--aluminum trailing arms--
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: philly pa
--aluminum trailing arms--
hey
i wanted to start a post about aluminum trailing arms-- i've done a couple searches for them and came up with nothing, so i decided to make my own...
i'm about half way through the machining, and i just picked up my welding wire today. i'm hoping to have them done by end of march at the latest, get them heat treated, then put them on my '75 and see how they do. basically i'm building a 1/4 mile warrior, but i want to keep the IRS with a 6 link and half shaft loops and loose as much weight as possible.
i hope to make a bunch of them if i accomplish what i got planned-- so far the production costs are cheaper than buying aftermarket offset ones. i'll post pics of what i got so far sometime this weekend. i just wanted to get some opinions, comments, and possibly some ideas from felllow c3'ers about them-- so post away--. :chevy
i wanted to start a post about aluminum trailing arms-- i've done a couple searches for them and came up with nothing, so i decided to make my own...
i'm about half way through the machining, and i just picked up my welding wire today. i'm hoping to have them done by end of march at the latest, get them heat treated, then put them on my '75 and see how they do. basically i'm building a 1/4 mile warrior, but i want to keep the IRS with a 6 link and half shaft loops and loose as much weight as possible.
i hope to make a bunch of them if i accomplish what i got planned-- so far the production costs are cheaper than buying aftermarket offset ones. i'll post pics of what i got so far sometime this weekend. i just wanted to get some opinions, comments, and possibly some ideas from felllow c3'ers about them-- so post away--. :chevy
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (blue_stingray)
IMO, stresses are too great back there for aluminum, too much twisting and loading, even with that 6 link....I don't think there will be any weight savings, by time it's done...that stock stamping is pretty thin material...
GENE
GENE
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (mrvette)
Aluminum could work, as long as you heat treat it after welding.
Also if he is making them out of good heavy aluminum, like the offset arms they could be stiffer AND lighter.
Also if he is making them out of good heavy aluminum, like the offset arms they could be stiffer AND lighter.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (427V8)
427, are the VB offset arms aluminum??? I thought they were steel...
I did not picture them clearly in the catalogue enough to see the differances in construction, otherwise I would have ordered them some 5-6 years ago, when redoing the rear suspension....oh well, stock one's work ok for me...
GENE
I did not picture them clearly in the catalogue enough to see the differances in construction, otherwise I would have ordered them some 5-6 years ago, when redoing the rear suspension....oh well, stock one's work ok for me...
GENE
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (mrvette)
Sorry Gene, I misled you.
The Offset arms are steel but they are made from nice heavy plate steel, rather than the thin sheetmetal of the stock arms.
They are also made without overlapping seams to hold water and rust...
The Offset arms are steel but they are made from nice heavy plate steel, rather than the thin sheetmetal of the stock arms.
They are also made without overlapping seams to hold water and rust...
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
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From: WI
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (blue_stingray)
Have you guys seen the "tubular" trailing arms?? more of a sideways "A" built from round stock. A friend of mine in CO (Corvette City) builds them. Some of the vintage guys i race with tried them but were asked to remove them as (i guess) they are not in the spirit of the rules. But neat none the less !!
....redvetracr
....redvetracr
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: philly pa
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (blue_stingray)
alright, here are 2 links for what i have so far. these are the center carrier sections of the trailing arms where the bearing section mounts to and the half shafts connect to the the flange.
machined from 6" round solid 6061 aluminum. the other sections will be welded to these sections using a heat treatable filler material- NOT 4043 or 5356 welding wire. once the assembly is together, i'll drill and ream for the 4 mounting bolts.
as far as weight savings, i'll save about 10-12 lbs total over the stock arms, while having easy clearance for 10" slicks. other plans for the arms are to eliminate the monoleaf for use with coil overs, use a special adjustable nut for toe adjustment instead of using shims, and have connection points for the 6 link.
http://www.pastreetracing.org/user_p...s/b4d59d24.jpg
http://www.pastreetracing.org/user_p...s/b7672edf.jpg
machined from 6" round solid 6061 aluminum. the other sections will be welded to these sections using a heat treatable filler material- NOT 4043 or 5356 welding wire. once the assembly is together, i'll drill and ream for the 4 mounting bolts.
as far as weight savings, i'll save about 10-12 lbs total over the stock arms, while having easy clearance for 10" slicks. other plans for the arms are to eliminate the monoleaf for use with coil overs, use a special adjustable nut for toe adjustment instead of using shims, and have connection points for the 6 link.
http://www.pastreetracing.org/user_p...s/b4d59d24.jpg
http://www.pastreetracing.org/user_p...s/b7672edf.jpg
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 534
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From: FL
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (blue_stingray)
Hey, if the aluminum differentials can take the stresses, then so should the trailing arms...
Oops... I HAVE grenaded two aluminum differentials. Hmmm... Better make these arms THICK.
-Noel
Oops... I HAVE grenaded two aluminum differentials. Hmmm... Better make these arms THICK.
-Noel
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: philly pa
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (Noel Carboni)
haha
yeah, but those early 80's diff housings were made of cast aluminum- gm's first attempt at that. even the test C5 vehicles cast aluminum arms broke under certain conditions.
yeah, but those early 80's diff housings were made of cast aluminum- gm's first attempt at that. even the test C5 vehicles cast aluminum arms broke under certain conditions.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,985
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From: SoCal.
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (blue_stingray)
Just saw the photos.
If you want to make a second set you have a buyer out here in California.
Watch where you put the parking brake cable clip. I understand that it is commonly moved to the top from the side to clear larger tires.
George
If you want to make a second set you have a buyer out here in California.
Watch where you put the parking brake cable clip. I understand that it is commonly moved to the top from the side to clear larger tires.
George
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Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Orange Park Florida
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (Tom454)
Yeh, I thought those offset arms were steel, I only saw a set once, some years ago, and kicked myself for not looking closer at that poor pix in the catalogues....I would have order them in a heartbeat IF I'd known....
GENE
GENE
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 228
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From: Santa Cruz CA
Re: --aluminum trailing arms-- (blue_stingray)
I want a set, make them beefy. I understand you are planning to use coil overs with these. Are you going to reuse the stock lower shock mount and if so, how much offset are planning for the t-arm. My thought is to use stock shock mounting points, but my current Vettebrakes fabricated steel offset t-arms do not allow adequate clearance for coil overs.