anyone "back half" a car?

[frankenstien]

So i picked up a 66' Chevy Caprice 2dr hard top this summer, it has a turbo LS swap in its future as well as going through the whole car front to back top to bottom.

been researching suspension options, there are a few kits out there, but is seems like tire width is always an issue, as the frame gets in the way as well as the shock mount, especially when using 15'' wheels.

started looking into back halves, seems they usually come in ladder or 4 link setups, I think one could solve my tire size, and suspension upgrade problems,

so I thought I'd see if any of you guys have done one before? How was the install? how do you like it? etc.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Robby05]

What's the plans for the car, budget? How big of a tire are you trying to fit?

 

[1FastBrick]

That looks like the one sold on Ebay.

I have done a few Art Morrison rear clips. The first one is always a pain but I watched the old VHS video, and did lots of reading. Once I got in and started to follow the directions, It wasn't so bad.

By the time I was done, I felt like I was an expert even though I am not.

I highly recommend X bracing the frame when you cut it apart.

The 4 link is far more adjustable over a ladder bar. It can be intimidating at first but its a better set up.

I did a write up on the Turbo Forums about 10 years a ago that might be informative for you.
http://www.theturboforums.com/threa...lling-a-rear-4-link-frame-Clip-for-beginner-s

 

[frankenstien]

What's the plans for the car, budget? How big of a tire are you trying to fit?

mostly a street car, might tow it to the track once a year

turbo LS 6.0/T56. Budget? no idea, not in a rush to finish it, looking to do it right.

no specific tire width in mine, maybe a 11.5 ish?

i am looking at the back half as i think it might be more cost effective and get more tire room. as it currently has a factory 4 link and a gm 12 bolt wit 3.08 gears, and after adding C clip eliminators and a disc conversion it makes the axle wider, and having the diff re geared, the back half would kill most of that in one swing

the company that im looking at can adjust the frame width and axle width also so sky is the limit

 

[frankenstien]

That looks like the one sold on Ebay.

I have done a few Art Morrison rear clips. The first one is always a pain but I watched the old VHS video, and did lots of reading. Once I got in and started to follow the directions, It wasn't so bad.

By the time I was done, I felt like I was an expert even though I am not.

I highly recommend X bracing the frame when you cut it apart.

The 4 link is far more adjustable over a ladder bar. It can be intimidating at first but its a better set up.

I did a write up on the Turbo Forums about 10 years a ago that might be informative for you.
http://www.theturboforums.com/threa...lling-a-rear-4-link-frame-Clip-for-beginner-s

i have done some reading up on the install, and yeah cross bracing seems to be a have to, to keep the frame from spreading.

I will probably go with ladder bars, only because id like to keep the back seat, and with the way the frame is shaped, i dont think its possible with the 4 link type.

ill check out that link

 

[1FastBrick]

I did not x brace my first car during the process and learned the hard way. Had to go back and restraighten the frame

 

[Robby05]

mostly a street car, might tow it to the track once a year

turbo LS 6.0/T56. Budget? no idea, not in a rush to finish it, looking to do it right.

no specific tire width in mine, maybe a 11.5 ish?

i am looking at the back half as i think it might be more cost effective and get more tire room. as it currently has a factory 4 link and a gm 12 bolt wit 3.08 gears, and after adding C clip eliminators and a disc conversion it makes the axle wider, and having the diff re geared, the back half would kill most of that in one swing

the company that im looking at can adjust the frame width and axle width also so sky is the limit

Do the front suspension first while you can still drive the car & have some fum with it. Call Mark @ SC&C. Best dude in the industry at making old heavy cars handle.

Put the LS in and have a good handling car with a ton of power. Then decide if you really want to back half it. Seems excessive for just a street car. For the price of the back half you can have the entire LS swap & suspension done.

 

[Burn Down]

No reason to back half Mike, unless your throwing some big azz meats back there... I have seen a 67' GTO pack the front tires on 10 slicks with a 12 bolt and caltracs.

 

[frankenstien]

Do the front suspension first while you can still drive the car & have some fum with it. Call Mark @ SC&C. Best dude in the industry at making old heavy cars handle.

Put the LS in and have a good handling car with a ton of power. Then decide if you really want to back half it. Seems excessive for just a street car. For the price of the back half you can have the entire LS swap & suspension done.

I haven't done anything to it yet, and probably wont just yet, i am going to take the body off, strip the frame and coat it, or maybe just strip and por15, but with the frame separated and open, if i am going to back half it, that'd be the time to do it.

I checked the SC%C website, they only have the 59-64 B body listed, mines a 66, that problem for this car keeps popping up

 

[Robby05]

sounds like fun. post pics of the project

 

[frankenstien]

No reason to back half Mike, unless your throwing some big azz meats back there... I have seen a 67' GTO pack the front tires on 10 slicks with a 12 bolt and caltracs.

I haven't ruled out putting some big tires in the back, current setup is fairly limited, with an adjustable panhard bar and the right back spacing a 295 tire can be fit back there as is, but the fender may rub on hard corners(according to the internet)

the other thing is is a local place rough quoted me like 1500$ to re gear that 12 bolt, that's reusing my current posi carrier, as it currently has 3.08 gears.

the back half is 1900$ that includes Qa1 coil overs,ladder bar/4 link set up, empty big bearing ford 9'' housing, drive line loop, 435$ shipped to my door

I'm just going through ideas at this point before i do anything drastic, its a big boat and for rear suspension stuff there's not as much support for the 65-66 B body as the A body stuff

 

[Burn Down]

I haven't ruled out putting some big tires in the back, current setup is fairly limited, with an adjustable panhard bar and the right back spacing a 295 tire can be fit back there as is, but the fender may rub on hard corners(according to the internet)

the other thing is is a local place rough quoted me like 1500$ to re gear that 12 bolt, that's reusing my current posi carrier, as it currently has 3.08 gears.

the back half is 1900$ that includes Qa1 coil overs,ladder bar/4 link set up, empty big bearing ford 9'' housing, drive line loop, 435$ shipped to my door

I'm just going through ideas at this point before i do anything drastic, its a big boat and for rear suspension stuff there's not as much support for the 65-66 B body as the A body stuff

I'm with ya.

 

[frankenstien]

been pretty busy lately, but got the car separated and the body stored for the winter, going to work on the frame over the winter. keep going back and fourth, but at the moment, think im just going to stick with stock suspension set up and just add upgraded parts and a ford 9''

heres a few pics, ill post up a few more maybe tomorrow, found some suprise body damage in the firewall, so thats neat, i guess

 

[Burn Down]

Looks like a solid car to start with. I'm super jealous of your shop, you know how much crap I could jam into that place:spit:

 

[SmokeShow]

Nice project.

 

[frankenstien]

Looks like a solid car to start with. I'm super jealous of your shop, you know how much crap I could jam into that place:spit:

thanks! no matter how big it is never big enough, i'm busting at the seems as is

 

[frankenstien]

Nice project.

thanks

 

[frankenstien]

surprise damage once i removed the front left fender. the fire wall is folded in a bit, looks like she got T boned pretty good, and they cut a hole in the area behind the fender. not sure what the hell they were doing, but i dont think they did either.

I knew it had been in a accident, it has a different front fender, and some bondo on the rear left quarter.

just need to get the wifes denali fixed and out of my way so i can roll the frame back in.

also picked up a freshly rebuilt third member for a ford 9'' 31 spline axles, traction lok posi, 3.25 gears for 300$ and an old edelbrock carb

also was having trouble posting pics, but now its working