Since hen's teeth are more common than a G-Body 8.5, and aftermarket housings are über expensive, I've wondered about attempting a 3-link mount attached to the upper ears of a donor rear, and using a panhard bar or watts link to keep it centered. Does anyone think there would be strength issues with the mounts being pulled at the off-angles created by the new mount?
For the frame-side I would make a similar mount that mounted to the UCA points on the crossmember. With the design I have in mind, it shouldn't affect the pinion angle at all, and it would be easy to adjust anyway using an adjustable arm for the upper link.
If this works out the way I think it should, it would make any 4-link 8.5 MUCH easier to fit... no geometry issues with the UCAs. Used B-Body 8.5s are cheap, just need to be shortened (some even have factory rear discs), and a watts link could either be fabricated or Fays sells them for around $700.
For the frame-side I would make a similar mount that mounted to the UCA points on the crossmember. With the design I have in mind, it shouldn't affect the pinion angle at all, and it would be easy to adjust anyway using an adjustable arm for the upper link.
If this works out the way I think it should, it would make any 4-link 8.5 MUCH easier to fit... no geometry issues with the UCAs. Used B-Body 8.5s are cheap, just need to be shortened (some even have factory rear discs), and a watts link could either be fabricated or Fays sells them for around $700.