Project Max Effort Cougar - The Ultimate Track Day 9-Inch

Another joint innovation between CorteX and Speedway; a tube with 3/8-inch QA1 rod ends will be used for additional bracing of the Watt's linkage plate against deflection. This bar is simply for mock-up, check out PopularHotRodding.com for a web exclusive story on how to make your own such braces with QA1 rod ends and bungs.

We're going to keep you in suspense on the suspension until a later installation, but here's a small preview of the mighty torque arm mated to the adjustable Watt's linkage plate. Speedway worked closely with CorteX to make sure the geometry and placement was ideal for our Cougar; it's set at 90 degrees.

Since our Watt's linkage mount is so exceptionally rigid, especially near the weld on the housing, it actually makes a perfect spot to place a jacking point. A drain hole is left to ensure any moisture has an escape point. Note that all the welds have been wrapped on the brackets to eliminate stress points and prevent cracking.

Using a 9-inch third member, Frank Farell attaches a simple tool with a digital level to rotate the housing for 88 degrees on the housing for 2-degree up pinion angle.

Almost complete, the housing is now pressure tested to ensure no leaks are present. Street and mild track cars might be able to get away with small leaks, but guys lapping ovals in packs at 150 mph can't afford the possibility of oiling the track.

We're no NASCAR team, so our specs are proudly stamped on the outside of the housing; 2 degrees up pinion angle, -1.0 degree of camber per side, and 1/64 inch toe-in per side. For you secretive types, stamping inside the housing is an option.

Here's our completed Cougar rearend, sans its strut braces for now. Beautiful, huh? We're going to hate hiding it under Max Effort. Want one? Our rearend is a truly unique piece and only available through CorteX Racing. This basic design will fit many Fords from the '60s to the '80s, but they can be custom tailored for almost any car.

Remember what we said about welding causing warping? All those brackets have tweaked our housing pretty good, so Kelley uses weld and quench to pull it back into spec on this fixture with multiple digital levels. After this, the housing gets a third round of stress relief, then back on the fixture to make sure it's still perfect. If not, the process repeats until it is.

This brake bracket may not look all that innovative, but it's actually part of a revolutionary system from Baer Brakes. It's rated for extreme track use and also solves a long-nagging problem for owners of floater rearends. Watch for its introduction in a future installment.