Independent Rear Suspension, OEM, aftermarket, stock configuration or heavily modified, all makes and models, everyone is welcome here!!!

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12/28/2011 9:05 am  #1


where to buy a "Watts link" for a stock Jaguar hub carrier?

I am building a 1965 Jaguar 3.8s 4 door sallon with an LS1 and was worried about the hub carrier twisting with the power.  I have welded bracing on the control arms and basket that hold the rear end, etc. but now it looks like the weak link is the hub carrier and after many searches I found your great forum!  I read some postings showing the watts link made to mount onto a stock Jaguar hub carrier.  That looks like the perfect addition to my project to help protect the rear suspension from breaking. But after searching I cannot find out where to purchase it?  Can any of you help me?

thanks in advance

 

12/28/2011 9:51 am  #2


Re: where to buy a "Watts link" for a stock Jaguar hub carrier?

Welcome aboard primaz!
Talk to Nick at, http://www.actoncustom.com/. He's popular over at Club Cobra. He goes by mickmate. You would probably need different length links, however some parts I'm sure would work out. Nick would also I'm sure sell only what you need.

Here is a short video of the the Watts in motion. I have built a library of video's under the header IRS Video's if you would like to view more. I just categorized them yesterday.

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/434/picture001.mp4

Ralphy

Last edited by Ralphy (12/28/2011 10:00 am)

 

12/28/2011 9:56 am  #3


Re: where to buy a "Watts link" for a stock Jaguar hub carrier?

First of all welcome to the forum!!!  We would love to see some pix of what you are working on.  As to where to to get the watts setup contact Mickmate at the club cobra forum:
http://www.clubcobra.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=3404&cat=all


If it isn't broken..... modify it anyway!!!!
 

12/28/2011 12:54 pm  #4


Re: where to buy a "Watts link" for a stock Jaguar hub carrier?

Ralphy & Daze,

Thank you so very much!  I will contact him as I guess I would need to measure where to mount the links to if he does not have a set up already designed for a stock Jaguar 3.8s which was in production from 1963-1967?

Have you found this to be a reliable fix for the weak design of that hub carrier?  Does drilling those mounting holes weaken the hub carrier or have you found it to be reliable for years?  My Jaguar will have about 450 HP from a 5.3 liter LS1 GM motor.  I do not plan to jump on the throttle too abruptly as I was worried that the hub carrier would want to twist since I am stuffing 17" 245 tires on the car on all four corners. 

Those pics looks so cool!  I knew American inginuity would come to the rescue by having somebody finding a way to improve on this design flaw.  So most of you are using this suspension on Cobra's right?  I think there is a market for this same piece for anyone wanting to make a performance or race car out of a Jaguar 3.8s, or any of the two door Jag sports cars as they all use this same rear suspension.  I was amazed that I think I am the only person whom realized that you could use custom off-set rims to stuff big 245 tires on a 3.8s eventhough the body style has about 1/4 of the wheel covered by the fender.  I guess after this post being my second one I can then post a pic or two?

     Thread Starter
 

12/28/2011 1:01 pm  #5


Re: where to buy a "Watts link" for a stock Jaguar hub carrier?

Here are a few pictures of the project car which I hope can be a daily driver in a few months with your help!






     Thread Starter
 

12/28/2011 1:05 pm  #6


Re: where to buy a "Watts link" for a stock Jaguar hub carrier?

It's very critical to have your suspension aligned. Then locating mounting points will also need to be pretty much spot on. Here is a CC thread on the subject..
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/contemporary-classic-forums/85616-contemporary-cobra-watts-linkage.html



Ralphy

Last edited by Ralphy (12/28/2011 1:10 pm)

 

12/28/2011 1:20 pm  #7


Re: where to buy a "Watts link" for a stock Jaguar hub carrier?

so I might need to wait until we are closer to having the car completed then? 

right  now we are working on making the LS1 fit into the engine bay, then we remove the motor , then the car goes to the body shop to strip the undercarriage and POR-15 the botton and engine bay & paint the hood, then back to our shop to re-install the motor/trans, then upgrade the front brakes to Wilwood 4 pistons and change the front to adjustable coil overs like we did in the rears, then put the new seats and interior back into the car.  Thus until we get the car back and reassemble it, we will not have the proper four new rims/tires and new front suspension to allow us to get the car aligned. 

I appreciate everyone's help as I know enough to decide what I want but am having a shop install it for me so any helpful instructions to give them would greatly help.  I have just sent my request to "Mickmate" and I hope he can provide a kit to work with my stock Jaguar!!! 

     Thread Starter
 

1/04/2012 9:40 am  #8


Re: where to buy a "Watts link" for a stock Jaguar hub carrier?

primaz wrote:

Those pics looks so cool!  I knew American ingenuity would come to the rescue by having somebody finding a way to improve on this design flaw.  So most of you are using this suspension on Cobra's right?   I think there is a market for this same piece for anyone wanting to make a performance or race car out of a Jaguar 3.8s, or any of the two door Jag sports cars as they all use this same rear suspension.  I was amazed that I think I am the only person whom realized that you could use custom off-set rims to stuff big 245 tires on a 3.8s eventhough the body style has about 1/4 of the wheel covered by the fender.

We have all kinds of different chassis here.  My Jag IRS went under a 64.5 Mustang.  There are 5 pages on the install @ www.dazecars.com  I go in to great detail on the rebuilding of the rear suspension so it would be something good for you to look at.  There is a market for this kind of piece in the Jag community however as I am sure you have noticed, a lot of the jaguar owners are so passionate about their cars that they hold dear the idea that the way Jaguar did it is the only way to do it.  Even your tire example illustrates that.


primaz wrote:

I have just sent my request to "Mickmate" and I hope he can provide a kit to work with my stock Jaguar!!! 

Thanks for posting the pix!!! fun project!!!  So what did Mickmate say???


If it isn't broken..... modify it anyway!!!!
 

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