Project Crusty Biscuit (65 Plymouth Valiant)

WTruo · Nov 26, 2020

I like where crusty biscuit is going. Keep at it!

ChrisRomello · Nov 26, 2020

Installed:

Sorry for the dark pictures my shop lighting is terrible at this angle

ChrisRomello · Nov 26, 2020

Wheels came in this past Sunday but the company accidentally sent them without powder coating them. No big deal, the company was really cool about it and promptly sent me return labels for me to send the wheels back to finish them. I couldn’t help but do a mock up first!

Keith Mopar · Nov 26, 2020

Dam those wheels look really good!
What size tires do you want to Run?

ChrisRomello · Nov 27, 2020

Oh yeah, upper link to frame brackets:

Keith Mopar said:
Dam those wheels look really good!
What size tires do you want to Run?

I will be running 225/45-18 in the front and 255/40-18 in the rear.

JDMopar · Nov 27, 2020

You shoulda used some stronger steel on the link2frame brackets......that sheetmetal stuff ain't gonna stand it! :poke:

ChrisRomello · Nov 28, 2020

I started building the drivers side reinforced shock mount today and thought I’d go more in-depth into how I did it for this one. It’s not step-by-step but it should give a good idea

ChrisRomello · Nov 28, 2020

I started out with a cardboard templete the I was able to use for both sides just by flipping it. Here’s a picture of the well worn templete after kicking it around my shop for a few days:

ChrisRomello · Nov 28, 2020

I got a 24”x24” sheet of 3/16” plate steel to use for some of the larger brackets on my project including these shock mounts. Here’s the basic shape cut out using the templete pictured previously:

ChrisRomello · Nov 28, 2020

I was able to perfect the templete after I made the first mount for the passengers side and trimmed it down to fit perfectly. The drivers side fender apron is slightly different but I couldn’t afford to trim anymore off the mount so I massaged the fender apron a little bit with a hammer to get it to fit.
Here’s the mount bent into shape and final test fitted:

ChrisRomello · Nov 28, 2020

Next I needed to weld on the camber adjustment brackets. I drilled out the spot welds holding them onto the original mounts and made some measurements to transfer them over. Once I figured the best placement I welded them on!

Then I drilled and filed the openings:

ChrisRomello · Nov 28, 2020

I was tired today and forgot to take pictures of how I made the gussets for the shock mount. I basically just got some thin cardboard and put it up to the mount and traces the edges with a dirty finger. Then I added lines with a pen to get the desired profile. Some bending is involved so I did Relief cuts where the bends needed to go before I traced them out on the steel. Here’s them attached after welding:

You can see where I had to make Relief cuts to bend the steel to match the profile.

ChrisRomello · Nov 28, 2020

Ground smooth:

ChrisRomello · Nov 28, 2020

Old vs. new

ChrisRomello · Nov 30, 2020

I got home from work early today and after a short nap I thought I would get started on the custom upper control arms for my car.

ChrisRomello · Nov 30, 2020

I just have everything tacked together for now. I ran out of gas for my welder and I am DEFINITELY not allowing oxidized welds on my suspension parts

ChrisRomello · Nov 30, 2020

It would be a crime not to do a quick mock up:

ChrisRomello · Dec 3, 2020

Suspension is getting DONE this weekend! I have it all planned out to get it done and this is what I got done on my UCAs yesterday:

ChrisRomello · Dec 3, 2020

Spent some time on figuring out how to reinforce them:

ChrisRomello · Dec 3, 2020

Tomorrow I will do the other one and finish all the mounting brackets on the car

moparmat2000 · Dec 3, 2020

Dayum those look purty.

ChrisRomello · Dec 4, 2020

I worked on reinforcing the other control arm today; pissed me off because I got some weld slag on the ball joint threads and boogered them up a bit. I tried cleaning them up with a file and got frustrated; anyway, here’s a pic after welding and before grinding: