Watts Link, No joke..... Options

[2manyfbods]

are there anymore pics of it ?

[JimMueller]

I wonder if the welded-in UE PHB lowering brackets and brace tube will interfere with this?

[Sam Strano]

It mounts to the stock location PHB body and brace mounts.... I can't say if brackets will effect installation, I guess it depends on how the body side bracket is welded in.

Any more pics? Not on my website, but there are some I can e-mail only.

Again, I'm checking on black.

[Crazy Canuck]

I'm interested in one... if they don't come in black, first thing I'll do is strip it down and spray paint it black... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) .
Sam, let me know before you send any C5 exhaust to my place so that we can ship the whole thing together for both cars.
Thanks.

[Sam Strano]

They can't ship together anyway.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Besides, do you want to wait on a month, two, a year until Ron decides what he wants to do (if anything) with his exhaust? The last message I got amounted to "that's about $2000, I'll have to think about it.

[sgarnett]

Judging from the photo, I think the body side may be OK with the UE PHB lowering setup. At most, you may have to grind just a little off the end of the Watts link brace (below/outboard of the lower bolt hole of the stock bracket). It looks like there's room to do that without affecting the strength at all. However, there's a gap between the plate bridging the sides of the UE bracket extension and the sheet metal bridging the sides of the stock bracket, so you might not need to grind at all. Either way, it looks like no big deal and it should be fully reversible/swappable [at that end].

The axle bracket extension itself should not be a problem. However, the bracing tube might interfere with the Watts bracket that bolts to that side.

I wasn't entirely satisfied with job that the welder (not me) did, and decided that making it adjustable as Jon A did sounded like a good idea. I sawed the tube back off flush with the axle tube and bracket using a Sawzall bimetallic blade to slice through the weld, then cleaned it up with an angle grinder and Dremel. I paid more attention to getting the bracket smooth and flat than to getting the axle tube perfect (also didn't want to thin the axle tube any). So, there's probably still enough residual evidence on the axle tube that I'll be able to tell if it would have interfered, or may even need to dress it a bit with a file. I'll let you know.

I did add a brace tube on the outboard side (welded inboard of the bearing), but never got around to rebracing it enough on the inboard side to allow lowering the PHB [the rest of the way]. It isn't that big a deal to cut off the existing brace tube, and should you ever decide to reinstall the PHB for some reason, you could go ahead and make it adjustable, and weld the brace at a different angle that would allow the UE PHB and Watts setups to be fully interchangeable in the future.

This post has been edited by sgarnett: Jul 22 2008, 05:33 PM

[93FirehawkTA]

Another question... any issues with exhaust clearances when the intermediate pipe roughts over the axle?... or is some "massaging" required? Given the wide variety of exhaust systems, I'd assume the later is true?

Thx

[Sam Strano]

Another question... any issues with exhaust clearances when the intermediate pipe roughts over the axle?... or is some "massaging" required? Given the wide variety of exhaust systems, I'd assume the later is true?

Thx

None.. in fact there is actually a little more room than with the PHB Brace in place (you don't need it because the way the Watts is, the entire thing is bolted to both the left side "brace mount" and the right side PHB/Brace mount on the body.

[Sam Strano]

Color update:

Fays2 has used Red since they started building these... When I asked about black he was a little suprised that the color might make or break a sale on such a big part (that's not available anywhere else).

That said, he told me he'd consider it. The issue is he has to run batches to the powdercoater and it's just more trouble to do it all the way around. More cost, more time, and more overhead when you now have to carry two of the same part, but for a color change.

In the end, orders speak. If I get a number of orders who prefer black I think we can make that happen. But you have to get your pre-orders in, and soon so I can arrange any possibility of a black option. Those pre-orders need to have a notation on them that you prefer black if that's the case.
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Shipping update:

Shipping within the next 3 weeks was the word I got today. First come, first served. Early orders go out first
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Fitment update:

A unit was test fitted to a car with a Dana S60 rear, and also a 12-bolt rear. The bottom line is that you will order by axle tube size. We cannot be responsible for all the different axle tubes that might be around (there are at least a couple). The Watts Link is standard for the car, only the axle clamps vary--you'll just need to measure your tube diameter to make sure we send you the correct size.

[veinharvest]

Hey Sam,
I want to play too!
Color doesn't matter to me, but If batch numbers are important to Fays2, I'd be okay with black if it means that the color becomes a possibility available to others.
Oh yea nice courses this past weekend. Pit-bike or golf cart? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Its just too bad I suck.
call me if you need to.
Ted B

[JimMueller]

I chose black for my parts because I don't like the bling factor of red. *shrug* It won't prevent me from buying it but I won't be in the first batch - because of other bills, not because of the color.

[Sam Strano]

Hey Sam,
I want to play too!
Color doesn't matter to me, but If batch numbers are important to Fays2, I'd be okay with black if it means that the color becomes a possibility available to others.
Oh yea nice courses this past weekend. Pit-bike or golf cart? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Its just too bad I suck.
call me if you need to.
Ted B

If you want to play, you need to go order it (easier for me to keep track). http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetails.php...7&ModelID=7 (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You can just leave me a note on the color (you do care, you don't care....).

Glad you liked the courses Ted, wish I could have run them. And neither a bike or cart, I walked most of the time setting that up, and my foot paid for it dearly until today.

[Sam Strano]

I chose black for my parts because I don't like the bling factor of red. *shrug* It won't prevent me from buying it but I won't be in the first batch - because of other bills, not because of the color.

I understand... I'm not big on red either.

[BigEnos]

I'm interested... but its gotta come in black (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/gr_grin.gif)

(IMG:http://www.duplicolor.com/gallery/gallery_images/can_premium2.jpg)

It's your friend. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

[sgarnett]

First come, first served. Early orders go out first

Sounds fair to me, since I think I'm either first or second in line (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Cr0usEEE]

and I think I am 3rd or 4th....plus I don't care WHAT color it is as long as I can make it go fast.

[veinharvest]

If you want to play, you need to go order it (easier for me to keep track). http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetails.php...7&ModelID=7 (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You can just leave me a note on the color (you do care, you don't care....).
/quote]

DONE!

This post has been edited by veinharvest: Jul 22 2008, 08:32 PM

[Major_Lee_Slow]

Sam,

I can see how the center pivot is adjustable up and down, which allows for roll center height adjustment. Is there also an allowance for vertical adjustment of the axle side of the horizontal links? I believe that optimum benefit of the Watt's linkage occurs when both horizontal bars are parallel to each other and to the axle and the vertical bar is perpendicular to these links when the car is sitting at ride height. If not, I think the non-optimal geometry has the potential to introduces scrub in either one or both turning directions.

Second, Do the rear brake lines which run along the axle need to be rerouted to clear the Watt's linkage axle mounts?

[Rampant]

I will be wanting a Moser 12 bolt version.

I need a motor installed be fore this though. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I am curious if this would make it launch a little truer at the drag strip?

[sgarnett]

Second, Do the rear brake lines which run along the axle need to be rerouted to clear the Watt's linkage axle mounts?

Is there any difference between 3-channel and 4-channel cars in the hard line routing on the axles tubes? I know there will be an extra rubber line from the chassis to the axle on the 4 channel cars, but is that only different at the center?