The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1947 - 1959 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-01-2016, 05:01 PM   #1
hillshooter
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: WP, Indiana
Posts: 18
Pie cut Upper control arm

Hello guys and gals.

Anyone have any pictures of how to pie cut the UCA? Iv found acouple threads on here but the pictures no longer come up. I need to cut on my s10 UCA to relieve abit of the binding. Thanks
hillshooter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2016, 05:45 PM   #2
Bushwickbill
Registered User
 
Bushwickbill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Kansas
Posts: 12
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Well someone els probably has better illustration but the s10 control arms can be tricky to do because the way there shaped.

the Red area is of course the pie cut, the Blue line is where i bend it ( i sometimes score the blue line with a cut off wheel to allow it to bend easier)

The yellow section is where its tricky. i have just pie cut it all the way across and then weld it back up. or you could remove that section completely then add in a new flat plate when the control arm is bent

For off-road use only haha
Attached Images
 
Bushwickbill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2016, 06:33 PM   #3
joedoh
Senior Member
 
joedoh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Doodah Kansas
Posts: 7,774
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

nice picture kylie. its 20% as big as the background. everyone welcome kyle.
__________________
the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation


if there is a problem, I can have it.

new project WAYNE http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=844393
joedoh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 05:46 AM   #4
hillshooter
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: WP, Indiana
Posts: 18
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Thanks for the picture, gives me a better idea of what im dealing with. Is there any kind of measurements?
hillshooter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 10:56 AM   #5
MARTINSR
Registered User
 
MARTINSR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 6,003
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

I am fascinated by how much work has to go into these frame "swaps," just modify the stock frame and suspension it's much easier!

Brian
__________________
1948 Chevy pickup
Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats!
Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15.

"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"
MARTINSR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 11:20 AM   #6
joedoh
Senior Member
 
joedoh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Doodah Kansas
Posts: 7,774
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Quote:
Originally Posted by MARTINSR View Post
I am fascinated by how much work has to go into these frame "swaps," just modify the stock frame and suspension it's much easier!

Brian
well, this has nothing to do with swapping frames. this is about bagging it on big wheels and not buying tubular arms to correct the balljoint angles. you cant bag a stock suspension very successfully, unless you raise the motor or clearance the oil pan.

so fair warning, in the future when someone asks how to clearance the oil pan to bag a stock frame and suspension, I will probably post something like "I am fascinated by how much work has to go into keeping the stock frame and suspension, just install an IFS or s10 swap its much easier!"

the easy way to pie cut is to leave it all together, pie cut it like kyle shows above, and lay the truck out. the weight of the truck will pull the pie cut together, you can weld it all up at that point. or just buy some tubular control arms, because its just as likely that the upper arm/balljoint isnt binding but the lower arm is bottoming out on the frame. tube arms fix all of this, that goes for a mustangII, camaro swap, G-body swap, and s10 swap.
__________________
the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation


if there is a problem, I can have it.

new project WAYNE http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=844393
joedoh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 11:22 AM   #7
hillshooter
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: WP, Indiana
Posts: 18
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

[QUOTE=MARTINSR;7641555]I am fascinated by how much work has to go into these frame "swaps," just modify the stock frame and suspension it's much easier!

Brian[ This is on the stock frame with a Danforth IFS.
hillshooter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 11:42 AM   #8
joedoh
Senior Member
 
joedoh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Doodah Kansas
Posts: 7,774
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

coach in the project threads has installed a danforth, I dont remember if he pie cut his uppers but its worth a read.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=554051


edit: he did! starting about the middle of this page

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...554051&page=38
__________________
the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation


if there is a problem, I can have it.

new project WAYNE http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=844393

Last edited by joedoh; 07-02-2016 at 11:52 AM.
joedoh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 04:02 PM   #9
MARTINSR
Registered User
 
MARTINSR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 6,003
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

[quote=hillshooter;7641577]
Quote:
Originally Posted by MARTINSR View Post
I am fascinated by how much work has to go into these frame "swaps," just modify the stock frame and suspension it's much easier!

Brian[ This is on the stock frame with a Danforth IFS.
Ahhhhh

You can see my distaste for the frame swaps slither through. Thanks for putting up with me.

Brian
__________________
1948 Chevy pickup
Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats!
Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15.

"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"
MARTINSR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 04:03 PM   #10
MARTINSR
Registered User
 
MARTINSR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 6,003
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Quote:
Originally Posted by joedoh View Post
well, this has nothing to do with swapping frames. this is about bagging it on big wheels and not buying tubular arms to correct the balljoint angles. you cant bag a stock suspension very successfully, unless you raise the motor or clearance the oil pan.

so fair warning, in the future when someone asks how to clearance the oil pan to bag a stock frame and suspension, I will probably post something like "I am fascinated by how much work has to go into keeping the stock frame and suspension, just install an IFS or s10 swap its much easier!"

the easy way to pie cut is to leave it all together, pie cut it like kyle shows above, and lay the truck out. the weight of the truck will pull the pie cut together, you can weld it all up at that point. or just buy some tubular control arms, because its just as likely that the upper arm/balljoint isnt binding but the lower arm is bottoming out on the frame. tube arms fix all of this, that goes for a mustangII, camaro swap, G-body swap, and s10 swap.
I got off the fashion train quite a while ago.

