Author: DW

Dear Welder Series… 1969 F100 Four Link Install Question

Dear Welder Series…
I recently purchased a triangulated 4 link universal kit. I’m putting it in my 69 F100 swb. I have a couple ?s. If the horizontal angles on the upper and lower bars are the same will it have adverse effects if the sitting ride height angles are at 10 deg higher on the front? I’m thinking of raising the front frame mounts up to 10 deg so they won’t be so close to the ground. Also, is there an optimum angle for the triangle? As in looking down on it. I’m pretty close to the angle on the upper frame brackets but was wondering if any +/- is OK?

Dear Kevin…
Kevin, a 10 degree angle on the bars would put the front about 4-1/4″ higher than the rear. This would cause the rear end to “walk” as the truck leans in a corner. This “walking” will make the truck steer from the back end and could be dangerous. I’m o.k. with the front of the bar about 1″ higher than the rear. The angle of the upper bars relative to frame center line can be changed slightly. I don’t have a maximum spec to give you because we haven’t tried to see when it becomes unsafe. Thanks for these questions.
Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… 1937 Studebaker Mustang II crossmember?

Dear Welder Series…
We are building a 1937 Studebaker 2dr president coupe. I’m helping my dad build and am talking him into the mustang front suspension. I talked to a friend of mine at air ride tech and he pointed me in your direction. We are dropping an LT1 and auto in it. Going for a comfy driver with a nice stance.
Please let me know if any of your front suspensions will work. I’m gonna get some frame dimensions measured up and I will look more into your site.

Dear Jason…
Jason, our kit is easy to fit to lots of frames. Decide what track width you want to use and if you want to use stock-style springs and shocks of coil-overs with an eye mount top and bottom. If you are looking at conventional air springs, use the kit for stock springs. If you want ShockWaves, use our coil-over kit.

We also have mounts for LS series engines and they are easy to adapt to most frames.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts. Please get in touch again if you have other questions.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… parallel vs. triangulated four link

Dear Welder Series…
I have a 1951 Chevrolet truck 1/2 ton putting a 2002 Chevy S10 4×4 Blazer 8.5 ring gear rear w/disc brakes in. I want to use the 4 link system, which one of yours will work easiest and best?

Thank you!

Dear Don…
Don, the decision regarding a parallel or a triangulated rear 4-link (both shown below) is somewhat philosophical. Here is my explanation:

Both kits do a good job of locating the rear end, holding it in place, and letting the suspension work.

The triangulated kit costs less than the parallel kit because a Panhard bar is not required.

The parallel kit does require a Panhard kit (about $100.00). The parallel kit is easier to adjust for squaring the rear axle to the frame center line, and centering the frame left-to-right.

The Panhard bar does move the frame left-to-right as the frame goes up and down, but if a straight Panhard bar is installed level, this amount is insignificant (about 1/8″ with a 19″ bar) for normal suspension travel.

Parallel Rear Four Link Kit
Parallel Rear Four Link Kit
 
Triangulated Rear Four Link Kit
Triangulated Rear Four Link Kit

I hope this helps you decide. Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… Lower control arm spacing?

Dear Welder Series…
I am interested in your Mustang II cross-member. I have a 1954 Ford F100 with MII, but the frame is pretty butchered so I plan on building a new frame. My question is what is the spacing on the lower control arm holes on the three different width cross-members? Thanks in advance.

Dear Kevin…
Kevin, the lower holes on the 56″ crossmember are on 22-1/4″ centers. They are 24-1/4″ on the 58″ crossmember and 26-1/4″ on the 60″.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… front mount coil over axle bracket?

Dear Welder Series…
Hello, I’m looking to purchase your triangulated 4 link for my 52 Pontiac. I will need to install the coilovers in front of the axle, do you have a axle mount to accomplish this?
Thanks.

Dear Joe…
Joe, if there is room, you could us the coil-over bracket shown below, mounted on the front side of the axle.

Let me know if you feel this will, or won’t, work in your application.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… Mustang II in a 1970 F100?

Dear Welder Series…
Hey guys I have been doing a little resurch I have a 1970 f100 and I’m looking to do either a crown Vic or mustang 2 front end swap and a 4 link in the rear. Could you guys help me out a little is the mustang ii front crossmember just a weld up deal or little confused and live in Wyoming so not a whole lot of people to help me out haha

Dear Donavan…
Our MII kits are available in pieces so you can save money by welding it.

A video on our website shows this being done. The instructions show how to cut notches in the crossmember and upper towers so your frame will sit at the ride height you want.

