Back on the workbench,
the Watts linkage bellcrank is installed
onto the rear crossmember. Here the links
are installed onto the bellcrank using white
grease at every juncture to eliminate
resistance and noise.
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With the Watts linkage
attached, the rear crossmember is lifted
into position in the car.
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The required holes in
the floor pan are made for the fasteners that
reinforce the shock mounting area.
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Back at the workbench,
the rear axle housing is prepared. New
U-bolts are installed over the freshly
painted axlehousing. Next the lower shock
brackets seen here are attached to the axle
housing. This elaborate bracket receives the
lower end of the coilover shock absorber,
the Watts linkage ends, and the rear
trailing arms.
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On the rear of the
car, these special spacers are used to
locate the upper end of the Koni coilover
shock assembly. It's a snug fit designed to
allow no lateral movement.
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The rear crossmember
is shown installed onto the car with the
coilover shocks in place. Any movement of
the Watts linkage bellcrank would interfere
with the fuel-pickup arrangement as it is
now, so the location for the fuel line at
the aftermarket tank will have to be
changed. The project is now ready for the
rear axlehousing.
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Two Autoworks
technicians install the axle-housing into
the car. One holds the housing steady while
the other completes attachments at the lower
shocks.
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Once again, the shock
is located by two spacers of differing
thicknesses. Here, the long spacer is in
place while the thinner spacer is in hand.
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Once the lower spacer
is centered over the opening, a plastic
mallet is used to drive the bolt through the
assembly. It will be capped with a nylon
locknut.
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The outer ends of the
Watts link assembly are lubed and installed
into position on the lower shock bracket.
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Once centered in the
opening, the large 11/42-inch bolt is easily
installed. It will also be capped with a
nylon collared lock nut.
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