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"Homemade" Watts Linkage

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Jedi Warrior
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"Homemade" Watts Linkage

I'm using an alloy differential cover I bought from Racestorations on my rear end and I was just going to get the watts linkage assembly they sell also, but with the exchange rate the way it is, I decided I'd try my hand at making my own. I don't have a sophisticated garage set up (huge understatement) but I have a cheapo drill press I got at Lowes for Christmas as a gift to myself for being such a good boy. I ordered some high strenghth aluminum the nuts, bolts & bearings from McMaster-Carr and bought some taps and drill bits locally. After many long winded conversations with myself contianing a slew of expletives, I finally finished the linkage part. I still need to make the brackets though. I don't want to weld them to the frame though, so I'm working on some drawings for some bolt on type brackets.

By the time it's all said and done, I most likely could have just sprung for the Racestorations set up, but that would not have been as much "fun".

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Re: "Homemade" Watts Linkage

Nice work - what car is it going under?
 
Re: "Homemade" Watts Linkage

My '64 TR4.

I've changed a few things since the photo such as using a longer bushing made of bronze. This way I don't have to use any washers behind the bushing in order for the bolt heads to clear each other during rotation.
 
Re: "Homemade" Watts Linkage

Still, you could sell those - at that quality level.
 
Re: "Homemade" Watts Linkage

I never really set out to do this type of thung, but I've been so frustrated by the lack of quality aftermarket mods offered for the TR's and have had so much down time waiting for this or that, or waiting until I could afford this or that, that I've filled the gap with r&d type stuff. Funny to be doing r&d for a 45 year old car, but it's really fun and very educational. I made all that stuff with a crappy drill press, a hacksaw, an angle grinder, and a ton of sandpaper. A HUGE pita.

I've come up with several things similar to the Watt's linkage project that I put together for my car and I've been considering the possibility of having some of this stuff fabricated, but I have no idea what the market for it would be. If I do, the emphasis will be on quality, strength and weight. I've been creating this stuff based on the mantra of lighter is better, lighter and stronger, even better still.
 
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