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12-09-2008, 10:58 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 57
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Building my own tubular A-Arms/"Z-ing" Frame
Anyone built there own A-Arms besides a vendor? Unless of course you vendors want to share your secrets? lol Any tips? I am NOT going to spend 8-900 bucks on a set. I would if this were my only project but I am trying to do this truck for as cheap as possible!
Last edited by liljimsrodragz; 12-09-2008 at 11:38 PM. |
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12-09-2008, 11:56 PM
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#2 |
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THE TOY STORE
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: florence al
Posts: 227
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
you will need a welding table thats sterdy. i did a couple of sets for different cars and trucks and you just take your old arms off measure them and i welded a jig onto the table and cut and bent tubing to my liking
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12-10-2008, 12:46 AM
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#3 |
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Account Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: over yonder
Posts: 14,270
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
Unless you plan on changing a lot of geometry then there is no real advantage to tubular over the stock stamped arms.
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12-10-2008, 01:18 AM
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#4 |
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Manual Transmission Club
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Grand Junction CO
Posts: 292
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
I did my own not too long ago I started a thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=308744 it was a pain in the ass but it was fun.
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79 GMC Sierra Grande, SWB, Heavy Half If I wanted easy I would just buy a NEW truck! |
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12-10-2008, 01:21 AM
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#5 |
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Built 4 Speed
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Geneva FL
Posts: 619
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
if you want to go to stock geometry a good idea is to build a jig around the stock arm.
if you can put all the bolts and pipes in the right places and build around the set demensions, with some darn good welds i see no issue doing this yourself.
__________________
1969 C/10 Short Box: 496/T-56 in worx.  "To Be Old And Wise, First You Must Be Young And Stupid" |
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12-10-2008, 01:38 PM
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#6 |
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THE TOY STORE
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: florence al
Posts: 227
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
^^^ thats how i did it. and i did it mainly to clear my bag and shock mounts. and they just look beter
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12-10-2008, 11:13 PM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Windsor, CA
Posts: 500
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
I had to build some arms for a Crown Victoria that had to have about 2 inches of drop built into them. I couldn't Z the arms because there was almost no room, so I built some with a larger overkill cup that the balljoint pressed into. I used the stock arms to build a jig around, and just made the changes I needed to. I will try to find pictures, I have some of the jig.
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If you can find it cheaper, I can fix it! |
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12-10-2008, 11:19 PM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Windsor, CA
Posts: 500
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
Here's the ones I was talking about.
  The jig.  I used machined cups to hold the balljoint cup in place.  And the balljoint pressed in. 
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If you can find it cheaper, I can fix it! |
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12-11-2008, 01:29 AM
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Palmer, Alaska
Posts: 13,821
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
that is some nice work there twisted!!!
__________________
 CHEVY ONLY
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12-12-2008, 12:05 AM
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#10 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 18
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
does anyone know the tolerance between the ball joint and it housing. im looking into building my own control arms as well thanks
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12-12-2008, 02:01 AM
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#11 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Windsor, CA
Posts: 500
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
A press fit should be around .001 to .003 squeeze.
__________________
If you can find it cheaper, I can fix it! |
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12-12-2008, 02:36 AM
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#12 |
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THE TOY STORE
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: florence al
Posts: 227
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
yep gotta be crazy tight. thats why i used bolt-in balljoints. forgot the part number tho
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12-12-2008, 02:44 AM
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#13 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Windsor, CA
Posts: 500
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
Thats not that tight. The hardest part is machining a tolerance that close. It only takes about a half ton to press them in if they are machined right. I tried a set at .005" squeeze, like the stock arm was, but it really didn't work. I didn't think about the material being thicker, and not wanting to give at all. .002" is usually my number, goes together nice and smooth.
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If you can find it cheaper, I can fix it! |
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12-13-2008, 01:19 AM
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#14 |
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Manual Transmission Club
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Grand Junction CO
Posts: 292
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
I went .007 under on the ball joint because it was knurled, and .002 under on the bushings.
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79 GMC Sierra Grande, SWB, Heavy Half If I wanted easy I would just buy a NEW truck! |
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12-13-2008, 06:40 PM
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 359
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Re: Building my own tubular A-Arms
Can I hire Twisted Minis to build custom Lower A arms, for my lifted 67?
I like the jig. Making the jig is almost as much work as making the arms... Mick Last edited by MickMc; 12-16-2008 at 01:39 AM. |
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