Texas Hotrod
02-22-2007, 08:01 PM
I have a 68 Camaro project and I plan on using a set ZO6 wheels/tires. For these wheels to tuck inside the rear wheel wells, I needed an axle 6" wider than the stock 10 bolt. I dug through my pile of axles and found a 12 bolt (3.73 posi) that came out of a 1978 Blazer. I machined the ends of the axles and redrilled the bolt pattern to fit the car wheels. The axle is now in the car and the 18X10.5 wheels fit perfectly.
I was looking for different front control arms to space the spindles outward to compare w/the rear spacing. I figured I need to widen the front track by 4 to 4.5" for the Vette wheels to fit. I located sources for custom (adjustable) upper a-arms but struck out on the lowers. I thought of making my own, but that was to be the last resort. I know there are kits to adapt C4 pieces to a 1st gen subframe, but I ruled that one out also. I thought of billet wheel adapters as an option, that would be an easy solution. I plan on installing big brakes to fit the 18" wheels (NASCAR rotors and Wilwood calipers ???), so I wasn't happy with running the stock hubs and spindles.
I had one of the city's cop cars in the shop and noticed it had a modular suspension unit. This thing has a beefy cast aluminum cross member, aluminum lower control arms, coil-over designed shocks, aluminum spindles, aluminum dual piston calipers, rack/pinion unit and a sway bar. The only thing that isn't aluminum is the rotors, wheel hubs, upper a-arms and tie rods. Too bad it's made by Ford (Crown Vic), but I truely am impressed w/its design.
I located a unit in a local salvage yard (he had many) and hauled it to the shop for further inspection. It looks like it measures 68" from hub to hub. I figure it's within specs of what I was looking for and figured I could make it work. I was wanting to use dry sump oiling and lower the engine in the frame. The spacious flat area under the oil pan just might allow for that too.
An all aluminum front unit? I'm now planning on building aluminum frame rails. Looks like my C4 rear unit would be a good idea too (too bad the 12 bolt is already installed).
Just thought this info might be useful to someone.
I was looking for different front control arms to space the spindles outward to compare w/the rear spacing. I figured I need to widen the front track by 4 to 4.5" for the Vette wheels to fit. I located sources for custom (adjustable) upper a-arms but struck out on the lowers. I thought of making my own, but that was to be the last resort. I know there are kits to adapt C4 pieces to a 1st gen subframe, but I ruled that one out also. I thought of billet wheel adapters as an option, that would be an easy solution. I plan on installing big brakes to fit the 18" wheels (NASCAR rotors and Wilwood calipers ???), so I wasn't happy with running the stock hubs and spindles.
I had one of the city's cop cars in the shop and noticed it had a modular suspension unit. This thing has a beefy cast aluminum cross member, aluminum lower control arms, coil-over designed shocks, aluminum spindles, aluminum dual piston calipers, rack/pinion unit and a sway bar. The only thing that isn't aluminum is the rotors, wheel hubs, upper a-arms and tie rods. Too bad it's made by Ford (Crown Vic), but I truely am impressed w/its design.
I located a unit in a local salvage yard (he had many) and hauled it to the shop for further inspection. It looks like it measures 68" from hub to hub. I figure it's within specs of what I was looking for and figured I could make it work. I was wanting to use dry sump oiling and lower the engine in the frame. The spacious flat area under the oil pan just might allow for that too.
An all aluminum front unit? I'm now planning on building aluminum frame rails. Looks like my C4 rear unit would be a good idea too (too bad the 12 bolt is already installed).
Just thought this info might be useful to someone.