slbgtsc Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Okay I need some help from someone who has installed the Shelby (Fays) Watts Link on a Shelby GT. The shop said that the rear sway bar will not connect with the watts link installed? Is this correct? I called and talked with Shelby PP and the individual that I spoke with said that the Watts link does away with the sway bar? I went the Fays website for the S197 and I see the watts link and the sway bar installed? Can someone with first hand knowledge please let me know. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmn444 Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I'd contact Jim directly, he's very helpful. I opted for a diff setup on my '68 in the end, but was impressed by his help none the less. Jim Fay FAYS2 Suspension jim@fays2.net 920.279.0875 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted October 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I'd contact Jim directly, he's very helpful. I opted for a diff setup on my '68 in the end, but was impressed by his help none the less. Jim Fay FAYS2 Suspension jim@fays2.net 920.279.0875 I called him on friday and he said it should fit no problem. The guy installing said no way. He installed the setup with the suspension loaded as instructed and tried doing the same with the sway bar be he said that it won't fit? I think I am going to bring the car home and place it on some race ramps with the suspension loaded and try it myself. If I can't get it to connect then I'll send Jim some photos. He has a picture of his setup on an S197 with a Steeda sway bar which is the same as ours and it fits fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmn444 Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I just read thru some of that same page, and another guy couldn't fit the FRPP sway bar, so you may have to go to stock or the steeda to make it work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted October 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I just read thru some of that same page, and another guy couldn't fit the FRPP sway bar, so you may have to go to stock or the steeda to make it work. What page was that so I can look at it? Thanks BTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmn444 Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Sorry, it was a diff page... Mike Case, about 2/3 down the page comments about not being able to use the FRPP bar: http://fays2.net/fays2_watts_link_18_.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmn444 Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 For what it's worth, I was told that in a leaf spring car, the adjustable roll center will somewhat act like a sway bar, but I don't see anyway that could apply to coil spring cars, I think you absolutely have to have the rear sway regardless of the panhard or fays locating device. Let us know how it gets resolved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1badshelby Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I was unable to use the super snake (eibach) sway bar, but tthe stock sway bar fit just fine. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted October 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Just got off the phone with Steeda and they make a 1 1/4 sway bar that works with the watts setup. I'll let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmn444 Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Cool, glad they knew what thier product works with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BriMac Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 Mine fit with FRPP setup just fine. Clearance is tight between sway bar and Watts Link, and the sway bar will rub against the bottom Watts Link (right where the sticker is) if I unload the rear suspension. Watts link replaces panhard bar, and the sway bar is not attached to the watts link at all. Mine is a couple years old, ordered from direct from Jim. Maybe there has been a design change to the "main" bracket??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted October 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 Mine fit with FRPP setup just fine. Clearance is tight between sway bar and Watts Link, and the sway bar will rub against the bottom Watts Link (right where the sticker is) if I unload the rear suspension. Watts link replaces panhard bar, and the sway bar is not attached to the watts link at all. Mine is a couple years old, ordered from direct from Jim. Maybe there has been a design change to the "main" bracket??? Thanks for the photos! I think that is what the installer was concerned about. I may give it a try myself with suspension loaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT/SC#0471 Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 Looks killer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywickedshelby Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Mine fit with FRPP setup just fine. Clearance is tight between sway bar and Watts Link, and the sway bar will rub against the bottom Watts Link (right where the sticker is) if I unload the rear suspension. Watts link replaces panhard bar, and the sway bar is not attached to the watts link at all. Mine is a couple years old, ordered from direct from Jim. Maybe there has been a design change to the "main" bracket??? mine fits with the FRPP sway bar too on my SGT....... the installer is wrong........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 mine fits with the FRPP sway bar too on my SGT....... the installer is wrong........ Okay that is two votes for the installer is wrong so I need to get out in the garage and put the car on the ramps and try it myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Okay that is two votes for the installer is wrong so I need to get out in the garage and put the car on the ramps and try it myself. Vote#3 for "the installer is wrong". The FRPP sway bar fits with a Fays 2. Between 1/2" to 1" of clearance. http://www.mkeeler.com/mustang/fays2/ Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Quick update on the Watts Link. The car certainly feels much tighter in the rear with the watt installed. I haven't been to the track yet but just hitting a few corners on a country road by the house it seems to track better. Looking forward to getting it on a track and seeing how it feels at speed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Quick update on the Watts Link. The car certainly feels much tighter in the rear with the watt installed. I haven't been to the track yet but just hitting a few corners on a country road by the house it seems to track better. Looking forward to getting it on a track and seeing how it feels at speed! Well, not only does it "keep the rear end from steering the car", there's also a chassis stiffening benefit. I'm not surprised to hear you like it. Good times. Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Success!! Sway bar installed with the watts and as I was duly informed it works. Thanks to all who posted their results. So one question does it interfere or anything when you jack the car up and unload the rear suspension? Mine is still sitting on my ramps in the garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwestercamp Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 man does everyone have one of these but me? i gotta get this asap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted December 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 For those that have a watts and track their cars. Did you cut the top donut off of the bump stop? I have the FRP bump stops and I just read that some are removing the top donut to keep the car from bottoming out on the bump stop? Anyone have some insight? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwestercamp Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 anymore photos would be great, i assume the center hole is the one to go with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted January 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Maybe I can get a photo this weekend when I crawl under to check everything out after a track day recently. I am running my watts at one hole below the center based on some info I got from a much more gifted driver who has a similar setup on a GT500. I also cut the top donut off of the bump stop to let the car settle better in the corners. I did this post track day but drove the car yesterday around town and I could tell on certain sections of roads that I was no longer hitting the bump stops and the car felt much smoother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsl7578 Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Looks like everyone on this thread has installed the Fays Watts link...? Has anyone installed the Steeda Watts link? The Steeda link is a little more expensive and I don't beleive it will fit with our FRPP sway bar. Just wondered how the two compared...? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby-Don Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 I had a watts like installed by R&A motors several years ago and they took the sway bar off, I have it packed away in the garage. For those of you that have both on, is there any benefit of having both ? I would assume the watts link defeats the sway bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Sattur Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Here's a few pics of my install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slbgtsc Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 links to the pictures say no permission? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Just to help Jon Westercamp: Roger Sorel's old Fays2 Watt's Link frame (the prototype for the Shelby Billet Watt's Link), re-powdercoated by Shelby's supplier "RAM Proline Powder Coating" here in Las Vegas in "Shelby GT Silver" at my request: Plenty of room! Thanks to Jim Fay for sending me new decals, etc.... Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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