Here are some pics of stock merc a-arms we modified to ball joints and installed on this 50 Merc. We used 1st gen camaro parts as they are very easy to get localy and are fairly cheap to buy. In these pics we used a disc brake kit that came with the cheaper one pice dropped spindles and the larger 12" dia rotors. The track wiegh is the same as stock and we reinstalled the old uncut stock front spring. We chose to make a set of four 15" x 7" steel wheels for this 50 merc as the stock wheel slightly rubbed on the larger dia rotors and the new 4.75" x 5 lug pattern as we also installed a 86 camaro rear end. The tire in the pics are 225/70/15. The car now sets about 2.5" lower than it did stock but still has full suspension travel and the stock shocks. I have been doing this style of a-arm mod for many years and i can tell you the ride quailty improvement is well worth the effort. I know alot of you out there can also make your own all it takes is alot of carefull measuring and some good metal working skills. www.ericksonskustoms.com
So am I understanding you correctly, that what you do is fab up a mount for the Camaro upper and lower ball joint and then install complete Camaro spindles and brakes? How do the steering arms work out? I can see how this would improve the ride and the braking. How is the handling? Better than stock due to the drop? It seems like you could run a nice little sideline business selling premodified a-arms.
wow... nicely played dude... atomickustom is right... you might have a nice little market for a kit or core exchange bidness
I have seen this mod in various forms before but always interested in new ways to improve on the kingpin setup. Did you modify the upper A-arm mount to allow for better camber adjustment?
This is something I am very intersted in doing. Do you need the drop steering arms like Jamco sells, or do you modify the original ones?
very cool thread! I am wondering of how to do this conversion. Because I would love to do it to my 50 Merc. Do you use some sort of jig ? I am wondering do you any pics of how to do this?
The first few sets i made were done all by hand with alot of careful measuring. I had a stock 1st gen camaro clip to use to get the correct ball joit centerllines, spacing and angels. Once i had all the measurments i mocked up the a-arms with the new fabercated ball joint mounts and then ligtly welded them in place. I then reasembled the suspension without the spring or shock so i could easilt cycle the suspension by hand. I then remeasure every thing. I as put an 1/8"thick shims on the upper a-arm berore i ckeck to see if i have dupucated the camaros spindles geomitry. I fullycycle the suspension to chek for balljoint angel issues. heres a few hints I have found to help . I install the lower ball joint ceterline 3/8" forward of the a-arms center line. I install the upper a-arm ball jont centerline 3/16" back of the a-arms centerline and also slightly twist the ball joint mounting angel to favor a totaly colapsed suspension just is case you might add air suspension. I also check that it has the same track weigh as a stock merc. If something is not working correctly now is the time to find the reason and fix it . If everthing is right its time to start welding. I made me a fixture after making about 5 sets the hard way. Now all I have to do is load the a-arms into my fixture and start welding and every comes out almost exactly the same. www.ericksonskustoms.com
Do you have sleeves for the lower ball joint (k5103 stock replacement ist gen if thats what your using) or how are you mounting them in? Pics? The only sleeves for press in lowers iv'e seen available are for 71-76 Impala.
I make my own sleeves from a pice of mild steel tubing 1/8" wall and machine the ID to get the propper press fit for the camaro ball joint. www.ericksonskustoms.com
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