Clearanced Drag Link

[evilcactuar]

I went down and met ChevyArt over the weekend, and picked up a nice set of slotted mags from him. I've been on for a bit, but have mostly pm'ed the people i've talked to, because i'm just not that social I'll try to get a project journal going sometime soon and introduce myself properly, but I digress. While I was down, Art asked me to put up a couple pictures of a drag link he had modified for clearance. It looks plenty strong to me, it's a seriously stout piece. And BTW, Art, like the other people i've talked with on the forum, is a hell of a good guy. He's also got a ton of parts, so hes a good guy to know.

IMG00083-20100411-1154.jpg (150.56 KiB) Viewed 1285 times

IMG00084-20100411-1155.jpg (195.35 KiB) Viewed 1285 times

[hammerdown7]

Great looking welds! What about ground clearance? Are there changes to the K-member?

Dick

[chevy art]

the stock k frame cleared the stock center link by around 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch and i had this link lower about 1 1/4 below stock, so i am going to lower the k frame about 3/4 inch. i will post the exact measurements on all the parts soon, i am going out under that vega today to play. i will let you know the exact measurements of this mod asap hope this helps with a nagging problem we have with our beloved h-bodies art

[Ishiftem]

Looks good Art. I don't see you having any trouble with it.

[AusRs]

great looking welds ........however personally i would not use it ! have seen to many issues over the years with converted cars (left to right ) and welded drag links !

[chevy art]

hey aus the guy that did this link for me is a 70 yr old professional race car and chassis builder for alot of NHRA cars. he has been around since the 1960s doing this work and if he says no problem ,then i take that as gospel. there are alot more parts than this piece on race cars that are held together by welds and take alot more abuse and they hold. i am betting the farm on his welds. you guys can let your oil pans ride on the center links, but not me art

[80 MONZTA]

Since it is gusseted, I would have no worries using it. If the gussets were not there, you could not pay me to use it!

[chevy art]

good observation 80 monza. a few key areas need a little extra to make a part like this safe and useable. sure hope you guys learn to trust a new idea. there were so many negatives about doing this link this way and i really believe all the negatives were based on heresays and not wanting to believe something can be done . i sure hope this is a plus for the h-body suspension builds art

[BBVEGA]

I guess I missed the, Why?

[chevy art]

if why is about my saying good observation, then it is because he recognized the importance of that gusset being welded in there. that gussett is the show(strength) . like i said i am betting the farm on that piece holding up. if the why is for something else explain the question and hopefully i will have a good answer art

[starfire383]

I'm guessing the why is to run a big baffled oil pan like an LS1.

The key to safety here is the centerlink is a forging, and thus made of steel. Not cast iron. Huge difference in weldability.

[chevy art]

starfire had nothing to do with the big LS1 pan. all the pans on the small blocks just barely clear by a whisker, and every one (oil pan) i look at seems to have center link rash on them. i want clearance and i got it, and the guy that did this is a real professional chassis builder. he didnt do the job just to get my money and run. he had full confidence in what he did. did you ever see the job that norcelace did when he heated and bent his. more heat had to be applied to do what he did. he was the first and probably only one to do it that way, and he is still on the road.. he is still the center link alteration champ in my book. im sort of like a copycat guy with my alteration.i strongly feel that this link will never be a problem. art

[gmagilla]

So why not just heat it and bend it like norcelace did ? As long as it's hot enough not to crack when bending it , I would trust that over a weld . A weld can get a crack in it you won't see till it's to late . I don't think any NHRA , IHRA , NASCAR driver would drive a car with a welded drag link . Gusset on outside but not on inside , because of clearance to pan ?

[chevy art]

forgot to say that the bottom piece is also machined into the round piece before welding. dont worry, i wont ask all the critics to ride with me art

[BBVEGA]

Wouldn't it have been easier, and safer, to raise the motor 1/2" for clearance?