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Hello all,
I did some research and found some good forum info, but it didn't seem too specific to my application so I thought i would seek out some advice.
I have a '76 with quite a few mods and have a goal of a street/drag strip car. I do want decent handling despite my 4-link and will eventually install a heavy duty rear stabilizer bar that I bought. I have had a stock front end rebuild kit in a box and already installed a new idler arm and plan to reuse my stock power steering which was rebuilt by vansteel about 10 years ago. Worked great and didn't leak, hopefully it stays that way. I also bought new stock-style brake rotors and got some 4-piston Wilwood calipers for a bit of weight reduction. Hydroboost will go on as well. 15" wheels, 235 60r15 on 8" and 295 55r15 MT drag radials on back.
Questions
1. I'm a bit worried about the control arms possibly having some damage and rather than rebuild them I'm looking at possibly getting new upper and lower rather than to do this twice. Are the global west considered a fairly easy bolt on and upgrade if I wanted to go with bigger diameter wheels down the road? would these help with upper control arm clearance on a centrifugal supercharger install if I were do do this down the road?
2. I have 450 lb stock style springs that I would like to use to replace the 50 year old stock springs. I may or may not cut them down, I probably won't at first so that I can have decent weight transfer for drag racing. QA1 single adjustable front drag shocks. Would these work ok with the Global West control arms? What about if I cut them down 1/2 of a coil?
3. Could I upgrade the stock spring/shock setup to a true coil over with these Global West control arms down the road?
I bought the Global West upper and lower control arms (spring project, haven't installed yet). The quality is incredible and less expensive than other brands. There are two different models, one for stock springs and one designed for coil overs. Its all just bolt on just like factory
Yes, rotating/removable spring pockets. I bought the ones for stock springs and then later decided to go coilovers. The nice thing is that they accept the coilovers, I just wont use the spring pocket.
Last edited by Gralls4771; Jan 17, 2021 at 11:32 AM.
I purchased mine from Van Steel.
All the suspension components I’ve purchased from them are well made and top quality.
Give them a call or look them up on their website.
There were great to talk with and have been around for decades.
I have the global west front control arms installed and it was very simple to bolt them on and adjust the height. I went with the coil-over design instead of the stock spring. I also have the Van Steel Trailing arms. Van Steel has been excellent to work with. I had some shipping challenges with Van Steel and they made it right with 1 phone call.
I used SPC adjustable A-Arms in my 80, which eliminates the need for shims.
SPC seems to have redesigned their arms to allow for threaded ball joints. I have the older style (still available on eBay) that takes the stock ball joint. I'll probably swap these to my 79 and upgrade to the newer style for my 80 when I redo my 79's front suspension.
I went with VanSteel as well- front and rear. They have been doing it the longest(40+years)- have a great reputation- and think still give a Forum discount (10%?)
Here's a list fellow forum member "kidvette" on the adjust ability of the various manufacturers-.
I installed the Global West uppers and lowers in my driveway this past summer. The process is relatively straight forward and the quality is excellent. I have the standard spring and shock arms. I really like the idea of the Del-alum bushings they have, and so far they totally have impressed me.
Thanks for all the info all. Great pics too. I’m still on the fence. I like losing weight but the global west seem to weigh more than stock. 14 lbs more I think? That’s quite a bit. Are the van steel any lighter? I have a stock rebuild kit and am only using 15” wheels and drag racing with street. No auto cross needs. I’m just worried the stock arms might be sprung. Is there a way to tell if there is some minor damage? I don’t see anything major and the car always drove straight but the lower rear control arm frame mount has had welding done. I have a new piece to weld in but the old one looks solid and worked fine. I just dont want to do this twice. Trying to get this project done and once I dig into it I don’t want to wait 2 months for parts.
Last edited by Corvettedave02; Jan 21, 2021 at 08:28 PM.
I purchased mine from Van Steel.
All the suspension components I’ve purchased from them are well made and top quality.
Give them a call or look them up on their website.
There were great to talk with and have been around for decades.
Me too. I installed these arms on my '71, which is otherwise all stock. Made a huge difference in how the car drives / steers. My caster is 6 deg now (was 2.75 before). On those A-Arms, I ordered the "Revised Roll Center" option, but I don't see that selection now. It lowers the upper a-arm about an inch at the frame, so there's less camber change when the suspension is moving.
best upper and lower control arms?
