Kenny you might try contacting StewartP-he was in with Don Carlton, the Missile boys etc back when this was "new" he could probably give you better advise than us.

Good to know Don. I will hunt him down for some info! Just made a deal on a new engine for the tow rig, maybe I will make it out your way to some races this summer now!

-Kenny

Hey Kenny, I tried returning your dads phone call but I think I'm missing a digit...I tried PM'n you but your box is full.
Brian

Cut the brackets on the water jet today at work, starting to connect the dots now.

-Kenny

Looks good man! Good to see a different setup being tried. I'd like to see how the results turn out all said and done. Good luck.

These them?

#2

#3

So basically the leaf spring becomes the lower bar of a four link. That is going to be in compression then as stated earlier. I can see where that would cause a lot of stress on the spring.

Exactly, that is why DC recommended S/S springs and also to clamp the front segment extensively. It will still kill the spring close to the front eye quite quickly.

Yup, those are the diagrams! Here are some updated pictures. Things that are still left to do are the top bars, shock mounting kit, and lastly will be brake lines. Then we will move on to retro fitting a QA1 A Body front shock into this goofy FJM front suspension.

My Leaf mount...









Fitting in the car...



Dropped down on the ground...





Up on jack stands. Starting to sort out the top bar.



One step at a time!

-Kenny

Nice fab work and welds. The only issue I can see is with the front of the spring and top bar having different radius there will be some rocking of the rear when the suspension moves. I would be worried about that rocking motion loosening up the bolt that ties the spring perch.

Thanks Bigcube, I can't take credit for the welding and fab skills, that would be a couple of my buddies with the welding skills, one owns the green demon in the back ground of some pictures.

The bolt your referring too is my lower mount correct? That will have a lock nut on it. None of the GM G bodies or fox body mustangs have equal length top and bottom bars. Is it a compromise for what I'm doing? For sure! But I think it can still be made to work.

-Kenny

I think I came up with an idea for saving the front spring segment! Stay tuned, should be finishing things off in the next week or two!

-Kenny

I was able to get some more measurements off the car for the final rear pieces to get cut and bent up. I had a chromoly cross member bent up to mount off of for the top links to hook to. After measure up on the rear end of the car we started hacking and chopping the front of car up to fit the front QA1's. The stock shocks in an FJM Body are too short for shock companies to build a truely adjustable front shock. There isn't enough room to put the valving in the shock body. I will have to get some pictures next time I'm out there.

ThIngs are getting tight in the back end haha! It should look about right though in my opinion when it's sitting on the ground.

-Kenny

Alright, we were able to spend a little more time on the rear suspension yesterday. We built the upper shock mount cross member and got everything tacked in place.









-Kenny

First: more power to you, and anyone else who tries to improvise.

My knowledge of suspension tuning is very slight. What I can offer is a prediction of how sanctioning bodies deal with innovation.

1. if you mail them a diagram and explanation and ask for a ruling, they will not give you legal status in writing
2. personal and phone conversations never took place, didn't go the way you said etc.
3. the tech line is only concerned with safety rules - not legality
4. being permitted to race doesn't mean that they agree that you're legal
5. nothing will happen until you beat someone important/influential - you know, the guys married to Force's cousin, blah
6. when protested you fail

The reason given may take various forms as to language, beginning by simply stating the "it's not in the rules" (actual non-compliance). Your objection that it's not prohibited will be met with "it violates the spirit of the rule" (translation: we don't like you).
The underlying reason is simple: you beat someone more important than you.
IMHO it's not legal, in that you're not using the suspension in a different way. It would fail an objection based on patentable engineering features (not enough commonality with OEM).
There are 2 main points of difference:
1. the original leaf was both the entire suspension and the locator for the axle, now it's not
2. a new part has assumed some of the original function, which is not stock

I am betting it will work great if two areas are addressed? Strength of the front half of the lower leaf. Stiffening it with another leaf that goes all the way to the spring eye may do the trick, but never tried it. The other thing on my mind is freedom of spring rate. If the shackles are too short or at the wrong angles, things get goofy. I am betting if these items are addressed, along with instant center being adjustable it should work like a four link.