3 Link/torque arm suspension for '69 Camaro

[Shawn Strunk]

I am wondering if anyone else out there has set up their '69 Camaro with a 3 link/torque arm rear suspension? I am in the process of doing this (or should I say my builder is). I have been actively involved with the entire process. I am questioning how he has done a few things:
1. How is the angle of the coilover shocks decided.
2. Does the panhard bar need to be parallel to the rearend in order to function properly?
3. Is this set up a good protouring set up?
4. Is there anything else you can tell me based on your personal experience with this setup?

Let me tell you a little about my setup. We started with a narrowed Fab9 housing, we are tubbing the car and will but 345 30R 18 underneath. We are using DSE rear quadralink coilover shocks along with their trunk crossmember to mount the upper shock mounts. BMR Fabrication components include a torque arm and 2 control arms. We are using a lakewood panhard bar which has been modified to fit. The center tunnel of the car has been widened to make room for the torque arm. Custom brakets have been made for the lower shock mounts and panhard bar. Another question I have relates to the panhard bar. Is bending the panhard bar not a good thing? Also, is mounting the panhard bar at an angle (frame side more toward rear of car) an ok thing? We did this to make room for exhaust. I realize it needs to be parallel to the rearend in order to lessen lateral travel. HELP!

[rocketman]

i have done this.i used

all bmr stuff,tq arm,trail arms panhard bar.
a moser rear end w/tq arm mount.fabbed my own shock mounts.
i put acouple degrees on the ph bar,do no bend a ph bar it will be junk.i made the ph bar adjust in the middle like bmr's in style.
dont remember widing the tunnel,it was close thou.
the first time was a stock frame car,then did it with narrowed car like yours with 2x4 frame rails.

i cant think of everything,but just ask.

[Shawn Strunk]

i have done this.i used

all bmr stuff,tq arm,trail arms panhard bar.
a moser rear end w/tq arm mount.fabbed my own shock mounts.
i put acouple degrees on the ph bar,do no bend a ph bar it will be junk.i made the ph bar adjust in the middle like bmr's in style.
dont remember widing the tunnel,it was close thou.
the first time was a stock frame car,then did it with narrowed car like yours with 2x4 frame rails.

i cant think of everything,but just ask.

Thanks for the info! How does your car ride and handle? Are you happy with the setup? What would you do differently?

Thanks,
Shawn

[Mean 69]

Another question I have relates to the panhard bar. Is bending the panhard bar not a good thing? Also, is mounting the panhard bar at an angle (frame side more toward rear of car) an ok thing? We did this to make room for exhaust. I realize it needs to be parallel to the rearend in order to lessen lateral travel. HELP!

Ideally, the PHB should be parallel to the ground, and a straight piece of tubing for a couple of reasons. One, if it is parallel, the rear will move the same amount laterally for a given bump/droop amount, so it keeps it better "centered" in the car relative to a slanted one. Two, and this directly applies to your question about a PHB being bent, tubes do a wonderful job at handling loads that are applied straight down the tube (i.e. compressive, or tensile). They don't like bending loads nearly as much, especially if they are not supported to handle them. By slanting the PHB at static ride height, you are introducing a bending moment to the tube, which may or may not be an issue depending upon how far it is tilted. Further, in the case of the bent bar, the localized straing in the area of the bend is going to depend upon how big a of a bend is there, bigger being worse.

The circle track guys frequently use a variation of the PHB called a "J bar," it's really short, bent big time, and mounted assymetrically: murder on a street or road car that has to turn both directions. They can get away with it though in that they only need to turn one way in anger.

Mark

[rocketman]

Thanks for the info! How does your car ride and handle? Are you happy with the setup? What would you do differently?

Thanks,
Shawn
it was for a friend,it handle great,like a 4th gen.both ways where good,the 2nd way with the frame rails was easier.when i did the 1st one i took the front trailing arm brkets from a 4th gen and weld in to the floor.the frame rails worked great.
both handled great and braked well,both car's would 60ft in the 1.6's on the dragstrip,we never road coured them so that i dont know,but they rode great.

[Shawn Strunk]

Mark,

Thank you for the information. I must say it's awesome having this web site as a resource. My builder has mounted the PHB parallel to the ground but he did end up bending it in a couple of places to make room for exhaust. What you said makes sense. I just hope we don't run into problems with the PHB being bent.

Why don't more people do 3 link/torque arm set ups on a '69? I suppose it's because of all the bolt on applications available on the market.

Thanks,
Shawn Strunk

[rocketman]

Mark,

Thank you for the information. I must say it's awesome having this web site as a resource. My builder has mounted the PHB parallel to the ground but he did end up bending it in a couple of places to make room for exhaust. What you said makes sense. I just hope we don't run into problems with the PHB being bent.

Why don't more people do 3 link/torque arm set ups on a '69? I suppose it's because of all the bolt on applications available on the market.

Thanks,
Shawn Strunk


if you have it done rite.the phr should be right againest the rearend.allowing plenty of room to run 3inch exhuast right over the rearend.you DONOT want a bent phr bar.you guys need to fix that problem now.it will handle like crap.
not trying to offend you just saving you problems later.