I hope this helps. Please ask other questions that you might have.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… triangulated four link angle question

Dear Welder Series…
Hi Paul I am in the middle of installing one of your triangulated four links. How much angle do I need on the upper part? (angle from frame rail to rear housing if looking from top). If I have to shorten the upper bars what would you suggest the min. length be? Thanks

Dear Derek…
Derek, the upper bar frame bracket is designed to mount the bar at 27 degrees off of the frame. It might be hard to reduce this angle very much and still put a wrench on the nut, if the nut will even go on. Another option might be to mount the axle end of the upper bars just inside the frame rails and angle them towards the frame centerline. Then add a new crossmember and mount the frame brackets to it. This way the bars can stay at their original length. As the bars get shorter, the pinion angle changes more dramatically as the suspension works.

I hope this helps.

Paul

Dear Welder Series… 1953 Ford parts list?

Dear Welder Series…
I am looking for help with my 1953 Ford build.
I have purchased a 1993 LS1 motor, a 700 trans and a 12 bolt rear end I am trying to fit in the truck. The wheels I will be running are 30″ on the outside, 10 3/4″ wide with a 6 7/8 offset from the back of the rim. My goal is to set the bumpers and running boards on the ground with a full air ride. Is there a chance you could specify what I will need to purchase from your catalog to get all my frame welding going? As it stands right know I have pulled all the suspension out of the truck and it is just sitting on the frame now. Would love to order everything for Christmas. Thank you for your time and please feel free to call with any other questions you might have.
Keith

Dear Keith…
Keith, here are some links to kits for this build:
Choose a 60″ track width kit for your F100.
If you will use conventional air springs:

Mustang II Crossmember Kit, for Coil Springs
Mustang II Crossmember Kit, for Coil Springs

If you plan to use ShockWaves:

If you will use a power rack from a 79-92 T-Bird, order the relocation kit:

Rack Spacer Kit
Rack Spacer Kit

There are several different LS engine mount kits.  They are shown at

LS Engine Mount Kit, large bushings, universal
LS Engine Mount Kit, large bushings, universal

For your 700 R4 transmission, here are 2 options:
A simple crosmember and drop-out saddle (check out the “welded” version):

Transmission Mount Saddle Kit
Transmission Mount Saddle Kit

Or a tubular center section (with the 700R4 trans mount option):

Center Section Kit
Center Section Kit

For either of the above, use transmission mount insulator

If your 12 bolt rear end has the ears for the triangulated GM links, you could use our rear kit:

We would add brackets if you will use conventional air springs.

Air Spring Axle Bracket
Air Spring Axle Bracket
 
Air Spring Frame Bracket
Air Spring Frame Bracket

The crossmember shown below can be used to mount the upper end of the ShockWave (with 5/8″ hardware), or shocks with 7/16″ upper eyes.

Rear Crossmember Kit
Rear Crossmember Kit

If you plan to use a parallel rear 4-link, here are the kit pages:

For ShockWaves:

Parallel Rear Four Link Kit
Parallel Rear Four Link Kit

Universal Panhard Kit, Rear
Universal Panhard Kit, Rear

Use the rear crossmember with 5/8″ bolts.
With shockWaves on either the triangulated or the parallel kit, use the bolt kit here:

I hope this list helps.  Please write or call on our toll-free line, 1-888-648-2150, if you want more details.

Dear Welder Series… step notch in ’51 Buick?

Dear Welder Series…
I was looking at your universal step notch kit and had some questions before purchase..
Does your universal notch kit fit or has ever been installed on a 1951 Buick Super?
When installing, does the longer side piece go on the inside or outside of the frame? In your pictures I see it on occasions on the inside and on others on the outside. Or maybe on the part of the frame that is boxed?
Is this notch kit the standard size for “most” notch kits or do other widths and lengths exist? Ex. The top of the step span 8 1/2″  or will others span more?

Dear Gabriel…
Gabriel, I don’t know of an installation in a Buick like yours, but this step notch kit (shown below) has been installed in many frames that are similar. i.e. Full frame, larger vehicles.

Step Notch Kit, Universal, PR
Step Notch Kit, Universal, PR

The longer piece does go on the inside to, in effect, box the inside of the frame.

We do just make this one size.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts and for these questions.

Dear Welder Series… four bar bushing question

Dear Welder Series…
I have your Sept. 2011 catalog and I am going to order a rear 4-bar; but I have a question on the 1-3/8 wide urethane bushings. Are these bushings 1-3/8″ in between the brackets?

Dear James…
James, the dimension (1-3/8″ or 1-3/4″) is between the sides of the brackets. You might want to check our web store for current details on the rear 4-link kits shown here:

Parallel Rear Four Link Kit
Parallel Rear Four Link Kit
.

The 1-3/8″ and the 1-3/4″ bushing kits are now the same price. (The 1-3/4″ kits have become much more popular and the 1-3/8″ kits have become less popular. We are making so many more 1-3/4″ than 1-3/8″ that the prices have evened out.) The 1-3/8″ kits are only available as welded kits. The 1-3/4″ kits are available welded or ready-to-weld.

I hope this helps with your ordering decision. Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.

