Problems installing MuscleBar in 68 Camaro

[camrat68]

I'm trying to finish up the installation of a Muscle Bar for a 68 Camaro and I've run into an issue with the orientation of the arms that connect the posi-links to the bar flanges.
With the bar centered between the oil pan and the engine balancer, the arms are nowhere near where they need to be to bolt to the posi-links.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/09/th_P9160033-1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/95SStorm/media/P9160033.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/09/th_P9160036-1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/95SStorm/media/P9160036.jpg.html)

With the Arms moved as close to the posi-link as possible, the bar actually contacts the engine balancer.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/09/th_P9160037-1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/95SStorm/media/P9160037.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/09/th_P9160039-1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/95SStorm/media/P9160039.jpg.html)

With the arm unbolted and rotated down to reach the posi-link and the bar centered for max clearance between the oil pan and balancer, the arm can't be bolted to the bar.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/09/th_P91600421-1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/95SStorm/media/P9160042-1.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/09/th_P9160047-1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/95SStorm/media/P9160047.jpg.html)

I understand that with the suspension at full droop there will be some room between the arms and posi-links. But that also means that every time that the front end lifts, the bar will contact the balancer.
What am I missing here?
Thanks,
Jim

P.S. I tried posting this on RideTech's Forum but kept getting an "invalid security token" error message.

[BigMikeIndy]

"P.S. I tried posting this on RideTech's Forum but kept getting an "invalid security token" error message."

Thanks for bringing this up. Going to have out Forum provider look into it. One of our guys will be back on shortly to help you with the clearance issue.

[onair]

You need to remove the MuscleBar and flip it end for end. With the arms installed on the MuscleBar in their correct position, the area of the bar that drops down will be toward the ground. If its on backwards the dropped down part of the bar will be pointing forward. Flipping the bar should fix your problem.

[130fe]

You need to remove the MuscleBar and flip it end for end. With the arms installed on the MuscleBar in their correct position, the area of the bar that drops down will be toward the ground. If its on backwards the dropped down part of the bar will be pointing forward. Flipping the bar should fix your problem.

X2, I ran into that same problem. Flip it around and problem is solved!

[camrat68]

Thanks for the replies! As it turned out, flipping it end for end did the trick! Everything lines up like it should. Now if I could only get the center link on the Tru-Turn kit to fit around my Lemon's headers...... :P

Jim

[camrat68]

Once I got the car to ride height I found that the suspension felt stiffer that I thought it should be. Upon further investigation I found out that the MuscleBar was directly up against the front of my oil pan. That meant that any compression of the suspension would force the bar harder into the pan. shortening the Posi-Link got the bar moved in it's arc to roughly centered between the oil pan and the balancer. I checked it at full compression as well as at full droop and it shouldn't contact anything now.

With the generous amount of threads inside the body of both ends of the Posi-Links, shortening them up turned out very well. The bar is now at about 60% of it's arc and should have plenty of clearance between the oil pan and the balancer.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/09/th_P9220012-1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/95SStorm/media/P9220012.jpg.html)

[bret]

Once I got the car to ride height I found that the suspension felt stiffer that I thought it should be. Upon further investigation I found out that the MuscleBar was directly up against the front of my oil pan. That meant that any compression of the suspension would force the bar harder into the pan. shortening the Posi-Link got the bar moved in it's arc to roughly centered between the oil pan and the balancer. I checked it at full compression as well as at full droop and it shouldn't contact anything now.

With the generous amount of threads inside the body of both ends of the Posi-Links, shortening them up turned out very well. The bar is now at about 60% of it's arc and should have plenty of clearance between the oil pan and the balancer.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/09/th_P9220012-1.jpg (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/95SStorm/media/P9220012.jpg.html)

Make sure the shortened links do not bid at full travel. They will snap if bound up. Moving freely, they will take a 5800# pull.

[camrat68]

How can I tell if they're binding up?

I didn't check them throughout their entire range of motion, just with all four tires on the ground and at full droop. If you grabbed the head of the 90* heim joint you could wiggle it.

Thanks,
Jim