I've been building a 1960 impala, and after doing some research on the net i havn't really found any information of this. I've call around to a couple places like cl***ic performance and impala bob's and sites like this and no one makes a drop spindle for stock drums, only disc.. Not wanting to spend the money for disc's, i figured it just cut them up.. Just wanting to see if anyone has any pictures, or anyone who has done this to give me some pointers before i go cutting into my "only" set of control arms..
I just read an article from a 1980s issue of Hot Rod and they showed cutting out the lip that holds the ball joint, welding in a 2" long piece of chromoly tubing, and then welding the lip back onto the top of that tube. The A-arm stayed intact, only now the ball joint sits 2" higher. As long as it's welded by a pro, this seems to me safer than cutting the arm in half and welding it back together. If you're interested send me a PM and I'll scan the photos for you.
I stepped up some 67 Chevy truck bottom a-arms decades ago. What you have to worry about is bumpsteer because as the spindle goes up, so does the steering arm. You have to drop the steering arm the amount you raised the a-arm on the end. This keeps the tie rods parallel with the bottom a-arm, like original. I had to live with the bumpsteer on the truck I did, it didn't keep me from driving it, but I knew it wasn't right. My brother had a 60 wagon and we cut 2 coils in front , 1 1/2 in the back, gave a slight rake towards the front. I would go with cut coils or bags before I screwed up the a-arms. The wagon rode great and looked good.
lowering would be cheap (well, free) and easy with that car by either cutting out a coil or two for a roughly 3" drop all the way around, or just airbagging if you feel like spending the cash.
seems like that was one of scott sullivan's tricks back in the day .....could a person use one of those speedway deals with the heim joint on the outside instead of a tie rod end and the adjustible piece that bolts to the spindle to fix the bump steer ....? http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/2058,179_IMCA-Approved-Rod-Style-Tie-Rod-***embly.html http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/3333,179_Adjustable-Tie-Rod-Adapter-Studs.html brandon
hey crustz,,i met ya at the arlington show. i've got the flaked catalina. i actually just searched last night for a thread that killer did years ago on this very same subject. it was full of pics and directions, but i don't think it's around anymore. maybe someone here saved it?? or try pm'ing killer. it was a well done tech. or you could just put some 14's on it and call it good!!! HAHA, just bustin yer balls man!
Here is a pic that my bro RUSTYPIPES(HAMB USER NAME) sent me I'm getting ready to do 2 set's one set for my car and another for a 67 Chevrolet C-10 Step Side. Mine will be done with the use of the stock springs, and the C-10 will be done using a airbag set up that I installed last winter..I'll post pic's when I get started to show the step's I have taken to do this..If you need info sooner maybe try contacting RUSTYPIPES on here he's a hell of a great guy and may be able to point you in the right direction..
Brandon! Thats a great Idea to use that Adjustable stud kit. I've been using SPEEDWAY stuff for years study the catalog all the time, and never seen that set-up... I guess it's time to head back out to the pit's and see what trick's the racers are using nowaday's been awhile since I've been to the Saturday Fight's and hope for a race to break out.Look out Florence Speedway here i come........I'm gonna have to stop out your shop soon and see whats brewing there....
I just stepped the A-Arms on my stock 53' Crestliner A-Arms. I'll try and take some pictures for you tonight.
Sorry it took me so long to get these photo's up here. Here are some photo's on how I stepped my a arms.
cut off the ball joints and re-weld a set of s10 ones on. you can step them up and then use the s10 spindles to get the disc brakes.
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