Homemade Control Arms?

Has any one every tried to make a set of tubular control arms? I am interested in the idea, and would like some input from some one who has looked into the idea or has actually made a set. I would like to start with just the uppers for a 79 camaro sub frame. Also any ideas on where i can find demesions/measurements for tubular control arms?

[shifty]

Lou Santiago of 'Muscle Car' on the Power Block TV show recently (last year) showed how to make some the right way - and then in a later episode pointed out a flaw in how he made them, if I remember correctly.

I'd try and dig up the episode I Tivo'd that covered this, but it would take me all damned night to dig through the shows

[chevydog66]

I'm curious as to the difference of the difference in geometry of the 96 Chevy trucks? I have a 96 with what looks to be tubular control arms. Maybe you could use those to make a jig.

chevydog i have thought of using somthing like those to make a jig i have also read that you can use stock a arms to make a jig.

[oldspowered67C10]

i have also read that you can use stock a arms to make a jig.

Thats what I would do, all you need is crossshaft and ball joint location and the rest you could make any way youd like.

[Shane]

there was some guy here a few months back beating his chest to all of us about how easy it was to do & said he had already done it ... we asked for pics of his work ... he never came back

[abadsvt]

Originally Posted by TH53

Has any one every tried to make a set of tubular control arms? I am interested in the idea, and would like some input from some one who has looked into the idea or has actually made a set. I would like to start with just the uppers for a 79 camaro sub frame. Also any ideas on where i can find demesions/measurements for tubular control arms?

The problem with making your own set of A-Arms is if you don't make them exactly like the stock setup you change the spindle arc which in turn changes your bumpsteer. To do it properly you would need a computer program to calculate the new spindle arc to see how it changed the bumpsteer. I am not saying it can't be done but you really need to know what you get your self into prior to spending a bunch of money and time. Good luck

Josh

[LUCKIN-FOU]

I've done a bunch of control arms. I made a jig so they can be done on the car. Photobucket is down right now I'll post pictures in the morning.

[tommypic]

LUCKIN-FOU where are they ??? I want to see um , would like to put tubular control arms on my build . son works in a fab shop his pawinlaw owns

[LUCKIN-FOU]

This is how I make control arms on the car. I made this jig from one of those wheel templates. The pipe is .75 black pipe from Home Depot. The car is my 67 Caprice 4-door Hard top. It is best to do this at ride height.







Now before we get crazy. You need to get out the angle finder and figure out how much your spindle is leaned back. (anti dive). The lower ball joint points down like a Vette. This car came with the big drum brakes so the spindle is 12" tall if I remember. So I took a set of spindles from a 72 Camaro that have the big rotors 11" because the spindle is taller. GM only made two different spindle heights for cars. (That is disc and drum) Total of four two of each. Because the disc brake spindle is shortermthere will be a caster issue. That is why the upper arms are built.

I didn't feel the need to buy new cross shafts. So I asked Scott the down the street if he could make some bushings for my Prothane bushings.



These plates are of my own design I really like the NASCR style screw in ball joints. In order to use these you need a ball joint reamer. NOT A UNIBIT!! I got mine from AFCO ask for Jay Miller. They have 2 sizes you should get both. I have to get some pictures of the reamer.







The jig will hold the spindle up right. This is were you need to do your home work you need to take an angle finder and put it on the side of the spindle and set youe dive angle I know it is built into the crossshaft mount. But you need to make sure. I have run into some cars that also had it in the spindle as well. Bolt the cross shaft to the car. Put some washers or shims between the cross shaft. This will allow for adjustment. I have to get some food I'll post more in alittle bit. Later

[shifty]

Hey Lou, you care if we upload those pictures to the forum and transfer this over to our "FAQ/Truck Tech" section to be immortalized forever?

[tommypic]

Lookin good so far keep um comming . I got the idea tho , about like we did on dirt track car .

Lou thanks alot for the pics, now a couple of questions, what size plate did you use for the ball joint mount, also what kind of tubing do you use on the arms? also what kind of bender did you use to make the bends in the tubes?


Thanks again for the pics.

[Spray-Bomb]

Lou, you are one hungry dude !!!

Can we finish this build PLEASE !!!

[Twisted Minis]

I build my own, usually because no one makes them for the car I am building. I use the stock arms to build a JIG around.

edited:
I hate to edit this, but due to the logo/name in all the pics, it is indirect advertising. Feel free to post pics without the logos anytime

[scotts62]

Sweet! Thats cool and you saved yourself around $700 and came up with your own design, nice work

[abadsvt]

Hey twisted the pic below is a SWEET looking control arm! Great job

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Shane

there was some guy here a few months back beating his chest to all of us about how easy it was to do & said he had already done it ... we asked for pics of his work ... he never came back

He ran out of plywood before he could finish.

[ZR2RICK]

Must be me, I can't see any pics, just boxes w/ Photobucket on them? I seriously need to do something with my upper control arms, the ball joint angle is too extreme when aired out.

[oldblue1968chevy]

me no see pix either

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by ZR2RICK

Must be me, I can't see any pics, just boxes w/ Photobucket on them? I seriously need to do something with my upper control arms, the ball joint angle is too extreme when aired out.

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

me no see pix either

It's common for photos hosted via PhotoBucket to not be available after x amount of time. Since the thread has been idle for almost 3yrs, that would explain the lack of viewable pics.