DIY lower a-arms
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: Pistoia PT (ITALY)
DIY lower a-arms
There is someone of you, guys, that make diy lower a-arms?
If yes, would be very nice to have drawings..... or dimensions or some pics of the parts.
Thanks!
P.S.
....... If I have to stop my car for my rearend project...... why not to do the same job in the front???
If yes, would be very nice to have drawings..... or dimensions or some pics of the parts.
Thanks!
P.S.
....... If I have to stop my car for my rearend project...... why not to do the same job in the front???
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
If you are very talented at fabrication and a good welder you could certainly make your own lower arms. If not, you are better off buying them from an established builder. Nothing worse than having your front suspension fall apart while carving your way through the Italian Alps.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
58-62 impala....
The west coasters use these on impala's that hop up and down with hydraulics
The Uppers installed for 2500 miles... I made 316 stainless cross shafts cause the corvette shafts are a bit to short with poly bushings.
The lowers are not quite up to my spec so I am modifying them to be lighter and stronger...
The west coasters use these on impala's that hop up and down with hydraulics
The Uppers installed for 2500 miles... I made 316 stainless cross shafts cause the corvette shafts are a bit to short with poly bushings.
The lowers are not quite up to my spec so I am modifying them to be lighter and stronger...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: Pistoia PT (ITALY)
Yeah Rick....... could be very "annoing" !!!! 
But, did you consider the satisfaction of making parts your own?
I like very much to own a car wich is different from the others..... original !
The Impala option is very interesting.... I gonna check in the web for some shop!
Anyway, to my eyes, the Impala lower arm look a bit weak...... it is?
But, did you consider the satisfaction of making parts your own?
I like very much to own a car wich is different from the others..... original !
The Impala option is very interesting.... I gonna check in the web for some shop!
Anyway, to my eyes, the Impala lower arm look a bit weak...... it is?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The a-arms in the pics look very interesting. I think that would be an improvement over what is in there as stock but, like you say they may be weak for the punishment that could be handed to them. Fabricating your own set is nice if you have the tools and talent. I know I don't have the tools in my garage.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Yeah Rick....... could be very "annoing" !!!!
But, did you consider the satisfaction of making parts your own?
I like very much to own a car wich is different from the others..... original !
The Impala option is very interesting.... I gonna check in the web for some shop!
Anyway, to my eyes, the Impala lower arm look a bit weak...... it is?
But, did you consider the satisfaction of making parts your own?
I like very much to own a car wich is different from the others..... original !
The Impala option is very interesting.... I gonna check in the web for some shop!
Anyway, to my eyes, the Impala lower arm look a bit weak...... it is?
Check out Van Steel's website. They have a coil-over front suspension and just announced a rear coil-over suspension. Costs a few $ but you could have a very unique car that has a proven suspension.
Rick B.
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Cruising
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Fallbrook CA
I'm all for being unique - I haven't seen 2 LS1 conversions yet that are exactly the same. If you have good fabrication skills and knowledge of chassis and steering design you could build yourself a really nice set of control arms. The bottom line is safety - if the end result doesn't handle well or does unpredictable things because the geometry is off you could kill yourself and/or others.
Check out Van Steel's website. They have a coil-over front suspension and just announced a rear coil-over suspension. Costs a few $ but you could have a very unique car that has a proven suspension.
Rick B.
Check out Van Steel's website. They have a coil-over front suspension and just announced a rear coil-over suspension. Costs a few $ but you could have a very unique car that has a proven suspension.
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: Pistoia PT (ITALY)
Safety
Yes..... safety is the first concern!
My idea is to apply a safety system wich is mandatory in Formula 1 races:
Simply to run a strong steel cable inside the tubing..... and the risk of a wheel bouncing away from my frontend should be avoided!
My idea is to apply a safety system wich is mandatory in Formula 1 races:
Simply to run a strong steel cable inside the tubing..... and the risk of a wheel bouncing away from my frontend should be avoided!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I don't care if you have every tool known to mankind....
it's not worth the time/effort to jig up perzactly mirror image units of what you want, then fab it all up.....
IMO, not as easy as it looks.....
it's not worth the time/effort to jig up perzactly mirror image units of what you want, then fab it all up.....
IMO, not as easy as it looks.....
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
Yeah Rick....... could be very "annoing" !!!!
But, did you consider the satisfaction of making parts your own?
I like very much to own a car wich is different from the others..... original !
The Impala option is very interesting.... I gonna check in the web for some shop!
Anyway, to my eyes, the Impala lower arm look a bit weak...... it is?
But, did you consider the satisfaction of making parts your own?
I like very much to own a car wich is different from the others..... original !
The Impala option is very interesting.... I gonna check in the web for some shop!
Anyway, to my eyes, the Impala lower arm look a bit weak...... it is?
That said I am gonna pit a gusset down the arms and hole/dimple die the plates...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: Pistoia PT (ITALY)
Of course I must arrange for two templates (or moulding.... don't know the right word...) using the original A-Arm as a reference!
The only requirement is the relative position between the plate holding the ball-joint and the pivot shaft...... not a big issue!
The only requirement is the relative position between the plate holding the ball-joint and the pivot shaft...... not a big issue!
