Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Best technical articles on the forums. Send nominations to the admins. You can reply to topics but only admins can make new ones.

Moderator: Moderators

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby gt350fme » Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:09 pm

Welding under the car was tuff, got a few burns from hot stuff falling on me, not pretty but it should help handle the load.
Also of note, the Spohn upper control arms use larger 1/2 inch bolts!, also note the now thicker 3 layer LCA flange bolt holes, Peterpans inspiration there.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1964 Chevy panel K30
1973 GT Vega Hatchback
1977 Chevy K20
1984 944 porsche
1992 Lexus SC 400
User avatar
gt350fme
 
Posts: 626
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:40 pm
Location: North coast California

1973 Chevrolet Vega GT


Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby rustorbust » Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:17 pm

I took the car out a couple weeks ago when it was like 95 degrees and had a major head wind and I was able to get a 6.66 out of it with a 75 shot. last weekend I took it out friday night and it was perfect out, elevation was good and it was like 65 degrees and dry out. It went 6.78 on the motor sliding all over the place. It was the last pass of the night, the track was completely going away. But I have a video of it that is kinda shitty. The beggining is a little blury but it clears up.

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/r ... OV0011.flv
rustorbust
 
Posts: 216
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:47 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

1973 Chevrolet Vega

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby waybad » Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:09 pm

rustorbust wrote:I took the car out a couple weeks ago when it was like 95 degrees and had a major head wind and I was able to get a 6.66 out of it with a 75 shot. last weekend I took it out friday night and it was perfect out, elevation was good and it was like 65 degrees and dry out. It went 6.78 on the motor sliding all over the place. It was the last pass of the night, the track was completely going away. But I have a video of it that is kinda shitty. The beggining is a little blury but it clears up.

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/r ... OV0011.flv

DAMN that was fun :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Thanks TC
Tinker
User avatar
waybad
 
Posts: 1794
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:03 am

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby gerbsinmd » Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:34 am

YUP that WAS fun!!!!!!
1999 Saturn SL2
2017 Cruze Hatchback
2008 Town & Country - Family transport
2018 Cruze - 35mpg - avg, 49.7mpg - best so far.
2011 Impala - commuter
RIP-2002 Saturn SL2 Commuter car - burned a valve @ 234k miles

1977 Monza Mirage being Restified!!
User avatar
gerbsinmd
 
Posts: 2062
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:48 pm
Location: Dunkirk, MD

1977 Chevrolet Monza Mirage

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby gt350fme » Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:37 pm

Good video, must have watched it 10 times, I dream of the day mine will run too.
1964 Chevy panel K30
1973 GT Vega Hatchback
1977 Chevy K20
1984 944 porsche
1992 Lexus SC 400
User avatar
gt350fme
 
Posts: 626
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:40 pm
Location: North coast California

1973 Chevrolet Vega GT

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby 70styleVega » Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:03 am

gt350fme said:
Welding under the car was tuff, got a few burns from hot stuff falling on me, not pretty but it should help handle the load.
Also of note, the Spohn upper control arms use larger 1/2 inch bolts!, also note the now thicker 3 layer LCA flange bolt holes, Peterpans inspiration there.

Thanks for the photos.... they were a big help. I hadn't seen PeterPan's LCA flange mod. I'm still trying to determine the best way to get a decent 60 foot time on a budget, so I'm looking hard at the close to stock suspension mods. What's your 60 foot time with the Spohn parts?

Rustorbust, I had to watch it a couple of times too. I can't wait until mine will move under it's own power. :dance:
75 Vega hatchback, EFI 5.3L/t350 swap kit, street/strip, budget build in progress
70styleVega
 
Posts: 133
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:09 pm
Location: Salisbury, MD

1975 Chevrolet Vega

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby gt350fme » Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:37 pm

Hey 70styleVega, my Vega is still in the build stage, so I know not the 60 ft time yet, I am aware that others here have turned very respectable qtr mile times with the stock set up, weld up, box up, those control arms and flanges, and new poly bushings should get you where you want to go, I chose the spohn control arms for there adjustability and added strength.
lowering the lower control arm bolt hole on the axle housing flange is another simple mod that is supposed to help a lot, I forget the measurement, its like 2 inches? lower than the stock hole, anyone remember exactly? I have it somewhere, I may do that mod as well.
From what I have read, the biggest problem with the stock set up is wheel hop, and keeping the car straight under power.
1964 Chevy panel K30
1973 GT Vega Hatchback
1977 Chevy K20
1984 944 porsche
1992 Lexus SC 400
User avatar
gt350fme
 
Posts: 626
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:40 pm
Location: North coast California

1973 Chevrolet Vega GT

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby BigTruckDriver » Sun Jun 22, 2008 5:36 pm

