Watt's Linkage

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Referencing this goofy project of mine: So - my wagon has a ford explorer 8.8 diff swap and I want to run the big beefy aluminum cover/girdle, but my panhard bar didn't clear. Since I am running 18x10.5" and 285's, even with the modded fenders, clearance is at a bit of a premium, and a watts link will keep the axle more centered as the suspension articulates. I always thought watts links were cool so I figured why not. I had a tough time trying to weld to the diff cover, it's just a fairly thick piece I guess. Having no wave balance control on my Dialarc doesn't help I think- only have 50% duty really neuters it. Even with a few hundred degree of preheat and around 230amps it was hard to get a good puddle going. Wave balance, helium, or a BIG torch for preheat or all of the above would maybe have made it easier? Anyways it's ok I think. Make a big hole in the diff cover:Stick a piece of 1-1/8" aluminum round bar in:Weld the ever-loving **** out of it + gusset:Just needs to be chucked in the mill to be faced off flat and drilled/tapped to accept a 5/8" grade 8 stud. This will be the pivot for the bell crank. Added the mount for the lower link (6" drop link- will be a 6" long bell crank):Just gotta make the bell crank and add studs to the subframe and it's done.Last edited by Capnbondo; 09-30-2008 at 12:29 PM.
Reply:looking good so far,im building a watts link for my 2006 gt mustangChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:im going back and forth between a watts and a triangulated 4 link on an explorer 8.8 (31 spline axles 4.10s and limited slip) in my 66 project.Keep it up, looks good so far
Reply:I've always needed some Cheap Warcraft gold... so convenient to have this random post on a welding website.Miller Syncrowave 180SDMillermatic 175
Reply:Capn:I always enjoy your projects.  But remember, when your pics are wider than 800, your text gets clipped. And there's no scroll bar, so others can't see the right side of the photo or text. Kubs:At the top right of each post is a red triangle. Click on that, wait for the box; type "spam". Then click on "Send Report". Rojo and his buddies will delete the spammer, post haste.  Last edited by Craig in Denver; 10-01-2008 at 09:59 PM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Sweet didn't know that.Miller Syncrowave 180SDMillermatic 175
Reply:Originally Posted by Craig in DenverCapn:I always enjoy your projects.  But remember, when your pics are wider than 800, your text gets clipped. And there's no scroll bar, so others can't see the right side of the photo or text.