Watts link, LT1, polished aluminum, red powder-coat, pics

[96SilverRam]

I have been sitting on this Watts link from (Strano) and (Fays 2) since last summer. I have taken my sweet time about getting all the aluminum pieces, including the propellor polished to perfection ! :frustrated: I'm going to start doing the install in a couple of weeks and then take the car out and put this suspension component through some spirited driving :2guns: I decided to take some pics of the unit assembled for your enjoyment. It's almost to nice to hide under the car. When I do the install I will make sure to post finished pics and give a review on my impressions. It seems there is very little info on this item, even less info of it installed on a LT1 car.

Here you go, enjoy :D:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/Iphonepics644.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/Iphonepics638.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/Iphonepics641.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/Iphonepics643-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/Iphonepics647.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/Iphonepics637-1.jpg

[96SilverRam]

This is what I'm replacing: (BMR upper pan hard rod and BMR adjustable panhard rod)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/DSC02162.jpg

[CamaroGirl]

should be nice, i've personally never seen one of these installed or even heard of them used on a 4th gen,

[Masoch]

I can't wait to see how this goes!

[96SilverRam]

I should have everything installed and tested in a few weeks :)

[PipesTA]

I've been eying those Watts links. Post up some results after you get it installed. You're a sick sick man with all of your polishing :hail:

[96SilverRam]

Thanks pipes, the sickness is without cure. I'm just trying to stay one step ahead of my sister car :devil:

[SROACH]

I have a friend with this set up on his Z. He said he was the first to use it. His Z was used for the promo pic.:peace2:

[faust]

mikey, mikey likes!!!

[PipesTA]

So how does it feel with the Watts link? Big difference? My buddy just put his on and he said it's a real PITA to get adjusted right.

[96SilverRam]

Faust,
What up !! long time, no talk. Holla at me sometime.

Pipes,
Unfortunately I have been lazy, too much schoool ! I should have this thing on and tested soon, but with my normal progress that could be awhile :drool: I will make sure to post pics and give a review when I get some time to finish. Summer break is about 4 weeks from now and that's when I'm thinking of changing this out and doing the setup. I should have another huge surprise in the middle of the summer for the LTx crowd. If everything works out, many of the LTx firebird guys are gonna love this new item ! :secret::cool::D

[faust]

Faust,
What up !! long time, no talk. Holla at me sometime.

:secret::cool::D
this and a whole lotta that lol give you a call later in the week, as i'm starting a new job. dammit i want that upper phb, it would go nicely with all the other stuff off the silver ram lol

[96SilverRam]

Oh Faust, LOL !

We should discuss that upper PHB. I will need to give it a new home, you know you want it :D and yes, it still looks like brand new (you know me...)

[VendettaV8]

Any updates on an install?

I saw it on strano's website and was like hmmm....

[96SilverRam]

It should be soon, just trying to finish up a few things with other projects before I finish the watts link.

[96SilverRam]

Just bringing this one up to the top. Finally going to finish the install on this unit. I'm actually in the middle of installing the watts link right now, will have some pics soon http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.ls1tech.com/get/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_pimp.gif I'm going to have an adjustable BMR panhard (MPHR002) CHROME-Moly in RED available for sale in a couple of days. PM me if your interested. The unit is absolutely mint like everything that comes off this car. I would rate it a 9.5 out of 10 only because it has been installed http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.ls1tech.com/get/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_grin.gif


On a side note, I clayed the entire car again today and applied Z2 (zaino) and let it set for about 6 hours. I'm going to apply Z5 tonight and let it set for 8 hours. The paint just keeps getting deeper and deeperhttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.ls1tech.com/get/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/secret.gif

[F.G.]

Man thats a clean car:face_shocked:

[96SilverRam]

Unfortunately the car almost never gets driven, but I enjoy doing all the mods and keeping it spotless top and bottom. :peace2:

[faust]

mikes dream is to have a hermetically sealed garage. lol

[96SilverRam]

Yes, where can I buy one :D

LOL

[96SilverRam]

Well it's time for an update on my progress of installing the watts link. I just finished getting the entire watts system mocked up on the car. Checking for fitment issues before I tighten everything down. I will have to modify my heat shield a tiny bit (maybe about a 1/4" by 3/4" long cut, but it should just take a second to mod. I have not adjusted the propeller assembly yet. Just wanted to actually get everything bolted together. You will need some rather large open end wrenches (1 1/16 open end and a 32mm short well socket 1/2" drive for your torque wrench to tighten down the larger nuts to spec). It will also help if you have a pinion angle finder tool. I also decided to take off my CORSA muffler to work on this setup. It only took about 5 minutes to uninstall and it makes it so much easier :D Any questions please ask. I'm quickly becoming a mini expert on installing the WATTS :2guns:

A few pics:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/WattsLink-14.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/WattsLink-13.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/WattsLink-16.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/WattsLink-17.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/96SilverRam/WattsLink-18.jpg

[faust]

pretty damn nice!!!! now finish it up and give a road test review.

