Fabricating boxed Lower control arms

[tobyp]

So I got my plasma cutter and mig welder operating. I needed to wait to start working with it until I got my air compressor hooked to the plasma cutter. I had an extra pair of LCA s laying around so I decided to take some steel I had laying around to make some boxed LCA s. I had no clue what I am doing for the most part so I used common sense, made a pattern and welded them in place. Ill post up more pictures on the finished goods. I am a little rough on the mig, since I took all my training on a stick welded, it is a little different. I made one template thinking that I may need to use one to make sets for others that may want the mod done as well. The plasma cutter makes fabrication quick and easy. If there is interest I would be willing to make if you send me your cores.

 

[Dugan]

Looks good wish mine came out that nice I did mine with em under the car and full of rust. Lookin good

 

[tobyp]

Finished the lower control arms today. Sure did make a big difference, it made me realize how loose the front end really is. It is very surprising when you take the flex away from the suspension what other flaws you feel ( wheel balance, road imperfections) much more.

Here are the finished product pics. Turned out pretty good.

 

[zuma83]

they look great . wish i had a plazma

 

[565bbchevy]

You did remember to weld in spacers for the sway bar bolts I hope, otherwise putting on a rear sway bar will want to crush the control arm.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

You did remember to weld in spacers for the sway bar bolts I hope, otherwise putting on a rear sway bar will want to crush the control arm.

x2, I was just thinking this.

 

[pontiacgp]

You did remember to weld in spacers for the sway bar bolts I hope, otherwise putting on a rear sway bar will want to crush the control arm.

x2, I was just thinking this.

x3, thinking the same thing. I don't think he was running a sway bar tho if he had that much flex that he could notice it. The sway bar stiffens up the lower control arm and doesn't leave much room to flex

 

[565bbchevy]

If I remember right if you had a factory sway there was a one piece stiffener that was a flat plate with a tube on each end for the bolts to go through and the piece would come out when you removed the sway bar (if it wasn't rusted in) and if you added a sway bar to a car that didn't come with one you would either need one off the donor car or just fab one up.

 

[tobyp]

tack welded those in before i closed them up

 

[tobyp]

they look great . wish i had a plazma

Thanks!!! I am used to using oxy-acetylene and I would never go back now after using the plasma.