Mystery plug?
September 1st, 2021, 03:53 PM
#2
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I suspect if your friend removes the ULTIMATE name plate he'd get a better indication of its purpose. I can see a piece of twisted wire remains on the LH-side of the ULTIMATE name plate, as well.
September 1st, 2021, 04:53 PM
#3
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September 1st, 2021, 08:08 PM
#5
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The ULTIMATE diff cover uses rods that go almost out to the backing plates to improve the suspension/traction. That looks like one of the inboard connectors that would attach to the rod. I'm guessing it was put there for completion of the job and I'm guessing that the left one is well...missing somewhere on the highway. Remember I did say I'm guessing...
September 1st, 2021, 09:20 PM
#6
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The ULTIMATE diff cover uses rods that go almost out to the backing plates to improve the suspension/traction. That looks like one of the inboard connectors that would attach to the rod. I'm guessing it was put there for completion of the job and I'm guessing that the left one is well...missing somewhere on the highway. Remember I did say I'm guessing...
September 2nd, 2021, 04:23 AM
#8
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I was thinking a temp sensor connector, but not sure why you'd need two connectors (2 are not needed for an e-locker diff either). Are you sure these are electrical connectors and not fluid connectors? Back in the day it was popular (in some areas) to bolt 2 small red lights at the bottom of the diff (god only knows why). Maybe these are left-over pieces of wiring from that?
Last guess: Reluctor ring for some aftermarket traction control? Didn't some Buicks use a crude-form of traction control in the early '70s that interrupted the ignition when tire slip was detected? Again, not sure why you'd need 2 connectors for that.
Last guess: Reluctor ring for some aftermarket traction control? Didn't some Buicks use a crude-form of traction control in the early '70s that interrupted the ignition when tire slip was detected? Again, not sure why you'd need 2 connectors for that.
Last edited by JohnnyBs68S; September 2nd, 2021 at 04:27 AM.
September 2nd, 2021, 06:49 AM
#10
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The ULTIMATE diff cover uses rods that go almost out to the backing plates to improve the suspension/traction. That looks like one of the inboard connectors that would attach to the rod. I'm guessing it was put there for completion of the job and I'm guessing that the left one is well...missing somewhere on the highway. Remember I did say I'm guessing...
https://www.lpwracing.com/Ultimate_GM/Ultimate_GM.html
September 2nd, 2021, 06:56 AM
#11
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looks like Sugar Bear nailed it.
https://www.lpwracing.com/Ultimate_GM/Ultimate_GM.html
https://www.lpwracing.com/Ultimate_GM/Ultimate_GM.html
September 2nd, 2021, 07:00 AM
#12
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Oh, I see what you're saying - my bad. The end piece of the suspension rod itself. I gotcha. It will be interesting to see what it is. I'm kind of suspect as to the reason behind the twisted wire remaining on the LH-side. Oh well, kind of interesting.
September 2nd, 2021, 08:00 AM
#14
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That strut is simply triangulating the tube-to-housing weld and taking some load off it (as if that is a weak part). It can't do anything about the moving parts of the rear suspension. The vast majority of the forward force generated by the tires is transferred to the car's frame via the LCAs, not through the diff housing.
Last edited by JohnnyBs68S; September 2nd, 2021 at 08:06 AM.
September 2nd, 2021, 09:27 AM
#15
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The twisted wire is simply securing the loose end of the fitting that is still attached to the cover to keep it from flopping around. You can see the fitting on the left side peaking out from between the cross-bracket and the cover (its there if you can zoom in to see it).
Last edited by Vintage Chief; September 2nd, 2021 at 09:30 AM.
September 3rd, 2021, 02:45 PM
#16
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On drag cars with sticky tires, launching the car will actually deflect the axle shafts forward, causing tow-in of the rear tires and potential loss of traction or stability issues. The rods turn the rear axle into a truss in the horizontal plane, mitigating that deflection. Of course, as designed, the resulting truss isn't deep enough to be useful, and the slop itn the fasteners means that the struts don't pick up enough load to be effective, but that's a different problem. Most people who design and purchase these products are not engineers.
September 3rd, 2021, 08:12 PM
#18
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On drag cars with sticky tires, launching the car will actually deflect the axle shafts forward, causing tow-in of the rear tires and potential loss of traction or stability issues. The rods turn the rear axle into a truss in the horizontal plane, mitigating that deflection. Of course, as designed, the resulting truss isn't deep enough to be useful, and the slop itn the fasteners means that the struts don't pick up enough load to be effective, but that's a different problem. Most people who design and purchase these products are not engineers.
Last edited by 4+4+2=10; September 3rd, 2021 at 08:29 PM.
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