Thread: Watt's Link!

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I was wondering if this would do well under my 66 Ford F100. Please let me know any pros and cons of this system.

http://classictrucks.com/tech/0503cl_watts/

I hope the link works.
Thanks!

www.totallypolished.com

I used to collect old Rovers,,and they had Watts linkage,,and De-Dion Tube independant rear suspension on them.
I could leave Porche's behind on almost any bend in the road.
The ride control and handling were superb,but this kind of a set up may be a bit overkill for your application.

I wouldn't go with that particular setup there, all that prettyness is just... prettyness and costs more money. I would like a plain kit or something. So what would you use on my truck if you were me? The rear end don't lock up worth crap either and I'd like to help that out some with some kinda traction system. Also I was thinking about this setup for my 48 coupe...?

Have you looked into the four link setup???
also,,what power plant is in the truck,,,and is the rear end stock??

A Watts linkage does stabilize the rear end very well under the truck. As far as traction control, start hitting the swap meets and junk yards for a posi unit, or if you really get lucky maybe a Detroit locker.

Did you follow this discussion about Panhad Bars?
---> http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=Watt
At the end they are talking about Watt Links.

Lowered trucks and air bagged 1s benifit the most from this if u lower ur ride u need a adjustable panhard if u have air bags and ur ride hieght is diff everytime u cruse u have to have 1 or it will rub the wheel wells,plus it just looks too cool!!!!!!!!This is a 64-66 chevy truck here and this unit is the totally polished one!!!

Shawn,

Short answer . . . Watts link is overkill for your application, and it won't do much for traction. It just locates the rear axle. Since you don't have radical suspension travel, a Panhard bar will do fine.

Thanks for the info guys. Henry I guess your right I am glad I asked here first. Well I wanna put lockers in it. I hear it will be hard to change that myself so may have someone do it for me because my luck of actually finding someone here wanting to help me out and know what they are doing is VERY VERY slim. I may go on NC Slicks site and ask there. I do plan to lower the truck quite a bit though. Also how much time does it take to put in a panhard bar?
Oh to answer your question, my rear end is a stock Ford 9". The truck has a built 302 in it and I plan to build it up more since it already has a huge cam in it (not a plain little edelbrock performer series kind, it's pretty huge but not sure of the size because it was put it 2 owners before me and last one didn't know). I just want this thing to handle real well, hook up and drive nice. I am not looking for a drag truck here really even though it will see track time when I am bored and wanna have fun but it's my everyday driver. Right now I need all new shocks though first because the fronts are wasted and when I turn I am all over the road and it spins the tires when I don't even try or try to pull out of a sharp turn to get in traffic or such without trying to spin the tires.

Thanks again! Oh and I bought me a new big 3 core radiator today. I posted about my engine getting way too hot but not sure where the threads at but anyways I got a quote from www.radiators.com and they said 300 and I went to this old run down looking shop and really cool guys there gave me a brand new one for 160 with 3 core, for my engine, etc. He said it was for engines with a ton of HP, etc that heat up more than a plain small block ford. It's twice the size of my little one now so should work great, only thing is the outlets are on opposite sides... no biggie though.

Ok,,,you sound like your heading for plain stock or close to it,,,,so i would now suggest a set of ladder bars,,,and maybe a panhard bar,,,,and definatley more weight in the rear end.

.

Henry I guess your right I am glad I asked here first.

Actually, you already did . . . some time ago. There's a whole other thread on rear-end locating devices that you were involved in.

Also how much time does it take to put in a panhard bar?

Depends on how much room you have around the frame and whether you're going to buy a kit or fab it up yourself.

With a 4-bar end w/ bushing, a Heim joint, some DOM tubing and some 3/16" steel plate, someone with rudimentary fabrication skills could make and install one (first time) in a day. A top fabricator could probably make and fit one in a couple of hours or less.

Make it as long as possible, and as close to level as possible.

The Deuce Factory has a universal kit (29" long) for $88.00.

Ok thanks a lot! I will look for that kit that you mentioned. I don't really know how a panhard bar looks or how it is hooked up, etc so that will be my only problem making one from scratch. Other than that I know how to weld, have tools to cut metal, etc.

here's a link showing a panhard and antiroll bar setup for a Model "A"

http://www.streetrodparts.tv/Install...ar-Panhard.htm

Or just type "panhard bar" in Google and you'll find 39,000 pages(!).
Thunderbuckets link shows a panhard mounted to the differential. I think it's not a good idea.
I constructed my panhards from the frame on the right until the middle of the left side axle. As long and as level as possible.