65 Barracuda w/500ci RB, Stage VI Max Wedge Port Heads, 6-speed, and 5.38 Dana

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I've welded the lower shock mounts onto the Dana. The tap came yesterday afternoon so I've already cleaned the LH threads on the diagonal link and installed it between the ladder bars. I'm headed out to the garage to verify everything is centered and straight on the rear chassis before I mock up the upper shock mount today. Hopefully by this weekend she'll be back on all fours instead of jack stands. I'll get some pics once that's the case.
 
Yeah Brad! Looks familiar? Look at my hack job on the driver side shock tower, I had to cut it right at the shock bracket and gusset it. This is a low deck so it was closer. I know Rob was asking about a B motor in there. Your RB raises the headers off the idler arms though, something I had issues with in last photo and an attempt to space the idler arm. All I needed was motor 2 more inches to rear. Maybe relocate motor mount holes or motor plate and then cut driveshaft but if you are doing this already with a 6sp, may be an option for you. My advice, screw inners! run a J bar and tie in coilovers shocks..Dzus fasten AL sheets when down. OK, no more thread jacking! Charge it!
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Yeah Brad! Looks familiar? Look at my hack job on the driver side shock tower, I had to cut it right at the shock bracket and gusset it. This is a low deck so it was closer. I know Rob was asking about a B motor in there. Your RB raises the headers off the idler arms though, something I had issues with in last photo and an attempt to space the idler arm. All I needed was motor 2 more inches to rear. Maybe relocate motor mount holes or motor plate and then cut driveshaft but if you are doing this already with a 6sp, may be an option for you. My advice, screw inners! run a J bar and tie in coilovers shocks..Dzus fasten AL sheets when down. OK, no more thread jacking! Charge it!
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Pishta,

Thank you for the photos, info, and PM.

Brad
 
Well, I just got the springs off the used coil-over shocks I've had for probably a decade and a half; what a PITA. Thank goodness there wasn't too much pressure on the springs after I bottomed out the adjustment nuts before I attempted to compress the springs with a couple C-clamps.

There is absolutely nothing to stop me from finishing the rear suspension now, except maybe laziness. Time to get back out there while the weather is nice. I need to be as productive as possible today as I'm getting low on propane and it's warm enough to not need it today. I can't find anyone that will fill the small bottles in this area, due to the propane shortage.
 
Ladder bar/Coil-over shock rear suspension is done. I pulled everything from under the rear of the car to make it easier to do the final welds on the coil-over shock crossmember. I wanted to pull the axle to make it easier to weld a strengthening brace in between the ladder bar brackets anyway.

I'll get some photos posted once I get the rear axle back underneath it.
 
It's all back together, but no pictures yet. I'm going to wait till the snow melts and roll it outside for some better pics.
 
Finally I got some pictures today. I think it turned out great! I may have to raise it a bit once I install the 8 qt pan, but hopefully not.

I love the last photo with Mr. Unbreakable just hangin' out. He's like, what's takin' so long? Bring it! I've got a new cover for him, the one with the adjusters that press on the caps, but that will come later.

I liked the second photo so much that I made it my temporary avatar, until I get it finished and get a better photo.

Those are 28" X 10.5" X 15 slicks. I believe I can fit a 31" X 11.5" X 15" if I'm willing to buy 11" rims with 7.5" backspacing. I'm too cheap to buy new rims, so I'll probably just buy 31" X 11" X 15" tires and slicks since I have another set of the exact same rims with 305 X 50 X 15" BFGs on them. However, I have two pairs of the 305 X 50 X 15" tires and two pairs of 28" X 10.5" X 15 slicks so I'll probably just run them for a while.

I don't think I mentioned it before; the rear axle ratio is a 5.38 with a powerlock. I know that's a pretty tall gear, but with tall tires and the T-56 6-speed, I think I'll be fine.

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good work bro

Thank you Uli, but mine looks like a piece of junk next to your masterpiece. You've done very nice work on yours. Unfortunately, I can't get any of the photos to load from your build thread on here, but If I remember your build correctly, yours was way beyond anything I would have even attempted to start with. To remember where yours was and to see how it looks today is flabbergasting.

Next week I start building the rear tubs.
 
Ditto, I don't know how I missed this thread either. Great build with some really exciting twists and turns. Love the RB and 6 spd.
 
Well, last night I boxed in the ladder bar brackets on the advice of Mr. P Body from another website. His advice made a lot of sense. He also recommended that I gusset the passenger side ladder bar bracket to further prevent twisting as I intend to drive this car on the street. I've created a template of the gusset I intend to create, but so far that's all.

Here are a few pics of the template for the gusset I intend to create for the ladder bar bracket. I am attaching it to the passenger side as that is the side that will be getting side loads due to the diagonal link mounting to near that bolt. The gusset will be 1/4" plate that will be 1/2" wide against the ladder bar bracket and 1-1/2" wide against the axle housing. I will also be anchoring it to the shock bracket as I notched it for attachment of the soon to be created bracket. These first two pics are of the gusset template without the shock installed and then two more with the shock installed.

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Great work!!
I'll be watching this thread.
 
Very nice build. I hope you get your headers done before I start mine. I need some ideas.
 
Great build going on here :glasses7:
I wish someone would let me know about these threads :D
 
Thanks guys, but I haven't touched it since spring and won't be for the next couple months. I had a bad motorcycle accident October 2nd and am still recovering. I spent 6 weeks in a nursing home, but am now at home still recovering. A full recovery is expected, but not until January. I'm hoping to be updating this post in February.
 
Heal up and take it easy, it will be there and all ALL the work you have dun is behind yea and waiting Speedie recovery to yea Brad.. I will see this thread move again I promise :cheers:
 
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