[96SilverRam]

Oh, almost forgot. I stated that I clayed the car, applied Z2 (6 hours), Z5 (8 hours), and I just applied a second coat of Z5 last night (let it set for 12 hours before I buffed it off). The paint is just looking ridiculous! I think I might apply a third coat of Z5 tomorrow night:cool:

[F.G.]

looking good

[96SilverRam]

I just finally finished tightening all of the different bolts to spec and I will start reinstalling the muffler and tails tomorrow afternoon. If anyone decides to tackle this project make sure you have (2) 1-1/16" & (2) 1-1/8" open end wrenches, (1) 32mm 1/2" drive socket, (1) 1-1/16" 1/2" drive socket, (1) 1-1/8" 1/2" drive socket, and a decent 1/2" drive torque wrench. This should cover all the large bolts and jam nuts that will need to be secure. It was a real pain applying 100ft / lbs to some of the bolts while under the car :cool:

[faust]

It was a real pain applying 100ft / lbs to some of the bolts while under the car :cool:
sounds like someone needs to start hitting the gym. lol

[96SilverRam]

LOL.....

Considering I only had a range of about 3 inches to tighten some of the bolt locations. Your right, an extra 1" on my bicep or tricep could have made the job easier:laugh:

[faust]

this may help ya lil brother.... just 6 minutes a day
https://www.buyshakeweightformen.com/flare/next?tag=im|sm|go|tm&a_aid=011&a_bid=bc3059b0&chan=G&data1=TM (https://www.buyshakeweightformen.com/flare/next?tag=im%7Csm%7Cgo%7Ctm&a_aid=011&a_bid=bc3059b0&chan=G&data1=TM)
hope get it done as i would really like to hear your driving impressions

[96SilverRam]

:jest:, I got the same workout with the torque wrench in 2 minutes. Hah......

[96SilverRam]

Update (9-13-10):

Just took the car out for a little test romp and much to my amazement the car feels completely different, but in a good way. I have read a few different threads where people state they could immediately tell there was a difference in the car, but I questioned how true that could be without testing? Well, I was wrong. It is immediately noticeable just driving down the street. Maybe it's just me, but the rearend just feels more secure. I headed out to the cloverleaf close by to do some spirited driving around the interchange a few times at different speeds. It was very impressive to keep pushing the car in 3rd gear out of the bottom of each loop. The car seemed like I could just keep feeding it pedal input. The car use to have a fair amount of oversteer at the edge before doing the upgrade. After installing the Watts Link it's as if the car won't let me oversteer the rear. I actually was pushing the car fairly hard through the last loop of the cloverleaf and exited the corner on to the freeway at 6100 rpm's in 3rd; bang'd 4th gear, and got some scratch on the concrete http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.ls1tech.com/get/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_driving3.gif I must say, I'm just about ready to purchase a set of KYB's or Koni's and take the suspension to the next level http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.ls1tech.com/get/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_angel.gifI'm going to recommend this product for two reasons: 1-it appears it really works, 2 - I think it looks really cool http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.ls1tech.com/get/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/secret.gif

[PipesTA]

Wait, you actually drove that thing??? :tt2:

[96SilverRam]

I know, it was a 20 minute spirited drive. I had fun!:D

[Paulster2]

I would have to experience your #1 reason you recommend, but the #2 is a definite ... that thing looks awesome!

[96SilverRam]

Appreciate the props! :D

[96SilverRam]

I actually forgot about this link. Here is an update from (09-15-2010)




I actually took the car out just the other night to go get some gas and I had a little run in with white 75' SD455 poncho. It was kind of funny because I was wondering if there would be any difference at all on a street launch on BFG 315/30/18 drags and the Watts link. So, as I was coming up to the light and I see to the left of me a 1975 SD455 T/A (White with the single blue stripe). It was actually in pretty good condition and sounded like it had exhaust and maybe a small cam (factory?). I looked over at the guy and he seemed pretty stone faced about the whole deal and I decided that meant he wanted to jump me JABRONI style like us Ital's do it on the upper east coast. I almost decided to bring the revs up, but thought it would be better to just roll out in 1st gear and see if he bites. Well; he did, and so did I. About 4500rpm's in 1st he trounced the big block and I immediately pinned his car from a roll and bang'd 2nd gear and almost immediately started to pull out on him. We both got out of it and talked for a moment at the next stop light. He told me the car was factory 4 speed, stock except for a true-dual setup, with longtubes and reworked carb. He said my car runs really hard and wondered what I had done, "simply stated: I just said all the bolt-ons." I told him he had a cool piece of muscle and the car runs well. We both went our separate ways. I was wondering if anyone knew what the stock horsepower on a 75' SD455? I'm assuming somewhere in the 300 hp with 425ish torque (flywheel rated of course). My best guess with his mods is maybe a 350hp flywheel car with a bunch of torque (450ish torque). I actually have a soft spot for the 73 SD455 TA's.

PS: Once again the Watts Link made the car feel very stable in power delivery in a straigt line. Maybe its just me, but it seems the rear-end tracks better under heavy acceleration. The car just squats and goes straight as an arrow.

[96SilverRam]

Another more current update from a thread over on LS1Tech (05-12-10)




Well, bringing this one back from the dead. I just pulled apart my exhaust so I could adjust the center bolt of the propeller on my Watts link. I originally had set the bolt into the #3 position out of 7. I now have the propeller bolt setting in the #5 position out of 7. The scale starts at the bottom of the Watts, position #1 and moves to the top at position #7. If your car is at stock height you generally pick position #3 or #4. If the car is lowered, (in my case) you start moving up from the #3 or #4 position. This is dependent on how much the car is lowered, in some cases, if the car is slammed you would put it potentially on position #6 or #7 out of 7. I will give an update when I get a chance to take it out for some spirited driving, hopefully soon.