Well, I finally assembled all the parts for the suspension and got them down to my friends shop. We had some time to get the car back up on the lift and everyone was off for the three day weekend.

Saturday we finished welding up the roll cage. We found the right rear frame rail was bent, and would need to go to the frame shop to have it straightened.

Sunday we put the car up on the lift again and removed the old rear suspension, installed LCA frame braces, and started installing the new suspension.

Monday we ran into a little glitch. The backing plates I had bought mounted flush to the axle tube ends, but the bearings hung out of the ends by about an 1/8-1/4 inch. We ended up completely fabricating a set of backing plates and then had to machine a relief on the inside edge. We lost almost a day doing this, but the results were great.

Tuesday (today) we got the old wheels back on the car and hauled it down to the body shop to have the right rear frame rail straightened.

Next weekend will be shaving the frame rails to fit the M/T's in there. I'm going to be running a Weld Prostar 15x8.5, 4.5 BS, with 28x11.5 M/T ETS's. In sizing everything up, I will have to shave 3/4 to 1 inch off the frame rail and roll the fender lip in to get them to fit without issues. We're also going to get the rear crossmember fab'd up, and welded in, and install the rear disk brakes. We're going to have to turn the axle flanges down to fit the rotors on them. We may also have to turn the brake locator on the axle flange in, or possibly turn in the inside of the rotor to fit the brake locator on the axle flange. I'm not sure which yet. We're still working on that one. ;)

Here's the rear end all ready to go!

http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu9-1.jpg


http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu14-1.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu15-1.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu17-1.jpg

The QA-1's are the best looking shocks I've ever seen. Hopefully they perform like they look.

http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu21-1.jpg

These are the backing plates we fab'd up from strap. Pretty fancy, huh?

http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu25-1.jpg

In this picture you can see the tires are rubbing up against the frame.

http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu28-1.jpg

These are the LCA braces we fab'd up. Don't make fun of the crappy welding...it's mine.

http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu10-1.jpg

What a mess!

http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu12-1.jpg


This gives you an idea of how big the meats will be. Should give me plenty of traction.
http://webpages.charter.net/seanthomas/malibu26-1.jpg

Hey Sean, great job. It looks like you have it coming together pretty quickly and I won't say anything bad about your welds. I'm currently being humbled trying to learn to stick weld. I'm getting thru the class but it ain't pretty.
Neat job on the backing plates. Amazing how a simple install can get complex in a hurry huh?
This isn't a criticism but why aren't you back-halving this project? With the frame repair needed it might be the way to go. I just bought a 78 Malibu drag car and I'm seriously considering a back-half in the future. It hooks well but doesn't go straight and I fight it all the way down the track. Money keeps me from doing it this Winter as the motor has to be freshened.
Currently it has a 9" with SSM lowers and CE shocks. It needed the LCA supported in just the same way you did too.
Great job you're doing there, keep us posted. graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif
Gary

Sean,looking good graemlins/thumbsup.gif

You said it. Money keeps me from doing it. Maybe some day. I'm actually doing a mini-tub, though, and that's close enough for this redneck. Have you been over to maliburacing.com yet. Good folks over there.

Yeah, I need to register there. I just never remember to go there at home, only work! I need to do the frame narrowing thing to get 29 or 30 X 9" tires to fit too. Maybe this winter. Again great job, I can appreciate the amount of labor you are doing. Gary

Gary, if you were to run a 3.5" backspacing you may be able to run a 9" tire under there. I'm using a standard A body 4.5 BS, which is part of the problem for me.

Here's a link to some info on wheels/tires from maliburacing.com:

http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/highway/9264/Wheel-Tire-Tech-1.html