Model Specific Discussions > Trans-Am Camaros
Watts Linkage And Other Locating Devices
Steve Holmes:
I'd love to see images of the various rear end locating devices used on first gen Camaros, including both sideways movement and tramp/hop prevention devices. What worked? What didn't? Also, did GM supply their own over the counter options?
Jon Mello:
Steve, in '67 most of the Camaro competitors just added a factory style traction arm on the driver's side to go along with the stock one
that was already there on the passenger side. There wasn't a whole lot of lateral location being concentrated on that first year although
a factory built rear sway bar arrangement was made in very limited quantities and this helped lateral control somewhat. For 1968 and
later that's when you started to see some of the Panhard rods and Watts links come into play. Here on the underside of the Gary Morgan
'67 Z-28, you can see a Panhard rod installed in conjunction with the two factory style traction arms. It is generally thought that the
traction arms caused suspension bind but Gary Morgan always ran the car in this configuration from '67-'69 and he said it worked well.
Gary held the A/Sedan track record at Watkins Glen with this car back in the day. The pictures below are from when the car was being
sold by RK Motors in Charlotte.
Jon Mello:
Here's a vintage photo of the Watts link set-up in the Chaffey College Camaro. They also used a set of Gary Wheeler's
Hi-Tork horizontal shocks to control axle tramp.
Below are some current pictures I took of the Chaffey College Camaro's rear suspension. The horizontal shocks have gotten
worn out. Owner Mark Mountanos still has them but they have been removed.
1109RWHP:
What is the flat metal plate for that is bolted to the frame near the front leaf spring mount? It almost looks like part of a leaf spring.
Jon Mello:
The Chaffey College Camaro has a very unusual roll cage and those plates shown on the frame rail are where part of the cage is attached to the floor.
They ran bolts through the frame and also welded the plates to the floor inside, although the welding may have come at a later date.
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