Measurement ? for anyone who's installed an L-D 3-link

[TLWiltman]

Trying to start my install without directions :hammer:. What I need to know is how to find the reference point for locating the front x-member. I know I'll have to mark the original wheel centerline location, but beyond that :dunno:. Car is a 2nd gen camaro, but it's probably the same for everyone. Thank you.

[Mkelcy]

Trying to start my install without directions :hammer:. What I need to know is how to find the reference point for locating the front x-member. I know I'll have to mark the original wheel centerline location, but beyond that :dunno:. Car is a 2nd gen camaro, but it's probably the same for everyone. Thank you.

I've got first gen instructions that might help. PM me if you want them. (I'll be out most of the day, starting in a couple of hours.)

[PARKERRS]

Tad,
I installed the LD 3-link in my second Gen., project Fool's Gold.

To locate the forward crossmember isn't bad. There is a hole on each side of the car on "TOP" of the frame rail where a clip type nut held one of the bolts for the forward spring hanger. Get two of these clip nuts new and the proper size all thread rod along with some nuts and washers.

Place the clip nuts in the factory hole, then install about a 14" long piece of the all thread on each side in the nut. Use another nut ran down the all thread as a jamb nut to hold the all thread solid and in position.

The forward crossmember has holes drilled in it from Lateral Dynamics which correspond with these locations. If you are working upside down off the floor or turn the body sideways on a rottisserie, you slide the crossmember onto the allthread and place a washer and nut to hold it on there.

Now you can bring the crossmember up against the body using the last two nuts installed gradually as needed. Once it is brought up even until making contact you can begin to trim the floor pan. "SNEAK" up on it trimming a little at a time and as you trim and make clearance you can ease the crossmember up more. Keep at it until you have the crossmember fully seated against the frame rails and the pan trimmed to satisfaction.

Now remove the crossmember, remove the jamb nut from the allthread and replace the crossmember. Now you can use two nuts and washers to hold it in place tight against the frame rails while you weld it in place.

You may have to tweak the width of the crossmember due to production tolerances varying so widely on these cars. I had to narrow mine about an 1/8 inch on each end. All second Gens vary slightly as stated above due to production tolerances and tolerance build.

Also the Lateral Dynamics kit was prototyped off of a 1970 model. The 1970 is a one year only design on the forward trunk floor and rear seat divider. If you have a 1971 or newer the kit parts for the upper link closeout will not work correctly. See my thread in the project progress section under Fool's Gold and it gives photos and details of what was neccessary to do with these two areas.

The kit fits like a glove in the second gen and looks great, I had no instructions either and deciphered the procedure from the parts and pics on the LD website along with a few calls to Mark ( that's not an easy person to get in contact with ). Take your time and PM me if you have any more questions or need a phone number to call and get a better explanation.

You will need to determine and mark the axle centerline on the frame rails, this is easier with the old suspension still in the car. If you have already removed the rear suspension this will get you close. Remove the bumpstop brackets from the frame rails, the center of the rearmost mount hole of this bracket on each side is approximately the axle centerline.

The axle centerline is neccessary for mounting the rear crossmember which should be a certain measurement behind the centerline. I can't recall the exact measurement but I'll look for it in my old e-mails. I think it is around 5 1/4" behind the centerline. I'll check and edit later but this should get you going.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: I checked my old e-mails on this install from Mark. The measurement from axle centerline to the front of the rear crossmember is 5 3/8". You will also have to remove the old factory muffler hanger mounts for the crossflow muffler from the trunkpan to facilitate clearance for the rear crossmember.

[TLWiltman]

Ah. Thank ya'll for the info. This should help. I'll keep ya posted.