Brian
__________________
1948 Chevy pickup
Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats!
Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15.

"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"
MARTINSR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 11:22 AM   #11
Coach529
Registered User
 
Coach529's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Super easy.

I had my truck chassis on jack stands and used a 4-1/2" skinny wheel to make the cuts. Then lay the truck out. I ended up raising it up again and removing some more material.

Once layed out and enough material has been removed......tack them good. The pull them off and final weld.

__________________
1949 Chevy 3600

"Adventures of Henry"

http://smu.gs/QOlhWY
Coach529 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 11:38 AM   #12
Coach529
Registered User
 
Coach529's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

__________________
1949 Chevy 3600

"Adventures of Henry"

http://smu.gs/QOlhWY
Coach529 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 11:29 PM   #13
neverfinished52
Registered User
 
neverfinished52's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 42
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Not sure if you know but Michigan Metal Works sells s10 uppers for $150. I'd personally be too worried about cutting my control arms



http://michiganmetalworks.com/store/...&product_id=71
neverfinished52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2016, 09:53 AM   #14
Coach529
Registered User
 
Coach529's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Quote:
Originally Posted by neverfinished52 View Post
Not sure if you know but Michigan Metal Works sells s10 uppers for $150. I'd personally be too worried about cutting my control arms



http://michiganmetalworks.com/store/...&product_id=71
Michigan Metal Works stuff is pretty much junk. A quick Google search shows that there quality and engineering is suspect!!
__________________
1949 Chevy 3600

"Adventures of Henry"

http://smu.gs/QOlhWY
Coach529 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2016, 10:30 AM   #15
neverfinished52
Registered User
 
neverfinished52's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 42
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach529 View Post
Michigan Metal Works stuff is pretty much junk. A quick Google search shows that there quality and engineering is suspect!!
Wow, I thought their stuff was good. Thanks for letting me know. Good luck with your project
neverfinished52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2016, 12:02 PM   #16
lolife99
67-72 parts collector,…
 
lolife99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mid-MO
Posts: 22,700
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach529 View Post
Michigan Metal Works stuff is pretty much junk. A quick Google search shows that there quality and engineering is suspect!!
Really?
I did a quick Google search and only found two threads.
I've never had any of the MMW a-arms,... But I've seen quite a few trucks built with them.
They make a-arms and custom spindles from many vehicles that no one else bothered to address.
What were the exact problems?
__________________
Keith

Convert to disc brakes.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823
lolife99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2016, 12:20 PM   #17
Coach529
Registered User
 
Coach529's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Quote:
Originally Posted by lolife99 View Post
Really?
I did a quick Google search and only found two threads.
I've never had any of the MMW a-arms,... But I've seen quite a few trucks built with them.
They make a-arms and custom spindles from many vehicles that no one else bothered to address.
What were the exact problems?
Poor welds, poor (or no) engineering.

There is a reason they are the only company out there build control arms out of flat plate.
__________________
1949 Chevy 3600

"Adventures of Henry"

http://smu.gs/QOlhWY
Coach529 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2016, 12:56 PM   #18
hillshooter
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: WP, Indiana
Posts: 18
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach529 View Post
Poor welds, poor (or no) engineering.

There is a reason they are the only company out there build control arms out of flat plate.
Thanks for the info Coach. I also tagged ya over on my FB 150 build page. What transmission drop do you have on your crossmember?
hillshooter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2016, 01:22 PM   #19
HUSSEY
Registered User
 
HUSSEY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 572
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

I always thought the flat plate looked goofy for control arms. You need to be grooving and stacking up your welds or welding really hot to get the necessary penetration on that thick of plate.

I was considering them in the future because they're the only one that make stretched control arms specific for an AD on an S10 chassis. However, I don't want to be putting my life in the hands of someone who doesn't FEA and follow engineered weld procedures and QA/QC for a product like this.
__________________
My 49 AD Build / S10 Chassis -- Thread -- Pictures -- S10 Conversion Mounts
HUSSEY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2016, 02:24 PM   #20
lolife99
67-72 parts collector,…
 
lolife99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mid-MO
Posts: 22,700
Re: Pie cut Upper control arm

Michigan Metal Works also builds tubular a-arms.
__________________
Keith

Convert to disc brakes.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823
lolife99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:25 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com