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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 9:35 am Post subject: is a 4 link suspension possible????
im planning on swaping in a motor and making big power. i was wondering if it was possible to make mine a 4 link suspension?? and if there was anyone that sells it for an 85' Elky?? _________________ 1985 El Camino
conquista
stock for now..
113,xxx miles
Necoa #: 572
Location: 10(IL,MN,WI)
Joined: Jan 28, 2003
Posts: 3617
Year: 1984
Model: El Camino
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 10:05 am Post subject:
What kinda power are you talking about? The suspension design of your 85 can handle quite a lot with some aftermarket upgrades. Unless your going for the Pro Street look, or talking about an engine with 600+ HP, go with aftermarket upper and lower control arms, a sway bar, and some quality shocks and some new springs. The stock rear axle won't be able to handle massive torque either, you'd need to change that also. And although your Elky is a full frame, it's not a box frame, the center section is more of a C frame. With a high torque motor, your gonna need to strengthen the frame (roll cage) or you can still twist it. If you wanna go big (hp) it's possible, but be ready to shell out big money also, unless your an exceptional welder and have a degree in geometry. _________________ "The day we lose our will to fight is the day we lose our freedom" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8
thanks for the link. i was thinking about either a 502 ram jet or an ls1. i still cant decide i know that the 502 is a marine enigine and intended for off road use only but the cops wont figure it out by the sound of my car. i am talking about big hp on the ls1 i would do quite a few mods on the 502 maybe just bolt ons and a bigger cam. _________________ 1985 El Camino
conquista
stock for now..
113,xxx miles
Necoa #: 572
Location: 10(IL,MN,WI)
Joined: Jan 28, 2003
Posts: 3617
Year: 1984
Model: El Camino
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 11:18 am Post subject:
I don't consider the 502 to be for off road use only. It is actually a very streetable engine. Chevy even made it to run on pump gas, mind you a lot of pump gas (they also produce a 572 now). If you upgrade your rear suspension with the aftermarket parts from the previous post, I think you'll be OK. However the stock 7.5 rearend would not handle the 502 for very long (couple of quick leadfoot trips to the Quicky Mart). You have some options here, you can replace the rear with a Buick Grand National 8.5" (borderline for the torque of a 502) or you can put a 12 bolt rear out of an older Chevelle (if you can find one) using South Side Machine's control arms. Still you can buy a bolt in 9" Ford rearend from Moser or Currie (most expensive choice $2200+). The latter two also make a 12 bolt Chevy rearend thats also a bolt in swap ($2000+) Nothing is more impressive then the power of a Big Block Chevy but, with the price of gas the way it is can you afford one and still be able to enjoy using the car on a daily basis or keep it as just a weekend cruiser? I had originally planned on dropping in a BB in my Elky. I've rethought this now and have just decided to build a potent mouse motor, so that I would be able to enjoy my Elky more. I plan on using my Elky for some long hauls from time to time, I want to make it comfortable as well as practical. PS. You Texans always think BIG, why is that? _________________ "The day we lose our will to fight is the day we lose our freedom" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8
i dont know why we always think big. but whats the difference between the ford nine from moser and the 12 bolt ive looked into thier 12 bolt and i think thats what im going to go with. i realize the gas will be on E every time i get on it a little but it will see some track time but a lot of show time. and what do you think i should do first show or go?? thanks for your help. _________________ 1985 El Camino
conquista
stock for now..
113,xxx miles
Necoa #: 572
Location: 10(IL,MN,WI)
Joined: Jan 28, 2003
Posts: 3617
Year: 1984
Model: El Camino
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 12:34 pm Post subject:
The Moser 9" can be purchased already set up to bolt into your Elky, it comes with no brakes though, it's got better guts then a stock Ford 9" which you'll have to have a lot of work done to fit in your Elky. I suppose you could buy just the housing and axles from Moser, and then find a Ford 9" posi carrier in a boneyard and have a local shop assemble it. That would probably cut the cost down a bit. The 9" will take more abuse then a Chevy 12 bolt providing it was put together properly. Show or go first is pretty much your choice, but keep in mind, a lot of paint has been scraped when installing drivetrains. My choice would be to do the drivetrain first, and then the body. Interior last, (don't want any oversprayed paint or grease/oil from your pants/hands on the interior pieces) but thats just my opinion. Some things you have to be flexible on, I wouldn't let something hold me up (like waiting for the rearend to arrive) when I have the parts/materials to do something else. Each case is going to be different as the situations dictate. Maybe the interior of your Elky is flawless. A little extra care will be needed to keep it that way. Maybe you can get a shop to paint it now because his business is slow right now and he's willing to give you a better deal on the paint job, make the car available when he's slow, but let him know you expect something in return. I once let a shop have my car for 6 months (while I went to Spain) to do the body work and paint job. The guy took my car home and worked on it in his spare time. I got a quality job for less than half the cost. Be flexible on some things and don't bend on some others, know what I mean man? _________________ "The day we lose our will to fight is the day we lose our freedom" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8
Necoa #: 22
Location: 19(AK,ID,OR,WA)
Joined: Jan 06, 2003
Posts: 216
Year: 1968
Model: El Camino
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 2:50 pm Post subject:
A ford 9" rear has a removable 3rd member, so you can pull out the R&P all at once- meaning you can set it up outside the car then install it.
A GM 12 bolt is setup so that you have to setup the R&P inside the rear end housing.
Ford 9" rears do not have C Clips- Much stronger- While you can get C clip eliminators for 12 bolts, then tend to leak and wear out fast on street driven cars.
If you are talking big horsepower- a Ford 9" is the way to go. _________________ Ben Rambow
NECOA#022
1968 El Camino SS396
GMPP454HO - TH400(stock stall) - 3.31 posi
Current best 13.1 @ 105mph
Necoa #: 22
Location: 19(AK,ID,OR,WA)
Joined: Jan 06, 2003
Posts: 216
Year: 1968
Model: El Camino
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 2:54 pm Post subject:
forgot...
Yes, you can have a TRUE 4 link suspension on your elky- However if you plan on driving your car on the streets, you would not want one. They are setup for straight line performance, and most MFGs will even state they should not be used for street driving.
All that being said- Check out some drag race/pro street message boards and ask those guys what they run. Most of the Kits are universal, can be installed on any car /rear end combo.
If you do plan on driving your car- as people mentioned above- A beefed up stock setup should be more than adiquate. You can always bolt on ladder bars if you still have problems with traction...
Necoa #: 564
Location: kansas city mo. usa
Joined: Jan 27, 2003
Posts: 120
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 4:55 pm Post subject:
The factory suspension is a four link and a very well engineered. It has been on GM A-bodies from 1964 to 1987 virtually unchanged. You can look to the aftermarket to beef it up and it will handle gobs of horsepower.
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The latter two also make a 12 bolt Chevy rearend thats also a bolt in swap ($2000+) Nothing is more impressive then the power of a Big Block Chevy but, with the price of gas the way it is can you afford one and still be able to enjoy using the car on a daily basis or keep it as just a weekend cruiser? I had originally planned on dropping in a BB in my Elky. I've rethought this now and have just decided to build a potent mouse motor, so that I would be able to enjoy my Elky more. I plan on using my Elky for some long hauls from time to time, I want to make it comfortable as well as practical. 
PS. You Texans always think BIG, why is that?
i dont know why we always think big. but whats the difference between the ford nine from moser and the 12 bolt ive looked into thier 12 bolt and i think thats what im going to go with. i realize the gas will be on E every time i get on it a little but it will see some track time but a lot of show time. and what do you think i should do first show or go?? thanks for your help.
