Aftermarket upper control arms

[DuceAnAHalf]

flipping through Speedway Motors catalog yesterday i decided to go measure the upper control arms on the 85.

the 85 uses a 7 3/4" bolt spacing, 8.25" legnth and an offset design (offset by 1 1/4".

A 1970-1981 Camaro uses upper control arms that have a 73/4" bolt spacing and come in lengths between 8 and 9 1/2" in 1/4" increments. But it is a non-offset design.

they both use a four bolt upper ball joint

the Camaro arms are almost a perfect match.

Today i was looking through a catalog from www.a1racing.com/

They have control arms in the proper spacing, length, and offset, with 4-bolt ball joints in either aluminum or steel. They are about $50 each.

Their site does not list the size, but ill look it up in the catalog tomorrow, even in steel these arms would easilly cut about 10#s off each side of the front suspension, im going to look into the aluminum arms for maximum weight savings.

This is what they look like. compare that to the heavy stamped control arms on the box panthers.



The only thing im concerned with is how the panther control arms are bent up at the ends, im not sure if the chevy arms are or not.

[mrltd]

Interesting... Nice unsprung wieght savings.

[DuceAnAHalf]

Interesting... Nice unsprung wieght savings.

yup, im interested in the aluminum not only for the weight savings, but for the reduction of unsprung weight to get the front end up faster and keep it up longer.

[mrltd]

hehe... keep it up longer... I'd like to attempt to make tubular 98-02 uppers.

[1987LTDmasta]

interesting

[interceptor1985]

Um somebody work this out and tell us all ...PLEASE

[DuceAnAHalf]

these are the steel arms in 8" legnth

http://a1racing.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=uca001-880&btnSearch=GO&Page=1

aluminum in 8"

http://a1racing.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=uca001-980&btnSearch=GO&Page=1

here are 8 3/4" in steel

http://a1racing.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=uca001-887&btnSearch=GO&Page=1

8 3/4" in aluminum

http://a1racing.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=uca001-987&btnSearch=GO&Page=1

They also have a 91/2"arm but i think that is too long unless you need radical camber changes.

[mrltd]

The rear lowers are very close to GM A and G body arms also....

[DuceAnAHalf]

I've seen those lower arms and noticed the same thing. I think in the late 70s ford engineers just stripped a few GM cars and used their suspensions. The panther suspensions have more in common with GM suspensions than with any other FoMoCo vehicles

[83countrysquire]

can these possibly work on my wagon b/c lord knows i can loose some wieght on this car

[DuceAnAHalf]

can these possibly work on my wagon b/c lord knows i can loose some wieght on this car

if they work on a sedan then they should work on a wagon

[nitroracer]

I guess its time to bother some camaro people and get a better look at these. It doesn't look too terribly expensive.

[DuceAnAHalf]

I guess its time to bother some camaro people and get a better look at these. It doesn't look too terribly expensive.

I dotn think the Camaro arms will work since they are not offset. im nto sure exactly which GM chassis uses the correct arms. Maybe Monte Carlo?

[mrltd]

can these possibly work on my wagon b/c lord knows i can loose some wieght on this car

There are so many other places to loose wieght

[83countrysquire]

well i m accualy ditching i think probly 60 pounds in wieght with stero equipment and i dont know where to start cutting the fat next thou