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#1
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OPGI Front Tubular Control Arms
Hi there - I have a 72 GTO that I'm in the process of redoing the frame/suspension.
I had originally purchased all new stock rubber control arm bushings and new proforged balljoints. When I pushed out the stock balljoints from the lower control arms I found a crack in the in the control arm. In addition the cross shafts in the upper arms are seized and require replacement. I figure by the time I source "new" used lower control arms, take all the bushings out, buy new cross shafts and get the arms sandblasted/powder coated i'll easily be in the $500-600 range plus i'll have to install all new bushings yet. (prices in Canada are much more expensive I find) Looking on OPGI's website I found a set of tubular control arms for about $450 which with exchange will be pretty close to the same money. My question is has anyone run them before? are they any good? I worry about the quality of the balljoints (which I guess I could remove the new ones from the arm and use my proforged ones). But how about the bushings they use and/or the welding? Any experience/info on these would be great, Thanks, Steve M.
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1972 Pontiac Le Mans GTO |
#2
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Same one's from performance world for 629 cdn. But sorry I cannot vouch for quality. Price is right though. Might save some shipping.
http://www.performance-world.com/Con...m-p/847640.htm
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64 Lemans hardtop 4spd, buckets |
#3
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Check out the Lever Family Racing website. They restore control arms.
https://www.lever-family-racing.com/...arms-version-2
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Ed 1968 GTO (Thanks Mom) 2006 Silverado 2007 Cadillac SRX 2015 Chevy Express |
#4
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These are the China knock-offs of the global west arms. The construction of the arms is fine. In fact I’d call it good.
What makes them cheap is the hardware they are using. You should absolutely change the ball joints. The bushings are kind of a crap shoot it seams. The set I had on my wife’s 71 Chevelle had really loose bushings that were noisy as hell. Others here have had good luck with the bushings. I also don’t like the rod end setup these arms use for the sway bar end links. There’s nothing wrong with a rod end style end link, but again the ones provided are cheap and cause a bit of noise.
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-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
#5
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I’ve heard the ball joints don’t last very long as well.
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#6
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Speedway has new stock lower control arms, bare, for $92 each, you can put your stock parts in a new control arm.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/New-1...rms,45214.html They also have the tubular ones in a 4 piece set for $485. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1964-...rms,81680.html These ones are designed for dirt track cars, I can't imagine that they put the crap chinesium ball joints in them, but I'd ask them before buying them. |
#7
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Thanks for the info guys
Are the control arm bushings in those arms replaceable ? Sounds maybe like a crazy idea but if say those poly bushings are the same size as a stock control arm bushing I could just put stock style bushings in? Ie basically at this point by the control arms for the arms themselves and swap out all the cheap hardware/bushings
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1972 Pontiac Le Mans GTO Last edited by cdnturboz; 01-22-2023 at 01:19 AM. |
#8
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Global West knock off
I'm currently dealing with these atm for my 68 GTO.
Overall quality of the weldments for uppers and lowers seems good. Ball joints don't look terrible but I'm replacing mine anyways. The bushing for the uppers are sloppy though. They are comprised of an aluminum sleeve with a nylon insert. The sleeve should be a press fit into the arms, but mine have around .008" clearance. I'll be machining new aluminum sleeves oversize to take up the slop to the arm and reusing the nylon bushing. Lowers don't seem to have the same issue and seem fine. Alternatively, one could knurl the OD of the bushings and use retaining compound to secure them in place.
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68 GTO, 412, 3.73, LGT700 5 speed, hydraboost, FiTech |
#9
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Thanks for the info - I think it’s a lot of effort to swap that all over for me - ended up finding a stock set of lower control arms that I’ll disassemble and change out the bushings for new rubber.
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1972 Pontiac Le Mans GTO |
#10
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Carefully check the area around the lower ball joint for cracks in the metal.
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Ed 1968 GTO (Thanks Mom) 2006 Silverado 2007 Cadillac SRX 2015 Chevy Express |
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