BioMax
+1y
Kris, you must not read any of my other posts...
The reverse 4-link has many downfalls, it's only benefit is that you don't have to move the gas tank. The reverse link system will hold the truck off of the ground, but it has no dynamic benefits. In fact, they are counter-productive.
Let's take for example traction... When you accelerate, the tires rotate foward causing the rearend housing to want to rotate rearward. Since the link bars "couple" the rearend to the chassis, that dynamic force can be used to add traction. On a foward facing 4-link the twisting force is trying to lift the chassis up at the 4-link's instant center, where the reverse system is trying to push the chassis down. Initially it sounds better that the chassis be pushed down, because that means that it is pushing the rearend against the ground, but it doesn't work like that. If you were to stand on a typical bathroom scale and then try to lift something up, the scale would show more weight (more traction) and if you were to push something down, the scale would show less weight (less traction.) That's why most guys with reverse 4-links can do a mean smokey burn-out with a stock 4-cly engine.
Then there's the whole 4-link/driveshaft relationship and far too easily attainable roll-steer issues, but the biggest thing is the acceleration and braking issues.
I'm no fool, I realize that there are MANY reverse 4-links out there that have way too many miles on them, shit I have probably built 50 myself, but once you drive a nicely set-up foward 4-link, there's just no going back...