Too much power/control arms

89fast5oh · 12-12-2003, 02:10 AM

Has anyone out there ever made their own lower control arms?
This might seem like a cheap and stupid idea, but i see no difference in cutting and welding up some 1"x2" 1/8" rectangular tubing for say 20$, or going and spending $200+ on aftermarket.

Does anyone have blueprints to make them? The reason I want to do this is because it is pretty hard to make a car with 450ft lbs hook up with 14 year old crusty rubber bushings.

The car is a 5 spd and i wouldn't care if i had solid metal bushings in the rear, as long as it hooked.

MidNiteBlu 5.0 · 12-12-2003, 03:45 AM

I wouldnt do it. I am sure alot more R+D gos into LCA's then you think. such as geometry of movement and other stuff. Id just spend the money on some nice Maximum Motorsports ones

QuantumMotorsports · 12-12-2003, 10:27 AM

**** man, why not. If you've got access to the equipment, just take one off of your car, measure between the mounting holes and for the spring perch. Also don't forget the sway bar mounting holes. You could probably find some brass bushings somewhere that would work. Just cut the box tube to length, drill some holes, weld some sort of sheet to the top for the spring perch (with something to keep the spring centered of course. I've been thinking about doing that for a while. What would be tough is uppers. You'd have to use two different sizes of box tube or something.

Ackbar00 · 12-12-2003, 06:25 PM

If you can do it, I say go for it.

But with 450ft lbs on tap, I would think $400 for a set is a small price to pay to have it hook up.

Mean50 · 12-12-2003, 07:56 PM

Hey, if you have access to the equipment, then go for it. The lowers would be easy to make. As far as the measurements just use of your old ones. I just recently finished making a set of adjustable uppers for my car. They turned out pretty good.

84LX89GT · 12-12-2003, 10:23 PM

I would highly recommend buying "mustang performance handbook 2" by William R. Mathis. It has blueprints for all sorts of suspension systems specific to fox mustangs including lift bars and making boxed control arms as well as tips on relocating the engine and a ton of other stuff. You should be able to pick it up for $18 maximum and you'll have all the info you'll ever need.

12-12-2003, 02:10 AM	#1
89fast5oh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 56	Too much power/control arms Has anyone out there ever made their own lower control arms? This might seem like a cheap and stupid idea, but i see no difference in cutting and welding up some 1"x2" 1/8" rectangular tubing for say 20$, or going and spending $200+ on aftermarket. Does anyone have blueprints to make them? The reason I want to do this is because it is pretty hard to make a car with 450ft lbs hook up with 14 year old crusty rubber bushings. The car is a 5 spd and i wouldn't care if i had solid metal bushings in the rear, as long as it hooked. __________________ 351W .030", AFR 185s, Crane roller cam-.543" 220 -.562" 228@.050, TFS 351W EFI intake, Billet Roller Rockers, BBK Long Tubes, BBK X- Pipe, Dynomax Race Magnums w/dumps, 30lb injectors, 190lph intank pump, Holley Adjustable FPR, 75mm TB&MA, Underdrive pulleys, Aluminum Rad, Billet Flywheel, McCloud Clutch, World Class T-5, B&M Ripper Shifter 4.10s, McCreary G-60s, Lakewood 90/10s, Comp. Enginering 3 way adjust/rear, Upper and Lower Control arms, Autometer gauges.

12-12-2003, 03:45 AM	#2
MidNiteBlu 5.0 I got something to say Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,557	I wouldnt do it. I am sure alot more R+D gos into LCA's then you think. such as geometry of movement and other stuff. Id just spend the money on some nice Maximum Motorsports ones __________________ 91 LX Hatch 5.0 - made for the twisties 89 LX Hatchback 5.0 5spd. stolen/stripped 4/7/05 http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/...splay.cgi?3494 1987 Toyota Pickup Ricer Haters Club Member #33 Want a custom gauge cluster for your Vintage Mustang? www.jmeenterprises.com

12-12-2003, 10:27 AM	#3
QuantumMotorsports Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Norman, Oklahoma, USA Posts: 597	**** man, why not. If you've got access to the equipment, just take one off of your car, measure between the mounting holes and for the spring perch. Also don't forget the sway bar mounting holes. You could probably find some brass bushings somewhere that would work. Just cut the box tube to length, drill some holes, weld some sort of sheet to the top for the spring perch (with something to keep the spring centered of course. I've been thinking about doing that for a while. What would be tough is uppers. You'd have to use two different sizes of box tube or something. __________________ Michael Black QuantumMotorsports Norman, OK 1984 LX Hatch 306 w/ TRW forged flat toppers, Comp Cams Magnum 292H, GT40P heads w/ 3 angle valve job, .550 lift springs, Angus Racing Roller Rockers, Weiand Stealth Intake, Holley 4150 650cfm carb, MAC 1 5/8 Long Tubes, Single Chamber Flowmasters, 91' T5 w/ Pro 5.0 shifter, Turbo Coupe 8.8 Rear w/ 3.55 gears, QA1 Motorsports tubular K member, no interior except steering wheel and seat. Coming soon: 6 or 8 point cage, Fuel Cell, Weld Draglites

12-12-2003, 06:25 PM	#4
Ackbar00 Rebel Fleet Commander Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Huber Heights, OH Posts: 1,003	If you can do it, I say go for it. But with 450ft lbs on tap, I would think $400 for a set is a small price to pay to have it hook up. __________________ 1993 Mustang GT, PTK w/ T-64 - My Cardomain Webpage 11.25@123.5 on only 8 psi. 10.84@121 on only 1 headgasket "The Truth is, Your the Weak, and I am the Tyranny of Evil Men!"

12-12-2003, 07:56 PM	#5
Mean50 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 118	Hey, if you have access to the equipment, then go for it. The lowers would be easy to make. As far as the measurements just use of your old ones. I just recently finished making a set of adjustable uppers for my car. They turned out pretty good. __________________ 89 LX Coupe 306, 10:1 compression, ported 351W heads (2.02-1.60 valves), Victor Jr. intake, 750cfm double pumper, MSD ignition, 1 5/8" full length headers, Flowmaster 2 1/2" American Thunder Cat back system, C-4, 3500 stall, 4.10 gears, 5" Auto Meter Shift Light

12-12-2003, 10:23 PM	#6
84LX89GT Mustangs Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 1,938	I would highly recommend buying "mustang performance handbook 2" by William R. Mathis. It has blueprints for all sorts of suspension systems specific to fox mustangs including lift bars and making boxed control arms as well as tips on relocating the engine and a ton of other stuff. You should be able to pick it up for $18 maximum and you'll have all the info you'll ever need. __________________ 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300-R 1980 Ford Thunderbird - 255 V8 ported heads, 5.0L ported stock headers, O.R. H-pipe and Flowmaster 2-chambers, dual roller timing chain hi-po Mack Truck hood emblem 1985 Mustang GT 5.0L T5, F-303, GT40p, headers, off-road h, flowmasters, MSD stuff, etc. Sold 02/06/04 1989 Mustang GT ET: 13.304@102.29 mph (5-24-03) Sold - 1998 Mustang Cobra coupe, 1/4 mile - street tires: 13.843@103.41 (bone stock)

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