Reinforced control arms -worth it?

[cmayna]

I'm working with another local Mustanger regarding upgrading his suspension and started comparing control arms supplied by various suppliers and he seems pretty hooked on getting some reinforced arms.   His car is a simple 66 coupe that he is restoring which his dad bought brand new way back then.  The car will never see track let alone any real hard street use. Simple 289 with a C4.

How can one supplier charge $529 for upper arms realigned and reinforced, yet another supplier who's into Dolly and Dee Dee BBQ girls charge $200 for realigned arms?   $329 difference for reinforcement?   How can that be worth it for street application?

Maybe the other site is selling them for racing application.  If so, then they are not trying to sell to the street guy.

[silverblueBP]

I haven't reinforced or rollerized my A arms and I spend most of the time on the track. I haven't noticed any problems so far, but I'm sure that it would help if they were beefed up. I'm spending all that extra cash on tires instead.

When it's time to replace the arms, I'm sure the better parts will find their way to the car  :naug

[Opentracker]

You don't need no freekin reinforcement-realigned arms on a street car.

I got your freeking R&R arms right here  :vio

[Opentracker]

We ran our first three years of open track events with bone stock upper and lower arms. You don't need more than that to have fun. If you want to run faster and have the budget, the braced-up stuff is great, it does help as does the roller shaft kit.

My advise to anyone is to run a stock upper/lower arm on anything but a track car. One or two track events per year doesn't count. It doesn't cost a lot to have fun, it does cost a lot to go fast.

Way too much money is spent on parts to make the cars go fast IMO. I've had two driving schools. That made me a much better driver and made for quicker lap times. Much more than any part I could install on the car.

The four things that help the most (say you could take a new 65 off the line) are the roller perches, roller idler arm, larger front sway bar and a performance alighment. Besides racing brakes and tires, the rest is fluff.

[Opentracker]

When it's time to replace the arms, I'm sure the better parts will find their way to the car  :naug

If your willing to do some testing on some new stuff, I'll make you a  :expl  deal.

[silverblueBP]

While I agree....the pics above are pure suspension porn 

[silverblueBP]

If your willing to do some testing on some new stuff, I'll make you a  :expl  deal.

Keep talkin mister...I'm listening!

[Opentracker]

Keep talkin mister...I'm listening!

I'm think'in - one inch perch move on a roller UCA with a double roller perch.




You would be the first.

[midpack]

While I agree....the pics above are pure suspension porn 

X2!!

[Sluggo]

I've got a set of nos arms and perches that came off my car. Still have tags on them, but the bushings are dry rotted.

You can do some experimental stuff to them for me if you like. Give me an idea of the dollars involved and I'll send em to you.

I did find a crack in the right shock tower so I have to take the suspension off, and reinforce the shock towers anyway.
Might as well ditch the repop stuff "while I'm at it".

[garner67]

To address the original post first...

Stock a-arms are fine... just add roller perches. 

If I were to do my build all over again, I definitely wouldn't bother purchasing the GW tublar a-arms.  Too much $$, and not enough pay off for my street (w/occasional track visits) car.

I'm think'in - one inch perch move on a roller UCA with a double roller perch.

You would be the first.

Now to my question...

What would be the benefit from moving the perches an inch outward? 

[silverblueBP]

I've got a set of nos arms and perches that came off my car. Still have tags on them, but the bushings are dry rotted.

You can do some experimental stuff to them for me if you like. Give me an idea of the dollars involved and I'll send em to you.

I did find a crack in the right shock tower so I have to take the suspension off, and reinforce the shock towers anyway.
Might as well ditch the repop stuff "while I'm at it".

You try'n to move in on my action bub??

[Sluggo]

You try'n to move in on my action bub??

No, I'm trying to purchase some customification to my nos leftovers.

If I was trying to out flank you I would have done a PM.

[silverblueBP]

No, I'm trying to purchase some customification to my nos leftovers.

If I was trying to out flank you I would have done a PM.

Doesn't really matter...John dislikes you street pukes, only track cars (aka trailer kings) get the goods  :hug2

[70_Fastback]

Doesn't really matter...John dislikes you street pukes, only track cars (aka trailer kings) get the goods  :hug2

LOL;  you're SO ghey!

[Sluggo]

Doesn't really matter...John dislikes you street pukes, only track cars (aka trailer kings) get the goods  :hug2

What makes u think I'm a lowly street puke?

[silverblueBP]

What makes u think I'm a lowly street puke?

Grabber orange...nuff said

[Sluggo]

Grabber orange...nuff said

Don't be hate'n foo :bird

[cmayna]

garner67,
Find my post about doing JeffTepper's car with help of ORP.  He talks about the benefit of moving the perch outward by 1".

[Opentracker]

I've got a set of nos arms and perches that came off my car. Still have tags on them, but the bushings are dry rotted.

You can do some experimental stuff to them for me if you like. Give me an idea of the dollars involved and I'll send em to you.

I did find a crack in the right shock tower so I have to take the suspension off, and reinforce the shock towers anyway.
Might as well ditch the repop stuff "while I'm at it".

Send them here, I'll do what ever you want to them. I have built a LOT of original arms for people. The very first production 67 Shelby has our stuff on it. Talk about nervous welding. We can put in a roller kit and the 1" perch move. I don't think you'll need the double rollers but a fresh set of regular rollers won't hurt. The 1" perch move does work on street cars too.

NOS arms are great to work with. They have the best stamping. We should put them on the car and use the re-pop stuf for a door stop.

John Dinkel
7 Poppy Rd.
Carmel Valley
Ca. 93924

[Opentracker]

What would be the benefit from moving the perches an inch outward? 

It gives the car a better motion ratio. The two things you get with a coil over is the lack of bind and a better motion ratio. We have the lack of bind covered and this is getting the motion ratio in line to. Here is a photo of the idea.




From the top down:

2" move for road racing - needs custom double roller perch

1" perch move for performance driving - regular roller is fine, double roller is better.

Stock location - Roller perch

1" back for drag racing - Needs custom double roller perch

[Sluggo]

Send them here, I'll do what ever you want to them. I have built a LOT of original arms for people. The very first production 67 Shelby has our stuff on it. Talk about nervous welding. We can put in a roller kit and the 1" perch move. I don't think you'll need the double rollers but a fresh set of regular rollers won't hurt. The 1" perch move does work on street cars too.

NOS arms are great to work with. They have the best stamping. We should put them on the car and use the re-pop stuf for a door stop.

John Dinkel
7 Poppy Rd.
Carmel Valley
Ca. 93924

John,
I'll get em boxed up.

I've already done the arning drop. Is moving the perch going to alter the front ride height anymore? I don't want to drop the front anymore than it is.

Who's tower reinforcement kit do you suggest?

[tarafied1]

What makes u think I'm a lowly street puke?

John (or anyone),
I am a lowly street puke, my car has never seen a track (unless you count the drag strip). I have basically stock front suspension with the only real changes being the 1" Shelby drop, half a coil cut off the original coils and Granada spindles. Oh and I have a 1966 Shelby 1" front anti-sway bar (yeah on a 67).
My question pertains to the advise of roller perches, would my lowly street puke (non-Grabber Orange, small hood scoop) car see any benifit that I would actually notice from roller perches? Keep in mind it has a 429 with iron heads and manual steering so it's no canyon carver for sure. In fact it steers better with the throttle!
thanks
the other Craig, aka the TARA-fied 1

[Sluggo]

the other Craig, aka the TARA-fied 1

There's another Craig around here?

[tarafied1]

There's another Craig around here?

I thought you knew my name was Craig, in fact I thought that was the reason for the nice title I can't seam to change! :bird