Basically since I was able to pick up one of the Southside machine lift bar kits from Jegs I will be going without the torque arm now. I am trying to figure out what the best and most cost effective route will be for a rearend. I have read up on the discussions about 12 bolts and 9 inches, but are there some other models of cars with rearends similar to ours that would fit without too much fabrication that are just lacking the torque arm?

 

The torque arm is a MAJOR suspension component on our cars. You have to run one or your rear will rotate and move around under the car. In lieu of upper control arms normally found on cars like the Chevelle with factory "four link" style suspensions, GM replaced the upper control arms with the torque arm which positively locates the rear under our cars. Unless you do some pretty major fabrication you have to use your torque arm!!

The aftermarket 12 bolts and 9" rears for our cars all use the torque arm as well.

--Alan

 

The Southside Machine lift bars weld to the axle housings and run forward to a new cross-member about 1/2 as far to the front as the stock torque arm. In effect, you remove the stock torque arm and replace it with two shorter arms that connect to the body in the front.

Although SSM has gone out of business, JEG's still seems to be selling their parts. The 4th Gen F-Body kit on the JEG's website clearly indicates this setup is for car running LESS THAN 500HP. If you have enough HP to require a 9-inch, this setup isn't going to work.

It will also eliminate your car from events that require "stock style" suspension. People are running 4th Gen in the 7's and 8's with the stock-style torque arm, so I'm not sure what benefits the SSM lift bars would offer.

 

I guess what I am wondering is couldn't I find a 12 bolt that does not have the provisions for the torque arm and make it work easier since I have heard that is the major obstacle with most rearends not working on our cars? Oh and I have reviewed the directions and the difference between the 500 and under kit and over 500 kits were the instant center FWIW. Also, I tend more towards the car show side, so something a little different is more my style. I only race the car at test and tunes. So it is not that I dislike the torque arm, but more that with the deal as it was I was able to get the kit free since I was planning on buying subframe connectors anyway.