WildBlue goes RideTech

[GeoffP]

Update time - I finished removing all of the existing suspension tonight. It's time to start working to clean some stuff up then the engine has to go ahead and come apart to clear the headers away from the a-arms so I can get the upper a-arms swapped out and start assembling the front suspension. The 4 Link kit I ordered from ridetech has been back ordered so hopefully I won't have to wait long. I had hoped it would be here before Christmas so I could work on it this weekend before Christmas but that won't happen unless it shows up tomorrow. I don't have any pictures tonight unfortunately because I was in a hurry to get the car apart since the Hotchkis parts are sold already.

I found out one thing tonight - I'm in real need of a 3rd set of jack stands!

[GeoffP]

I ordered a set of DSE mini tubs and a front MuscleBar today! That's the last of the parts I have to order for awhile... Now the waiting game begins, waiting for parts to arrive since my 4 Link got back ordered (boo!).

[rocketrod]

I ordered a set of DSE mini tubs and a front MuscleBar today! That's the last of the parts I have to order for awhile... Now the waiting game begins, waiting for parts to arrive since my 4 Link got back ordered (boo!).

Well hopefully you won't have to wait long. My 4 link is sitting in the garage, but I bet you get yours installed before I even take mine out of the box...

[GeoffP]

I've got a goal set to get my car done and back on the ground no later than the end of February. My stumbling block is going to be figuring out wheels and tires. I may even have to stick with 17x11 ZR1 replicas for the rear with Nitto NT-05 315/35-17's to match the 275/40-17's I already have, moving the current rear wheels and tires to the front. There just isn't much to choose from tire-wise when you get over 275 width tires.

[GeoffP]

It's time for a little update. A box came from Heartbeat City today with some miscellaneous parts for the car. I got new U-bolts (sent the HD ones that came with the Hotchkis kit to their new owner), new leaf spring mounting buckets, and new spiral tipped bolts to make remounting the leaf spring mounting buckets easier since my car has bolt in SFC's. Also, my new DSE mini-tubs arrived today! I'll do a short unboxing of the tubs hopefully tomorrow night since I have to work tomorrow to close out the systems at work. Last but not least, I listed my ROH Snyper wheels for sale in the classifieds. I hate to sell them but you can't get them wider than 9" since ROH no longer distributes in the US and I don't want to pay to widen them. They'll make a good set of wheels for someone! Guess that's it for now. I'll hopefully have more updates soon since all I'm waiting on is the ridetech 4 Link I've had on order for a couple weeks. Hopefully I can get an update on it Wednesday!

[GeoffP]

I preassembled my ridetech coil overs after work today - found I'm missing a snap ring for one of the front coil overs. :( Oh well I have to call ridetech tomorrow anyway so I'll just get them to send me one. It's amazing how a 10 cent part can clog up the works!

[GeoffP]

I called ridetech today because of the missing snap ring and to find out when my 4 Link is going to ship. The bracket they're missing has still not arrived and they aren't expecting until next Wednesday. Oh well...if I was in a super hurry I might be upset, but no need to get all out of sorts. I'm just glad they're making sure it's right before it's shipped. I also found out that the 48 Hour Camaro has Delrin bushings in the front a-arms instead of rubber in the uppers and poly in the lowers. I'm curious what y'all think about how much actual difference do the bushings make in the handling of that car compared to the poly/rubber combo? I'm not worried about comfort or noise because my car is already noisier than a pulp wood truck going down the road.

[GeoffP]

I called and got an update on the parts I have ordered. The Muscle Bar should be here tomorrow. The pitman and idler should be here Friday and the 4 Link is due to ship either Thursday or Friday so that puts it getting to me by probably Wednesday or Thursday of the following week. I'm hoping to get a little work done on the car this weekend...probably go ahead and swap out the heads and maybe install most if not all of the front suspension. I'm hoping my wheels will sell so I can order the new wheels soon. I'll be ready for them in probably 3-4 weeks depending on the weather and if I can find someone to help me with the welding on the tubs and the 4 Link brackets. More info soon!

