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1969 Chevy Camaro Watt's Link and Torque Arm Kit Install - Getting A Better Handle On Things The Watt's Way

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First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install
Here's a look at the Camaro's suspension before the install. This car had a set of aftermarket, adjustable traction bars already to help keep the leaf springs from twisting when the car's big block saw some throttle.
First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install
Here's a look at the Camaro's suspension before the install. This car had a set of afterma

With street performance and handling being the most popular today, stock muscle car suspensions leave a lot to be desired when it comes to corner carving performance. If you have a leaf spring equipped car, spring bond and axle hop are your constant enemies, either on the street, the autocross, and the dragstrip. Even with coilovers and traction/slapper bars, a leaf spring suspension just can't handle a lot of today's modern driving.

Seeing a need for a solution, the suspension masters at BMR Fabrication came up with a bolt in Watts-Link/Torque Arm suspension kit for first generation Camaros. The benefits of this system are excellent lateral stability, while also offering superior vertical stability in handling and driving. Think of it like getting the best of a four-link style suspension, while also getting the great road handling of a coil spring suspension. Another benefit of the BMR kit is its fully adjustable Watts-Links, so you can tune the suspension to fit your car, or what type of driving you'll be doing.

Follow along as we install the kit on a '69 Camaro.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

The first order of business was to get the exhaust system out of the way. The tailpipe on the exhaust will need to be modified so it doesn't interfere with the Watt's link.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

Here's the whole 12-bolt kit (BMR is also working on a kit for 9-inch equipped first gens). Everything is heavy gauge steel tubing, with full powder coating, polyurethane bushings, sleeves, and all necessary installation hardware.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

After the exhaust is out of the way, the stock trans crossmember gets removed, and the new BMR unit is test fitted into place.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

The kit comes with a new polyurethane transmission mount so you don't have to reuse your old one.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

With the crossmember in place, it's time to mark on the subframe where to drill for the mounting bolts. The BMR cross member features a swing-out design making it easier to remove than the stock cross member. The unit also features plenty of arching to clear a variety of exhaust tubing sizes.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

With holes marked and drilled, it's a simple matter of bolting the crossmember in place.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

All bolts are in place, and the crossmember is ready to go. You can see the mounting point just below the tail shaft for the torque arm. If you've got a 3rd or 4th Gen Camaro, it's the same basic system that came from the factory on those cars, but much beefier.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

With the front finished, it's time to move to the rear. First thing to do is drain the rear of fluid and remove the cover.

First Gen Camaro Watts Link Install

Use the factory bolt holes, the included studs are installed to hold the torque arm and Watts-Link rear end mount in place.

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