I got a 12 bolt GM rearend from a '69 Chevy truck that I've been working on putting in my Dodge truck. It's a two link design similar to the late 60's Chevy trucks, except that I made up the 2 lower links from some round tubing that runs parallel to the frame with adjustable rod ends on both ends. (carb sits level, 3 degrees down on the tailshaft, 3 degrees up on the pinion) I have 2 F9000 bags mounted behind the axle with the upper mounts fastened at the top to a bar running side to side. Problem is that the original panhard rod wants to be right where the upper bag mount bar is. How critical is it to have the panhard rod running over to the frame at an angle or could I mount it parallel to the axle by making a new frame bracket and bending the rod a bit? The cab and box are off the truck and I have the frame mocked up level side to side and the rear frame rails are on stands at ride height and rake. Is my intrerpretation of what I've read in the tech archives on pinion angles sound correct based on where I've got this setup or do you guys have any advice before I go and weld all my brackets solid? I want to be sure with this design that I'm not overlooking some geometry that will make this thing handle like **** if it's not setup right. Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks! INXS
Mounting the panhard bar parrallel with the rear end will work fine. I do all of my rear bag setups this way. It will handle fine. The angles on the rear end and tail shaft should work fine. Just run it up and down and make sure the u joints dont bind up through out its travel.
If I'm not mistaken,panhard bar is best parallel to ground/axle and perpendicular to frame.Meaning that the bar in at a neutral position or middle of its arc at ride height.If you mount bar at an angle to frame,you are already puttind rod into arc and possibly moving axle side>side prematurely?Only other tip I know is making length of bar(frame to axle mount as long as possible.Don't take this as gospel,just what I've understood!Open to corrections!****g'n
No corrections needed. What ****gn said is correct. Chevy did mount them at an angle on there trucks from the 60's up to 72. Why this was done this way I dont know. It worked.
Another cool setup is the Watts linkage, if you have the room of course. It's been around for years, many race car enthusiats use the design, and now the airbag crowd are using it for its advantage of practically no side to side motion of the rearend during its motion of major travel up and down. There are a few selling kits(pretty pricey), but I would make my own.
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