I've had my car over at Jim Fay's shop http://www.fays2.net/index.html for the past several months as the prototype car for his A-Body Watts Link. Happy to report we have a prototype on the street :thumbsup: Fitment is on a '70 Malibu w/ OEM 12-bolt along with the SC&C/Spohn anti-roll bar. Fits nicely.

The major mod necessary to make it even fit was a new gas tank. Picture 3 shows the 'affordable' solution. After doing some research on the Spectra Premium website, I came to notice that the '69 Nova tank was a similar form-factor and of significantly less depth vs. the Chevelle and only gave up two gallons. I won't go into all the details right now, but we got it to fit with a bracket and filler neck mod. Also, the Nova fuel pickup is utilized thereby keeping the cost reasonable. Plans are to get a Spectra part number and make the tank conversion a bolt-in affair.

I plan on running the Power Tour at Madison and Racine BUT now I have a steering column problem: http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273462 that has me sweating. With no steering column shops around and no reply to the thread, I took the car at a local dealership yesterday - before GM announced their BK today!!!!! - to have some of the old timers get her repaired. So right now I am without my ride, tomorrow's my son's 3rd birthday and I have heartburn.

I would love to hear your feedback after pushing on it for a few weeks. Looks like some mean hardware. How much weight do you reckon was added overall?

Yes! :hurray:
I have been waiting for this!

Jon

And not only does it clear Mark's adjustable rear bar, but there's also enough room to keep the tailpipes?

Awesome. :hurray:

looking good. id love to hear the report as well. about 35-40 lbs???

tim

More info about the Nova tank also! How long 'till a drop-in tank conversion might be available? EFI baffled? /curious

Regarding the tank, Spectra doesn't make an EFI tank for the Nova at this time. I had a name from Spectra so Jim worked with him directly. He seemed interested in the project and sent a '70 filler neck which was then attached at a local radiator shop. Basically it's a repro '69 Nova tank GM46A (no emissions vents) with a '70 Chevelle vented filler neck, Chevelle mounting straps and two custom brackets between the tank and the trunk to prevent the tank from shifting either forward or sideways. The embossments in the tanks don't match up perfectly between vehicles.

The fuel sending unit is the regular GM 0-90 ohm unit so it connected into the stock Chevelle harness using the OEM plug. That was nice. Sender part number is FG104C (3/8" single line) which also happens to match the 68-69 Camaro sender. BTW: RobbMC makes a 1/2" pick up for these cars: http://www.robbmcperformance.com/products/1078_gmsend.html My car had the fuel return line in it which was obsoleted before I got the car. However, I believe the two-line sender FG104D is the 3/8" w/ return for the '69 Camaro if you wanted it. Three feet of new rubber gas line and it was in and running.

I`m really glad to see it with the gas tank in. That was the big stumbling block with this package on the A bodys. Hopefully we`ll be able to get this prototype package, including a finished gas tank turned into a true production package pretty quickly. If you think it`s cool now just wait until you drive it! :D Mark SC&C

SWEEEEETTTTT. numbers asap, pretty please.

With the lateral movement solved, next logical piece would be a Torque Arm and therefore the elimination of the Chevelle upper control arms. Mark: I see Spohn makes a customizable arm https://www.spohn.net/shop/1998-2002-GM-F-Body/Suspension/Torque-Arms/?action=product&pid=1653 with a bind-free front mount system. Similar in concept to the Chris Alston dogbone T.A. mount. This and the Strange Camaro 12-bolt T.A. casting would be nice. http://www.strangeengineering.net/catalog/pages/078.jpg probably minimal fab work although I recall somebody mentioning the tight tranny tunnel on the A-Bodys. Figured since you work with Spohn, maybe you would be able to get a definitive yes/no on that T.A. working at all.

First off, awesome news and love the setup with the sway bar. It is good to see the a bodies getting the options the f-body guys have.

With the lateral movement solved, next logical piece would be a Torque Arm and therefore the elimination of the Chevelle upper control arms. Mark: I see Spohn makes a customizable arm https://www.spohn.net/shop/1998-2002-GM-F-Body/Suspension/Torque-Arms/?action=product&pid=1653 with a bind-free front mount system. Similar in concept to the Chris Alston dogbone T.A. mount. This and the Strange Camaro 12-bolt T.A. casting would be nice. http://www.strangeengineering.net/catalog/pages/078.jpg probably minimal fab work although I recall somebody mentioning the tight tranny tunnel on the A-Bodys. Figured since you work with Spohn, maybe you would be able to get a definitive yes/no on that T.A. working at all.

I was thinking the same, a 3 link or torque arm. BMR makes a torque arm the for the f-bodies which may fit the tunnel. You would have to combine the watts link and torque arm mounts. I would love to see the guys work up a bind free tq. arm.

http://www.bmrfabrication.com/f1/f1ta.html

Me likey!!

93Polo: A couple of companies already make a 12-Bolt center section with the 82+ Camaro torque arm bosses already cast in. It's a pre-existing form factor. I've even seen a pic of the Dana 60 version!! It shouldn't be any problem for Strange, Moser etc. to use that section and drop it into their A-Body jig. Welded axle tubes & welded Spohn bushing pads would be another plus. Suppose you could even spec the upper arm ears if you didn't have the $$ to do the T.A. right away. Just like the old Boy Scout Moto: "Be Prepared."

Like Mark said, the tank is the key. Tons of room now and the clearances on the shocks, exhaust (dropped in this picture) are also generous. Here are a few more pics:

Good tank info, thanks Steve.

Nicely done. I would suggest looking at Mustang torque arms for some ideas. They are more of a retro-fit with differential clamp mountings very common. They also underslung so the tunnel dimensions are WAY less of a problem :thumbsup:

Nicely done. I would suggest looking at Mustang torque arms for some ideas. They are more of a retro-fit with differential clamp mountings very common. They also underslung so the tunnel dimensions are WAY less of a problem :thumbsup:

Yup: http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263838

Just got my car back (steering column problem). Going to make the Power Tour afterall. Madison & Racine rain or shine. Look for a Black Cherry / white '70 Malibu w/ 17" Torque Thrusters, Bright blue Wisconsin plates. Jim Fay will also be there to answer any questions. That's him in the first picture. He will be driving a putty-colored '75-ish Buick convertible. Flag him down :beers:

any update? how is the setup working out? i searched and couldnt find a new thread with your results.

Tim

Yha!

How's it drive?!

Been really busy lately:

1.) Had a new o-ring box & pump installed yesterday. Not a GC box either. Drove it 235 (yes 235) miles last night -- no drips. More on this later in a new post, but I do have a question right now: What is the book time to r&r the pump and box on a '70 with A/C and no frozen bolts etc??? Is there an online link I can reference. I got A-Timed.

2.) Still need to get the production Spohn bar mount swapped out:http://www.fays2.net/fays2_watts_link_25_.html but the weather is turning........

3.) More on the Watts when I get time more time. Son's 1st birthday is this weekend :hurray::thumbsup::beers::hurray:

I`m really glad to see it with the gas tank in. That was the big stumbling block with this package on the A bodys. Hopefully we`ll be able to get this prototype package, including a finished gas tank turned into a true production package pretty quickly. If you think it`s cool now just wait until you drive it! :D Mark SC&C

Will it fit my 70 El Camino, as well?

Congrads on your sons b-day...have fun. I have been following this link and am very interested. Look forward to more info

Hey any updates on the watts link? Has a kit been put together with a new fuel tank, etc.?

no kit that i know of, but call hector and ask him for my tank. it fits perfect with a watts. check out my build thread for pics.

Tim