Porsche 944: Actually there is a substitute

[firethorn]

very interesting build

[sparkydog]

I realized that I needed to get some kind of reference datums going before I got too carried away with stuffing the Ford sheet metal up inside the 944. So I assembled the axle and linkages back onto the sheet metal and then set it up at the correct angle. (When this stuff was still in the Mustang long ago - I had recorded that the lower arm sat at a 2* angle.) With the lower swing arm at 2* down I then made marks on the sheet metal where the CL of the axle is. Then removed the heavy axle and linkage so that I can wrestle with the structural metal more easily up under the car. Next I'm going to add some temp bracing and then whittle a little more of the excess metal off this thing.

[sparkydog]

I also came to realize/remember that the input to the Ford rear diff is shifted about 5/8" off to the passenger side of the car - the drive shaft isn't on the CL of the car. The Porsche is symmetrical und vee know zee Germans like zee perfection, ja?! So the 944 drive line tunnel is centered and that will be an issue I have to contend with and solve somehow. Can anyone confirm what the exact amount is? Any Ford rear end experts lurking around here?

[sparkydog]

It was a rough week at work so I gave myself a little fun time this morning. I decided to do some more prep work to the Mustang structural metal while it was easier to work on. So... the axle went back on again, then some more conduit bracing. Then the axle came off again. Then I marked up where I wanted to improve upon the Ford factory spot welding. And then it was stitch-o-rama for an hour or so until I ran low on shield gas.