Watt's Link build for a 63' Wagon

[triplecap]

So maybe not as exciting as some of the high-dollar builds on this site, but somewhat "pro-touring" nonetheless. For those of you not familiar with my project, it's a 63' Belair Wagon that I'm building as a family car (hopefully it'll be on the road by the time my wife & I have kids) that I can also take to the drag strip or go autocrossing with.

Engine: 396 SBC
Trans: 700R4 w/ Lokar shifter
Rear: 9", True-trac with 3.90's, 31 spline Axles, Moser center
Brakes: Hybrid C5/C6 setup from Kore3, 14" front, 13" rear
Rims: TTII's with gray centers (to be ordered)
Suspension: Air Ride Tech DA shockwaves up front & cool ride ride with SA shocks out back, all control arms are custom pieces out of chromoly.
Interior: About every factory option conceivable with no hint of anything aftermarket except the shifter.

The rear tires I ordered are BFG g-Force KDW TA's that are 285/30/20's. There wasn't much clearance and I don't want to do any extensive modifications, so the panhard rod had to be ditched in favor of a Watt's link. The height of the pivot isn't adjustable so I can't do anything about roll center, but it's a street car for Christ's sake. Everything is just tacked in place for now, but initial measurements showed that it'll keep the rearend perfectly centered for 10" of travel (I only have 8"). The back brace is stepped so that it can clear the rear shocks. A jig was made from the factory rear setup to get the brackets perfect. It was also converted to a factory 4-link since most 63's only had a 3-link w/ PHR setup. The upper arms were also relocated about 3/4" forward to clear the Watt's setup.

I'll post more pictures as I take them. Similar to 70cuda's setup I'll have an Optima battery in the spare tire compartment with all of the air ride components.

Enjoy,
Eric

[protour_chevelle]

more pics of the rear setup would be nice.

I'm diggin it. Super cool car.

[nekkidhillbilly]

very koo man

[65impSS]

Nice ride! You dont see those everyday. I would love to get my hands on a big body wagon someday.

[matdean]

So maybe not as exciting as some of the high-dollar builds on this site, but somewhat "pro-touring" nonetheless. For those of you not familiar with my project, it's a 63' Belair Wagon that I'm building as a family car (hopefully it'll be on the road by the time my wife & I have kids) that I can also take to the drag strip or go autocrossing with.

Engine: 396 SBC
Trans: 700R4 w/ Lokar shifter
Rear: 9", True-trac with 3.90's, 31 spline Axles, Moser center
Brakes: Hybrid C5/C6 setup from Kore3, 14" front, 13" rear
Rims: TTII's with gray centers (to be ordered)
Suspension: Air Ride Tech DA shockwaves up front & cool ride ride with SA shocks out back, all control arms are custom pieces out of chromoly.
Interior: About every factory option conceivable with no hint of anything aftermarket except the shifter.

The rear tires I ordered are BFG g-Force KDW TA's that are 285/30/20's. There wasn't much clearance and I don't want to do any extensive modifications, so the panhard rod had to be ditched in favor of a Watt's link. The height of the pivot isn't adjustable so I can't do anything about roll center, but it's a street car for Christ's sake. Everything is just tacked in place for now, but initial measurements showed that it'll keep the rearend perfectly centered for 10" of travel (I only have 8"). The back brace is stepped so that it can clear the rear shocks. A jig was made from the factory rear setup to get the brackets perfect. It was also converted to a factory 4-link since most 63's only had a 3-link w/ PHR setup. The upper arms were also relocated about 3/4" forward to clear the Watt's setup.

I'll post more pictures as I take them. Similar to 70cuda's setup I'll have an Optima battery in the spare tire compartment with all of the air ride components.

Enjoy,
Eric

Eric,

It is good to see you back on here posting new info on your wagon. I had talked with you a few times about my 63 as well. Other info would be great as well as any pics you have.

I decided to go to a static suspension in my 63 wagon. Didnt really "need" the air ride and if this is goign to be a family ride for us as well, I think simpler is prob better. (That and I made $ on most f the parts I had gotten together.)

Look forward to updates on the wagon!!!

[Russ T Nut]

Nice ride. I applaud you for doing your wagon your way. I'm doing a 56 Nomad and will be following your project to get some ides.
Good luck.
Russ

[LMDGUY]

sweet project!

