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Improved Strut Rod Bracket for 80-82 Batwing Differentials
So there were several options available to lower the inboard strut rod bolt on 68-79 cars (C2s as well). Tom's Differentials had one that was optimized for drag racing. VB&P had an adjustable one that Van Steel now appear to sell. Van Steel also has a solution for 80-82 cars, but it is just two pieces that bolt on to what is already there. I s'pose this is helpful for those with an exhaust running under the differential.
Does anyone make, or has anyone fabricated, a strut rod bracket that lowers the inboard strut rod bolt, leaves the position adjustable (or at least gives you two options: race and strip), and adds strength? Or does anyone have photos of the Van Steel solution installed, and is happy with it?
By comparison, the 65-69 Corvair has an almost identical rear suspension, with the big difference being rear coil springs vs. a leaf spring. I ran a modified strut rod bracket when I autocrossed a 66 Corvair (with the bracket modified to place the bolt halfway between stock and the as-supplied drag race configuration). Not only is the strut rod geometry better with this setup, but the mount is much stiffer and stronger than stock. Corvairs don't have to worry about exhaust routing under the differential, though.
Image of Otto Corvair Parts from the Clark's Corvair catalog.
Thanks! That was just what I was looking for. It looks like the holes are moved down as well as out. If the car is still in the air, is it easy to get a measurement? I'd be interested in either the bolt distance across the diff, or the new strut rod length.
I'd still have to call Van Steel to see if they will sell just the brackets, but if it doesn't work with stock length strut rods, I'd have to cut mine down and retap one end.
Thanks! That was just what I was looking for. It looks like the holes are moved down as well as out. If the car is still in the air, is it easy to get a measurement? I'd be interested in either the bolt distance across the diff, or the new strut rod length.
I'd still have to call Van Steel to see if they will sell just the brackets, but if it doesn't work with stock length strut rods, I'd have to cut mine down and retap one end.
Did you notice any improvement?
I took those pictures years ago. I now have Heim Joints and alum struts. I cannot find those pics anywhere. Yes, they are shorter.
Thanks so much for posting all that! I'd prefer a solution similar to the 65-79 design that actually bridges the two mounts, and doesn't rely on the differential case for strength, but I doubt even the stock design does much to reinforce the differential case. It looks like my heim-jointed strut rods are only an inch longer than yours, but yours have a lot more thread showing, so they may be the same overall. Either way, it should be a simple-enough mod if Van Steel will sell me just the brackets.
Here's what's in there now, after replacing or rebuilding everything but the differential (I need to take a better photo).
I had messed with the idea on my iron diff- but ended up just making an aluminum spacer.
But I was thinking some rectangular tubing- and just cut it up a bit-
...
Thanks Richard! That's basically what I had in my head. I'm surprised no one has made one (that I can find). After seeing it, perhaps the Van Steel system is fine. I don't have a welder (I do have a 3D printer, but it won't work for this), but I might see if I can convince my BIL to help me out and weld a plate onto the Van Steel system, or just start from scratch and preserve the stock lateral geometry, with holes relocated vertically.
Are those carbon fiber half-shafts, or did you paint/coat them to look extra nifty?
I made a strut rod bracket several years ago similar to what Richard described. I've got a narrowed C4 suspension with a C4 batwing adapted to my C3 differential, so the camber bracket wasn't an off-the-shelf option. If you use adjustable links with Heim joints, it should be a reasonably simple item to fabricate. I kept the stock C4 camber rods for a stock look, so that required a bit more work to make the adjustment slots and weld in the guide fences for the adjustment cams.
I made a strut rod bracket several years ago similar to what Richard described. I've got a narrowed C4 suspension with a C4 batwing adapted to my C3 differential, so the camber bracket wasn't an off-the-shelf option. If you use adjustable links with Heim joints, it should be a reasonably simple item to fabricate. I kept the stock C4 camber rods for a stock look, so that required a bit more work to make the adjustment slots and weld in the guide fences for the adjustment cams.
That sounds good, too. Do you have any pictures of your setup, or a build thread you can link to?
Found an ancient picture from when I had the C3 batwing on the car. The camber bracket is just a piece of steel channel, with some cutting to clear the exhaust, some fences to capture the adjustment cams (not needed if you're using Heim joints), and a couple ears welded to it for bolting to the batwing. Because I'm still using an older C3 differential, the camber bracket also bolts to the bottom of the differential housing.
That is excellent, thanks! I see you made a few other subtle mods to the car.
I have the heim joints already (they are in my blurry photo above, the red electrical tape denotes the port-side, left-hand thread). I made my own set for my Corvair when I was a poor(er) college student. The C3 ones are from a vendor.
That is excellent, thanks! I see you made a few other subtle mods to the car.
I have the heim joints already (they are in my blurry photo above, the red electrical tape denotes the port-side, left-hand thread). I made my own set for my Corvair when I was a poor(er) college student. The C3 ones are from a vendor.
01-23-2019, 09:06 PM
Improved Strut Rod Bracket for 80-82 Batwing Differentials
I'll look through some stuff and see if I find anything.
