ok I am still working on my diff rebuild but also getting my ducks in a row for putting the rear back in, I have two reinforcing brackets I do not remember taking them off the car? and it is possible i just picked them up at a swap meet 20 years ago saying yeah more reinforcement is better does anyone know if these were ever installed on a 442?
they look sort of but not exactly like this, I looked for these in all my manuals, assembly/chasis/body and did not find them but my assembly manual has some pages missing ( has blank page copied that said page missing?) anyway any thoughts?

 

Those wouldn't be the parts for boxing the trailing arms would they???

 

No they go from the frame to the top trailing arms ( which are not boxed) I seem to remember that they were only for 4 speed cars

here is a diagram of usage on a gto, but wouldn't 442's have the same?
http://books.google.com/books?id=MGz...%20gto&f=false

 

I'd put them on anyway. Why not?
Full Frame GM's are all
similar stamped junk with different style bathtubs bolted to them.
Box your arms too. What the hey, it's apart, right?

 

Most BB cars got them, but I beleive they were part of the F41 HD suspension package.

If you have them, put them on.

 

is this what you are talking about? i don't know but was told they are on big block cars. my Rallye 350 is a 4 speed car and did not have them.

100_6463.jpg?t=1270764169

 

I did that with allthread.



He has something different, that bolts to the control arms I think.

 

thems are the bad boys!!! thank you, but I do not see them NOWHERE in any of the manuals!! and since my car is getting a "big Block" LOL... they are going in, I heard they were for 4 speed cars , but I also "heard" that santa claus is a big ol elf LOL....

 

the car this picture is from is a convertible/ big block/4 speed so it don't surprise me it has them.

 

Mine is a convertible, and it is an original 4 speed, it was however a cutlass S ( according to the vin and subsequent investigations) it did have a 3.08 posi, but it came with a 350 ( # 5 heads) and a 2BBl!!! ratz....


I am putting in a 69 455, c heads, with a few goodies, nothing crazy, but I am sure it will still have some torque...

Really appreciate the help!!

BTW Jensen was My Mom's maiden Name, R U Danish or Norwegian decent? Dad was Norsk, my Mom was Danish, I however was born in Brooklyn!! LOL

 

to tell you the truth, i am not sure.

 

it is definately one or the other if it was swedish it would be jenson..

don't matter we are all Americans anyway...

 

do that to preload the suspension? I saw those adjustable upper arms as well but I am not gonna be drag racing this thing that often...

 

I also put on the Rear Reinforcement Braces (factory 4 speed). Also known as factory traction bars. With these, I boxed the lower control arms, installed ALL poly bushings, and a set of UMI Performance non-adjustable uppers with the new roto joint. www.umiperformance.com and a 1" sway bar. Before installing the uppers, it was too tight and binding.
I am now very happy with this set up.

 

The top arms made that much difference? hmmm well I will wait to change those, I do have the factory boxed lowers and the factory sway bar, I am now trying to decide on which springs I want to get a little bit of a raise in the back, and I don't want to put air shocks in again


geez all this so I can lower the body back on the frame LOL...

 

I have the stock rear springs and Edelbrock shocks on 4 corners. However, I put in 1" lowering springs in the front. Sits nice with 245/60/15 in the front and 275/60/15 in the rear. That however is to each ones taste.

 

YES, after putting in all poly's including the top ears of the rear with the stock control arms, it was stiff and binding. (Bouncy and tight) I installed the uppers with the roto joint and it made a huge difference. Very nice on the road now, and way better than stock. Otherwise, use rubber in the upper ears of the rearend and let the stock arms flex as designed.

 

zif thanks for the info, i already replaced the front springs, with units from pst for a 455, but will probably look for cargo coils or something for the back ( anybody have a part number for the 6 passenger wagon cargo coils?) I am also looking for the part number for the upper rubber control arm bushings and the best place to buy them. I saw them at rockauto from ac delco but says not for hd suspension?are they all the same? whose got the best price?