The trianglulated four link is a good set up ,Its been used in highperformance chevy cars for many years. Everything from ss impalas ,comaros, and vettes use this type of set up. What I am trying to say is that the stock four link suspension is tried and true. You might have to add helper bags and possible a torque link and add some stiffening support but it will hook. I was all for backhalving my vega but it makes more since for me to keep what I got.
BigTruckDriver
 
Posts: 173
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:27 pm

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby Bacchus » Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:28 pm

gt350fme wrote:Hey 70styleVega, my Vega is still in the build stage, so I know not the 60 ft time yet, I am aware that others here have turned very respectable qtr mile times with the stock set up, weld up, box up, those control arms and flanges, and new poly bushings should get you where you want to go, I chose the spohn control arms for there adjustability and added strength.
lowering the lower control arm bolt hole on the axle housing flange is another simple mod that is supposed to help a lot, I forget the measurement, its like 2 inches? lower than the stock hole, anyone remember exactly? I have it somewhere, I may do that mod as well.
From what I have read, the biggest problem with the stock set up is wheel hop, and keeping the car straight under power.


Actually, you want to raise the uper mount hole on the axle. This is easier to do than lower the lower mount given the shock mount and all. Raising the upper is something that has been done since the 70's.

Chuck has done it on his car. He may have the photos to post.
1974 Vega Wagon
2007 Jeep GC LTD HEMI
2002 BMW 330XI
User avatar
Bacchus
 
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:06 pm
Location: Germantown, WI

1974 Chevrolet Vega Kammback

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby gt350fme » Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:50 pm

2 5/8 inch, is the number I found in my notes, sound correct, anyone?
1964 Chevy panel K30
1973 GT Vega Hatchback
1977 Chevy K20
1984 944 porsche
1992 Lexus SC 400
User avatar
gt350fme
 
Posts: 626
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:40 pm
Location: North coast California

1973 Chevrolet Vega GT

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby T-FATTY » Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:18 pm

Actually, you want to raise the uper mount hole on the axle. This is easier to do than lower the lower mount given the shock mount and all. Raising the upper is something that has been done since the 70's.

My car went from no traction, terrible wheel hop to traction, no wheel hop and car squating on launch with some hop-stop bars. Worth every penny!
YES I accept paypal donations...
T-FATTY
 
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2007 10:46 pm
Location: Somerset, Mass.

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby 70styleVega » Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:50 pm

I'm still in the build stage as well, and I would like to try to make the factory four-link work.

So far on the rear axle, I've raised the UCA mounting points 2 inches.
Also the UCAs have been boxed with poly bushings added.The LCAs have been replaced with thick wall square tubing versions.
On the LCA body brackets, I plan to reinforce the mounting holes and tie the reinforcements into the SFCs that I plan to run under the doors and weld to the body seams.

The UCA body mounted brackets are where I couldn't find a "clean" solution.... I agree with Hoonbash who started this thread.
The bracket material is a little thin. From an engineering standpoint, the UCA bracket could use some plate stock welded to at least one of the side plates, where the bolt passes through. Just my 2 cents.

I'm looking to see what others have done.
75 Vega hatchback, EFI 5.3L/t350 swap kit, street/strip, budget build in progress
70styleVega
 
Posts: 133
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:09 pm
Location: Salisbury, MD

1975 Chevrolet Vega

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby 70styleVega » Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:01 am

Or maybe we'll take suggestions and blaze a new trail. :wink:
75 Vega hatchback, EFI 5.3L/t350 swap kit, street/strip, budget build in progress
70styleVega
 
Posts: 133
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:09 pm
Location: Salisbury, MD

1975 Chevrolet Vega

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby speedphreake » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:00 am

It's hard to see in these pics, but I fully welded the upper mounts. Then I added steel plate to the upper and lower part of the inside mounting flange to box it in. Once that is done, there is no way of accessing the nut for the control arm bolt. For that I simply drilled though the control arm bolt hole, through the sheet metal to the interior. Now I can access the nut from behind the back seat.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Re: Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby 70styleVega » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:11 pm

That's what I'm talking about.... :mrgreen:
Great idea.
Thanks, I'm going to use it as well, along with my own addition of welding an 1/8 inch thick vertical plate to outer mounting flange to reinforce the bolt hole, and tie the plate to the unibody above above and below the bolt hole. I'll post photos when I get that far.
75 Vega hatchback, EFI 5.3L/t350 swap kit, street/strip, budget build in progress
70styleVega
 
Posts: 133
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:09 pm
Location: Salisbury, MD

1975 Chevrolet Vega

PreviousNext

Return to Best Of

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests

cron