UCA's

mytight95

Active Member

Apr 11, 2003

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Dothan,Al

Sep 26, 2005

#1

• Sep 26, 2005

• #1

Well this is gonna sound cheap, I really didn't wanna spend 100$ on some upper control arms so i took an extra set i had and cnc'd some plates to fit the back side and welded them out, they are tough as nails now, i also have a friend that bought me a set of urethane bushings for them, for making him a set of the plates.......

My question is, now that i think about it all my other suspension is aftermarket, springs, new tokico shocks struts, c/c plates, lca's, everything.......... Will these boxed in stockers be adequate, i know they are better than they were but will they add to the ridigity, traction, and surefootedness of the car as am aftermarket set would....




Opinions on this are welcome, but i kinda expect to hear "quit being cheap and buy some real stuff" lol



jason


ps.... gonna post pics in a minute...

 

mytight95

Active Member

Apr 11, 2003

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Dothan,Al

Sep 26, 2005

#2

• Sep 26, 2005

• #2

these picks are before i ground them down, and sanded them, they are drying from the paint i put on them this afternoon....... I will take pics after i install the new bushings... i used .188" plate to box them in, slightly thicker than the factory stamped steel.....


do they look like they'll work..


jason

 

M

Mac-man

New Member

Nov 7, 2003

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south texas

Sep 26, 2005

#3

• Sep 26, 2005

• #3

to be honest i have heard it is very effective in providing the rigidty of an aftermarket piece, while keeping costs down. i know a lot of people who have done this and still used a rubber bushing, they said they liked the rubber bushing better for drag racing since it didnt put the rear end in a bind but gave them the rigidity they needed.

 

mytight95

Active Member

Apr 11, 2003

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Dothan,Al

Sep 26, 2005

#4

• Sep 26, 2005

• #4

1 confirmation,

i know the welds kinda look bad, but trust me they are there.....the stock arms have a galvanized finish to them from what i can tell, and after that burnt off it did good, but til then, spatter was awful....lol


so you think i should put the stock bushings back in or what.? i don't want it to be harsh...



jason

 

M

Mac-man

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Nov 7, 2003

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south texas

Sep 26, 2005

#5

• Sep 26, 2005

• #5

i would say some stock rubber bushings in the control arms, and maybe those spherical ones in where they attatch to the rear end. it feels a little stiffer without being to harsh. a friend has that same set up, and it still rides very nice.

 

mytight95

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Apr 11, 2003

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Dothan,Al

Sep 26, 2005

#6

• Sep 26, 2005

• #6

i'll look into that thanks....



jason

 

4Jenna

Founding Member

Sep 12, 2001

4,326

6

69

AZ

Sep 26, 2005

#7

• Sep 26, 2005

• #7

The bushings are a pita to change...but that arm is very solid now!

 

mytight95

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Apr 11, 2003

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Dothan,Al

Sep 26, 2005

#8

• Sep 26, 2005

• #8

thanks Eades...... i think they will do and save me the money for the others..... FOR NOW anyway....


jason

 

RIO5.0

15 Year Member

Feb 16, 2001

6,892

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128

N.H.

Sep 26, 2005

#9

• Sep 26, 2005

• #9

I agree with Mac....I was gonna do up my stock ones this Winter...I would prefer to have the rubber bushings myself..

Look at Steeda's uppers...same as you did....a little prettier though... Just jiving ya...

 

94-302-vert

Active Member

Aug 16, 2004

1,947

2

36

NE CT

Sep 26, 2005

#10

• Sep 26, 2005

• #10

So far so good.. I have poly on my uppers and poly in my lowers.. no problems here... I actually scored a free pair of factory five uppers from a guy here so the are really rigid..

I believe it is MM that reccomends the ford uppers with upgraded bushings over the aftermarket uppers as far as price is concerned...

Give it a shot and try it. then if you don't like it pull the uppers anc re-chage out the bushings.. why do it just in case...

 

N

Nagash01WS6

New Member

Apr 15, 2003

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Deland, FL

Sep 26, 2005

#11

• Sep 26, 2005

• #11

You need to shorten the plate you welded on. I had mine about the same length and it wouldnt go on over the bushing.

I welded those up, and part of the lca as well when I changed the bushings in the rear to poly. Car rides GREAT now, it isnt very harsh either, just a bit more road noise.

 

mytight95

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Apr 11, 2003

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Dothan,Al

Sep 26, 2005

#12

• Sep 26, 2005

• #12

i fugured i might have to shorten it, i am gonna do it with a jigsaw though to make it look better..........


Hey Andy, i know they are ugly, but the plate i made sits right down inside the little flare that is made into them....If you are thinking of doing this, i can cut a set of the plates for you, You have hooked me up before.....lol I saved the .DXF file in my computer at work..

i willl bolt them in next weekend, and i am gonna get pics of how Pretty they are now, compared to then......lol

jason

 

F

flaming70vw

New Member

Dec 13, 2004

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Sep 26, 2005

#13

• Sep 26, 2005

• #13

Isn't that a old racing trick. Before all the Steeda's and Maxim's came out. My dad had an alcohol injected CHEVY back in the sixities and thats what he had to do. Ran eights i believe. Looks great man. Function first. You can always paint later.

 

9

96darkhorse

Founding Member

Oct 2, 2001

693

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wilmington, california

Sep 26, 2005

#14

• Sep 26, 2005

• #14

i guess the ones you fabed up are fine for you but you will never have adjustment that an adjustable upper control arm will give you.....trust me its worth it!

 

mytight95

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Apr 11, 2003

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Dothan,Al

Sep 27, 2005

#15

• Sep 27, 2005

• #15

thats why i have adjustable lowers........ They won't be permanent, but my car has a date with the track in this cooler fall weather, and these will do for a couple months i think....

 

9

96darkhorse

Founding Member

Oct 2, 2001

693

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wilmington, california

Sep 27, 2005

#16

• Sep 27, 2005

• #16

if their not perminent, right on!