/cover what I have left.
Control arms in pieces
Here is a picture of the front assembled, but without the spacers between the rod ends and the heim joints... Those were custom made to measure.
Silver spacers on the rack and pinion.
Here is what I ended up with... 102.25" wheelbase
Flares anyone??
Do we ever get done jacking with any of our crap??? Now I just need to build a compliant dash....
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Originally Posted by marshall_mosty
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