Suspension weld before engine/body installed?

[trogdor]

I have most of my parts and pieces all ready, I just need to put them together. I have a Speedway frame and rear coil-over hairpin suspension kit. My question is, can I weld in the suspension before I install the engine or body? I'm worried that if I weld in the front/rear suspension mount points with no weight on the frame, when I mount the body/engine things like ride height will change. How do I know how much the rear shocks will compress? Or the front leaf spring? I'm worried that if I weld in everything with no weight it won't be level when everything else is installed. What is the usual order of assembly? Engine/body on frame first then suspension? Or suspension first?

 

[409T]

I say suspension first, but if you are worried just tack everything and finish weld when you disassemble for paint and chrome.

 

[Spanky]

The hairpin-style suspension arrangement allows for up and down movement so that should not be a problem. The one thing to consider is if you are using a Panhard bar in the rear, you want it to be level at ride height with engine & you in it.

 

[Randy Steel]

Something else to keep in mind is what type of steering you're planning to implement at the beginning. Either Traditional, cross-steering, or a rack and pinion unit. I had to result to cross-steering and mounting my vega box up near the radiator due to the limited space with the engine and cab. I was trying to go with traditional using a reverse-corvair gear box, but didn't have the space for the underfloor master cylinder, etc.