I hoped someone would chime in on my question about using Delrin vs. Urethane/rubber bushings in the a-arms but it must not be that big of a deal after all. Maybe I'll try Delrin next year after ridetech offers it as an upgrade.

[WICKED_SS]

I too have the waiting game for the Ride Tech 4 link. I ordered mine from matt's as well and they emailed me last week that it was waiting on a part. Good to know that yours is shipping this week, so with some luck so will mine! Good luck on your build!

[GeoffP]

Hey, Matt's told me today that all of the 4 Links that didn't ship out of existing stock from the sale in early December were all delayed due to the part shortage. The lady I talked with at Matt's said that ridetech is supposed to receive the shipment of parts on Wednesday and start completing kits to start shipping on Thursday and Friday. She said that she was told they would ship according to the order's position in line. I ordered the day after the sale started so she though mine would ship on Thursday (hopefully).

[GeoffP]

Quick question - does anyone have a good recommendation for a company that can build a decent drive shaft for my car? I don't need anything exotic...just decently strong. The guy that shortened my existing shaft told me specifically never to use it with slicks because he thought I would twist it due to the thin wall tube. I just didn't have the $$$ to have a good one made. I'd prefer taking a longer OE shaft with 1410 joints and have it shortened. I thought I read somewhere that either GM or Ford had an aluminum shaft with 1410's that could be shortened to use in early F-bodies but I don't remember what car or what to look for. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!!

[regal454]

Quick question - does anyone have a good recommendation for a company that can build a decent drive shaft for my car? I don't need anything exotic...just decently strong. The guy that shortened my existing shaft told me specifically never to use it with slicks because he thought I would twist it due to the thin wall tube. I just didn't have the $$$ to have a good one made. I'd prefer taking a longer OE shaft with 1410 joints and have it shortened. I thought I read somewhere that either GM or Ford had an aluminum shaft with 1410's that could be shortened to use in early F-bodies but I don't remember what car or what to look for. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!!

I used a Ford Crown Vic Police Car Drive Shaft. The "Police Cars" came with different drive shaft than the standard Crown Vic cars. I believe it is a 3.5", .120" wall aluminum shaft with 1350 u-joints. I had to use a conversion ujoint to adapt to my t56 yoke. If you are looking for something to dump the clutch at 6 grand with slicks, I would probably recommend have one made out of chromoly steel.

[GeoffP]

Thanks Marc. It's nothing like that. I would just like to have a nice, light driveshaft to match all the other nicer parts I've installed on the car. I don't plan to do any drag racing at all.

[rchaskin]

........I don't plan to do any drag racing at all..........

Everyone who believes that stand on your head and gargle peanut butter!!!! LOL!!

[Rod]

I don't plan to do any drag racing at all.

ha ha ha

Everyone who believes that stand on your head and gargle peanut butter!!!! LOL!!

I agree, but now some of the new Run To The ----- events have the Start, Stop, Square, Challege,,, which is a 1/8 mile drag race(off a drag race tree), a 180 turn at the end a salom run back and a stop in a coned box! just like the optima Challenge

[WICKED_SS]

Hey just to let you know, I got a tracking number from ride tech today my 4 link will be at my house tomorrow!

[Crestronwizard]

I use a place in Greensboro for driveshafts. I can get you the address tomorrow

[GeoffP]

Thanks! I appreciate it. I may just buy a Crown Vic DS and have it shortened at Master Fabricators in Augusta. I also got a tracking notification from ridetech. Hoping mine shows on Monday. Plus my wheels sold a couple hours ago so I can now order the new ZR1 replica wheels and a couple 315 NT-05's.

[GeoffP]

Oh and I meant to say I don't plan to ever drag race on slicks... ;)

[regal454]

Here are a few pics of my driveshaft, fits nice with the exhaust. I found it locally on craigslist for $50, But also check the mustang forums. This is a fairly popular upgrade for the fox body mustang guys, so someone may have one close to you. The factory u-joints are 1310 I believe, so you will also have to upgrade to a 1350 pinion yoke.