Ridetech 4 link cradle help!

[Mark69bird]

I’ve run into a little issue locating my 4 link cradle into my 69 Firebird. The rear frame rails have been changed with aftermarket ones and what I have found is the two holes used on the bottom of the frame rails to locate are not there!! Has anyone come across this issue and if so what did you do to locate the cradle!!
Thx.

[Just 1 More]

I focused more on where it fit at the seam where the 5 bolts go across and in to the interior/back seat area. I found that to work for mine and put everything within spec.. for me.
Also, It seemed that just moving the cradle in the frame rails, front to back, I found a "sweet spot" that it just fit, and the front 5 bolts found their spot.

[blitzer454]

I just welded in a cradle a few weeks ago in my 68 Firebird. My frame rails and trunk pan are also new. I agree with above, there's really only one way it will fit. Here's a pic of my install so you can better see how the bolts line up.

[Mark69bird]

I just welded in a cradle a few weeks ago in my 68 Firebird. My frame rails and trunk pan are also new. I agree with above, there's really only one way it will fit. Here's a pic of my install so you can better see how the bolts line up.

Thx. It’s been a bit frustrating trying to line it up and Center it between the frame rails. Did you have to beat the truck floor up where the bar goes across by the 5 bolts going through the seam?
For some reason I have about 3/8” gap between the frame rails. And the rails were in a jig before all welding was done. Seams my frame rails are wider than the drawing shows. I’ll try and get pictures up. Just waiting on jack stands to hold it all up.

[dhutton]

It is quite common to have to take a BFH to the floor to get the cradle to fit.

Don

[blitzer454]

Thx. It’s been a bit frustrating trying to line it up and Center it between the frame rails. Did you have to beat the truck floor up where the bar goes across by the 5 bolts going through the seam?
For some reason I have about 3/8” gap between the frame rails. And the rails were in a jig before all welding was done. Seams my frame rails are wider than the drawing shows. I’ll try and get pictures up. Just waiting on jack stands to hold it all up.

Yes, I had to pound down the trunk seam to get the backing bar to fit onto the 5 bolts. I also had to do some pounding on the opposite side of the trunk seam to get the front of the cradle bar to sit down correctly. I also did some pounding on the bottom of the trunk floor where the back bar meets the ridges on the floor. My frame rails also had a gap between the front tabs. I used some clamps to pull the rail over some and a BFH to move the cradle to the rail.

I installed it while the car was still on the rotisserie which made the job a lot easier. I used the 5 bolts at the front and the 2 at the rear to draw the cradle onto the rails then I used the self tapping bolts to pull down the tabs that were still sticking up a bit.