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.

 

[BossMan]

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.

 

[Rich B]

Set up your suspension at ride height by using only the main leaf up front and pull it down with ratchet straps as needed. In the rear leave out the springs and use bars cut to the right length instead of shocks. On assembly "tune" the springs to retain the ride height you designed around.