building a 49 ford for my dad

cool, I've been building this set up in my mind...glad to see I'm really not that crazy.

 

I was able to get the rear upper bag mount completed and the two link bag plates also welded on. Next issue at hand is the rear end , I had my dad get a ford 8.8 rear end out of an explorer . The explorer rear end is too long but the carrier is off set on this rear end I am able to take 2-7/8 inch out of the long side and make it the same as the other and just buy an axle for the short side and install it to have the correct length rear end. pics show the rear end in progress.

 

thanks for the pics and progress reports...

i will be getting into the suspension on my cadillac soon.
i was wondering why you decided to use a 2-link system rather than a 3 or 4. what are the pros and cons of the 2-link?

 

I chose the 2 link over a 3 or 4 link set up for many reasons the 3 or 4 links always take up more room , they also, do to the bushings on both ends of the links tend to body roll a lot more. the reason for less body roll on a 2 link is that they are solid mounted to the rear when useing the u bolts to mount it ,it makes the axle housing its self acts as a sway bar. Another reason for 2 link is ride quality, the bag being on the link and not on top of the rear end makes alot of differents. Last simplicity . Just make sure to use a long 2 link and the pinion angle will not suffer ,as that is the only pro to useing a 3 or 4 link set up ( in my eyes ) . Think of how a ladder bar set up work just like a two link only I will be setting the car on the ground once parked. Dont get me wrong a 3or4 link set up looks awesome if you have the room for it two function well.

 

That car looks familiar,where did you get it?

 

the car came from Weatherford Tx.

 

Damn, John. You've got some skills, man.

 

another 2-link question and i will quit.

will a 2-link hold up to the weight of a heavier cadillac as opposed to your ford? i like the look and simplicity of this set up. i just dont want to risk anything being unsafe.

thanks for the info.

 

Yes it will hold up just fine the 2x2 I used is is thicker than 1/4 inch. I also have a freind that has a 7x suburban that has the 2 link on it and it has no problems.

 

Thanks man some day I will be able to do this for $.

 

You probably already could. It's just a matter of opening your own place or finding the right shop to work for.

 

the rear end is back together and turned out to be about 56.8 inches wide mounting surface to surface. I decided to re do the 2 links a bit to keep the angle at aprox 0-2 degrees at ride height, I chose to do that because the car would not have hooked up well at all the wat they were. So that led me to have to move and change the rear upper bag mount bars. after all that the rear control arm angle is at 1 degee down in the front at ride height and if we choose to drag race the car at a heigher stance the the front point can be moved down one adjustment. Oh yeah got the body set on to find the fire wall location to make motor mounts, ant test fit the engine.

 

AND MORE The car does not sit all the way down yet do to the afct that I have Yet to cut the rear tubes out and raise them , and also the front still has the inner fender wells sitting on th tire.

 

The car is comming along nicely. Keep up the good work

 

Looking good man!

 

Looking good. I'm always amazed at how quickly some people can get their projects together, gives me motivation to work on my junk. Keep us posted!

 

very cool, my first son should be born any day now. I can only hope he'll inspire me on my projects later down the road. I've dreamt of projects since I was 10 or so, so I imagine I still will at 40 or 50

 

lookin good if you guys put as much work into everything else as you did to the frame it's gonna be one badass box

 

I feel the same way my son is almost eight months old.

 

Oh we will it will just be time befor it is completely finished, the body work will be the task that takes time since I have never attempted any befor

 

You got PM.

Lookin' good, brutha'.

 

Got an empty mock up block and trans today. Its a gen III SBC . Also started putting together the engine mounts tonight. Here is all the update pics.

 

Looks good John! You gonna run a TH350 in it?

 

no a 4l65e is what I got with the engine . I have a powerglide and intake manifold to make the Engine carburated but he wants it efi, oh well I guess it is his ride LOL. Going Efi is cheaper any way I got the harness with the engine and I have already done this swap befor in the wagon

 

That explains your screen name!

Great thread, by the way.

 

looks great, thanks for all the photo's and explanations.

 

Thanks for the comments, Im on a hunt for I-Beams today to set up my poor mans chasis jig

 

Damn John,we both use the same little Hobart welder. Looking good man!

 

That hobart welder kicks ass, best bang for your buck as far as Im concerned.

 

Well we got a bit done sunday, was able to brace the body some and get the rear fender tubes cut out. Then we remove the body mounts so the rockers will lay on the ground once its let down. after that me and dad set the body back on and placed the motor in for the first look, witch intake set up do you like?