Search & Restore Reveals Hudson Hornet This Weekend!

PRESS RELEASE
Tim Strange Announces Season 2 Episode 3 of Search and Restore
Franklin TN, November 14, 2012: The focus of Search and Restore is on finding the family treasures and lost causes, ringing them all back to life. From coast to coast, host Tim Strange, and volunteer teams of pros will donate their time restoring rides nationwide to those worthy of a helping hand. Search & Restore is not just a show for automotive enthusiasts, but a great show that dad can watch with his family – there is a story and best of all NO DRAMA.
Tim Strange, award-winning rod builder, BMXer and owner of Strange Motion is the host and Lead Builder of Search and Restore. “The show is a feel-good, give back type of show,” said Strange. “We build projects for deserving people with touching or hard-luck stories. Each project we build gets four half-hour shows. We build four projects each season so there will be 16 episodes.” “There’s no better feeling than helping someone regain that sense of hope after they feel like they’ve lost everything,” Strange said. “Thanks to our volunteer build teams and the hosts of the other PowerBlock shows, we’re able to help someone pick up the pieces, turn a dream into a reality and have fun doing it.”
November 17, 2012 @ 8 AM CST SPIKE TV will run the third build of season two of Search and Restore. It will run as a two hour special, you will see the beginning and end of the build. On Sunday November 18, 2012 @ 8 AM SPIKE TV will do a rerun of Saturday’s show. The third build of the season, we travel just outside Detroit, Michigan to rescue a dream, grant a
daughter’s wish, and to restore some pride in a PowerBlock viewer who spends these days managing his pain, and taking care of his elderly parents.
After receiving nearly 200,000 submissions from viewers, Search and Restore is PowerBlock’s answer to ignite hope back into the lives of those in need of a helping hand. Search and Restore is not a “How to” show, like the other PowerBlock shows.

Tim Strange leads a volunteer crew to build this Hudson for a deserving family.

Dear Welder Series… Hanging Brake/ Clutch Pedal?

Dear Welder Series…
Can you list the “Welder Series” parts I would require to install a brake and clutch pedal assembly in a 34 Ford truck cab. I would like a hanging pedal for both brake and clutch. I saw how one or customers converted a brake master bracket to hang. This is what I think I need. Do you have these as a kit yet or can you provide a drawing for the set up?
Many thanks.

Dear Brock…
Brock, we don’t have a kit number for this set-up, or a drawing but here are the products:
1x (below)

2x (below)

Booster Bracket Gusset
Booster Bracket Gusset

2x (below)

Booster Bracket Gusset
Booster Bracket Gusset

2x (below)

Brake Pedal, Straight
Brake Pedal, Straight

2x (below)

Urethane Bushing Outer Tube
Urethane Bushing Outer Tube

4x (below)

Pedal Bushing, Delrin
Pedal Bushing, Delrin

You might need 2 plungers, depending on the master cylinders used.

Rod Ends, various sizes
Rod Ends, various sizes

2x (below) 

SPACER; 1/2-20 x 1" OD x 3/4"
SPACER; 1/2-20 x 1" OD x 3/4"

Bolts, nuts, and washers will be needed to attach the pedals to the bracket. We have these in stock and can supply them once we know what you will be using. We can take a picture that will explain how this would go together. It would be a good idea to connect the bracket to the dash for extra support.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts for your project.

Ford Transmission Info

We were contacted today regarding a post on the ETE Reman blog to do with Ford automatic transmissions. While Ford transmissions aren’t nearly as popular as GM offerings, this is great info! There is also information regarding GM and Chrysler auto transmissions as well.

We’ve never done business with this company, so please don’t take this as an endorsement. You get a pretty good impression of a business when they’re willing to spend time to educate the public though.

http://etereman.com/blog/category/hot-rod-automatic/

Dear Welder Series…Four Link for a Nova?

Dear Welder Series…
Hello,  I am looking at your triangulated 4 link kits and I am going to put a 4 link in my Nova. My question is will your kits work in my 72 Nova that has been mini tubbed? If so which kit do I need? Thank you very much for your help and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Thanks,
Tim

Dear Tim…
Tim, our triangulated rear kit (shown below) has been used in lots of different applications. We put the instruction sheets on the website so you can check the dimensions against your frame and possible interference items.

Triangulated Rear Four Link Kit
Triangulated Rear Four Link Kit

I hope this helps… Let me know if you have other questions after looking at the drawings.

Dear Welder Series… Steering Column Floor Mount?

Dear Welder Series…
Dear sirs, I have used your products in the past and have asked for advise from time to time and am thankfull for your frank advise. Does Welder Series offer a floor support for a 1 1/2″ steering column tube?

Dear Brock…
Sorry, Brock, we don’t have a floor column support. You have got my brain going, though.

Thanks for using Welder Series parts in your project.

Paul Horton