[brownz]

sweet project!

man I LOVE 4-door wagons great project keep the pics coming :hail: :hail: :hail:

[matdean]

Any updates? Saw you were on here (p-t) a few days back.

[triplecap]

There's finally been a little progress and I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

The 20x10" & 20x8" Torque thrusts should be in any day now. I'm toying with the idea of having them clear anodized so I don't have to deal with polishing them, but then only the lips are polished and she'll be garaged - so part of me says just leave them alone.

The rearend will be narrowed roughly 3" from stock, which allowed me to run 4.5" of BS for the rear rims. Should look pretty good.

I'm ditching the stock upper stud of the shockwave if favor of an "eye" mount. It'll be much stronger and if I ever want to run a coilover instead of a bag it'll be an easy swap. Jim of JC Performance is just trying to figure out the mount.

New tubular uppers were built out of chromoly and made adjustable. Not as nice as SC&C's arms but I can't complain about the price (says they're free since he feels guilty the car has been there so long!). Beats having to run shims when it gets aligned.

Jim is also going to be adding a few degress of caster since stock was around 0.

The watt's link is all done, the rear end is ready to go... just waiting on the rims so we can get the exact measurements (and I'm not sure if the rims will need spacers to clear the calipers.) It looks busy under the car, but actually none of this stuff will be visible at ride height or especially when lowered.

Hopefully she'll be on the road by December / January, and then I can focus on finishing the 396 SBC. Enjoy.

Eric

[matdean]

Very nice! Glad to see some progress. Please continue to keep up posted.

[triplecap]

After 3 months I still don't have rims. Apparently American Racing let things go to s#@! after they sold to Wheel Pros? a month or two before my order. On the bright side, Hot Rods USA is giving me the rims at their cost because they feel bad about the deal. At this point I could order Budniks or Intros but they'd cost more than twice as much so I'll keep waiting.

The front end is coming along - the upper arms are mounted and the shock mounts are finished and just need to be welded on. Here are a few pics of the progress...

[triplecap]

If any of you guys get a chance, please check my post in the disc brakes forum on "Hydratech Hydroboost vs. ABS Electric High Power Master". I need to buy a brake booster / master combo this week and can't decide. Leaning towards the Electric unit at the moment.

Thanks,
Eric

[triplecap]

Here are some before & after pics of the front setup. Looks much better with the factory bumpstop shaved - will be doing something a little nicer for the new bumpstop. This should be substantially stronger than having the entire shock/spring assembly (ART shockwave) rely on a single threaded upper stud.

[triplecap]

Couple of updated pics. Finally starting to look like a car again. My fabricator closed his shop and my wagon is sitting in his garage (I hope). It's been almost 2 years since I gave him the vehicle... the guy works for a day or two and then goes AWOL for 3-4 weeks. If I didn't know his family I'd think he was using (speed). I just have to be a little more patient, hopefully I'll be able to drive the car home in the next two months at the rate he's been working.

These pics are shot at about 2" lower than ride height. Going to wait to get the car on the ground, get the exhaust done and determine if I should go with drop spindles or not.

[The Stickman]

A very cool looking wagon project. Keep us updated on it.

[matdean]

Glad to see an update, mines still sitting. Thanks for some motivation. :) There has at least been talk of a 2 or 3 car garage soon, so we shall see.

[COPO-RAT]

Great stuff! Keep the updates comin'! We have a '64 Wagon that's gonna be a project real soon! We need something to haul the baby and all her 'stuff'!

[triplecap]

Finally uploaded pics online. I got to see the car last night and it's progressing nicely. All of the lines are being done for the hydroboost setup and the transcooler. The rear suspension is almost done, he just needs to build new upper shock mounts.

http://picasaweb.google.com/hagedorn

[68400BIRD]

The car is looking great keep us posted with updates.

[matdean]

Hows the build going? Any updates? I have done 0 nada on mine. Renewed intrest recently but wondering if mine will ever happen as we had baby # 4 last month. Time and $ are at 0. ;)

[61ragtop]

Love the car!!! looks killer and that suspension looks awesome! gave me a good idea for the front shockwave mounts on mine as the stock mount was cut out for hydraulics (never went that route).

Keep the pics comin!!