Clearanced Drag Link

Anything H-body related, but please use one of the topic-specific forums below if appropriate

Moderator: Moderators

Clearanced Drag Link

Postby evilcactuar » Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:24 am

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 :D 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.
IMG00082-20100411-1153.jpg
[attachment=1]IMG00083-20100411-1154.jpg

IMG00084-20100411-1155.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
evilcactuar
 
Posts: 84
Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 4:13 pm
Location: CT


Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby hammerdown7 » Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:29 am

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

Dick
User avatar
hammerdown7
 
Posts: 3805
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:53 pm
Location: Clawson, MI

1976 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby chevy art » Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:51 am

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
chevy art
 
Posts: 1124
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:33 pm

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby Ishiftem » Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:14 pm

Looks good Art. I don't see you having any trouble with it.
Any one can restore a car but, it takes a real man to cut one up.
User avatar
Ishiftem
 
Posts: 731
Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:44 pm

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby AusRs » Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:41 am

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 !
User avatar
AusRs
 
Posts: 2364
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 5:20 am
Location: Wollongong NSW Australia

1979 Chevrolet Monza Spyder

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby chevy art » Wed Apr 14, 2010 3:52 pm

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
chevy art
 
Posts: 1124
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:33 pm

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby 80 MONZTA » Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:46 pm

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!
LeRoy
1980 Monza, 305/Th350 removed for LS1/T-56 swap, can't wait to :burn: My Project
User avatar
80 MONZTA
 
Posts: 734
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:48 pm
Location: Iowa

1980 Chevrolet Monza 2+2

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby chevy art » Wed Apr 14, 2010 10:32 pm

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
chevy art
 
Posts: 1124
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:33 pm

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby BBVEGA » Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:20 pm

I guess I missed the, Why?
User avatar
BBVEGA
 
Posts: 243
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:03 am
Location: MN

1976 Chevrolet Vega GT

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby chevy art » Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:13 pm

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
chevy art
 
Posts: 1124
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:33 pm

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby starfire383 » Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:14 pm

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.
User avatar
starfire383
 
Posts: 952
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:06 pm

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby chevy art » Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:59 am

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
chevy art
 
Posts: 1124
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:33 pm

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby gmagilla » Fri Apr 16, 2010 3:21 pm

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 ?
User avatar
gmagilla
 
Posts: 916
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 8:12 pm
Location: Jerseyville , Ill.

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby chevy art » Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:31 pm

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
chevy art
 
Posts: 1124
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:33 pm

Re: Clearanced Drag Link

Postby BBVEGA » Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:53 am

Wouldn't it have been easier, and safer, to raise the motor 1/2" for clearance?
User avatar
BBVEGA
 
Posts: 243
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:03 am
Location: MN

1976 Chevrolet Vega GT

Next

Return to General Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests