1964 Rambler 990-H

Update:

I've put a little more thought into the characteristics of the torque-tube type suspension setup under my rambler.  If my math and my constants for the radius, and total suspension travel are correct, I get that during the full swing of my suspension the rear end assembly is going to try to move to the right by .9".  I would like to account for this by setting the car at ride height and with an adjustable bar (more on this later) set the rear-end on center.  Does anyone see any unforeseen issues with this approach?

My idea for the bar is pretty simple.  Two Heim joints and a piece of DOM tubing with two threaded inserts on either end.

Any foreseeable issues?


Edited by Exzion - Feb/16/2011 at 6:54pm

At factory ride height the rear axle should be about centered, and only moves about 1/4" to the left or right during normal suspension movement. Assuming that, with bags it would move about 3/4" to the right (passenger side) sitting on the bump stops with air bags.

You might want to just make up a Watts Link for the rear. That would keep it centered at all times (except for extreme up/down movement, but that would require going well over the normal suspension travel). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt%27s_linkage.

This one would be easy to modify to fit the Rambler -- just alter the ends of the crossmember (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LAK-20505/). Wouldn't be too hard to make one up, or build a crossmember and use the universal kit from Speedway (http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Watts-Link,3398.html?sc=WGB&utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=GoogleBase -- would still need to make the axle mounts though).  Other kits mount to the diff cover, but that's harder to do than the crossmember center mount.






Edited by farna - Feb/17/2011 at 9:40am

I never did the math. When I used a Jeep Commanche axle in my 63 Classic there was 3/4" between the wheel well edge and tire. With a light load (couple front seat passengers, 70-80 pound kid in back) there were no problems. We packed up for a long trip with luggage for all three of use for a three day weekend plus some stuff for a car show (about like luggage for a week) and the left tire scrubbed every time we hit a bump on I-10 between MS and TX (which is an undulating stretch of interstate!). It wasn't cutting the tire, just scrubbing a little. It could have been moving over 0.9", but I didn't think so. Having never done the math, but thought enough to turn the inner lip up, it may very well have moved that far. I'll trust your math!

With the stock axle it's not a problem. The Commanche axle is around 3" wider than the stock axle.  So it depends on your tire width/wheel backspace as to whether it will scrub or not. I was running 7" wheels with 3-3/4" backspacing, 1/4" more than a standard 7" wheel (which would be centered at 3-1/2"), 205/70R15 tires. I was using the stock rear springs, standard six cylinder wagon.


Edited by farna - Feb/17/2011 at 10:48am

Well, a Watts Linkage will be about the only answer. A 7.5" wheel is about the largest practical size for the stock wheel well without modification. With a Watts Linkage an 8" wheel will fit, but you can't get too big with the tire - it will be tight!

Nice wiring job!