Introducing: Project 1/2-TRAK

[Damn True]

Just the act of using my hands to alter something tangible is, I'm finding, very rewarding. I spent eleven years as a helo mechanic and air crewman in the Coast Guard. I'd show up to the air station and a couple helo's would be broken and by the time I headed home stuff was fixed. Very satisfying.

But for the last eight years I've been in Marketing Communication. The work I do now oftentimes does not produce a measurable result for months. Sometimes the result is immeasurable and it's rarely if ever something tangible that I can see and feel like "I made that."

[Teetoe_Jones]

So while you were busy ripping your pink car apart we were busy modifying your lower control arms to a double shear mount for our coil over kit.

We took your tubular control arms and setup our lower mount:



Then we ground down the powder coating off the top and bottom so that we could TIG the mounts in place:




The frame gets modified by cutting off the single shear shock mount from the upper control arm bracket, plasma cutting the spring pocket out to allow for the coil over to pass through, and then welding the new upper coil over mount itno place inside the control arm bracket. Final results look like this:

[Teetoe_Jones]

Back to the lower control arms, we TIG weld the spacer into one side of the double shear mount; the other side gets a zinc plated floater.







The lower mount is ready to be welded to the lower control arm pocket:



The arms are fully welded; TIG around the brackets, and MIG in the center to plug weld them in place. Now they go off to get re-finished.



Next we will assemble your AFX spindles using the LG Motorsports brake cooling ducts. I'll post those up when the parts arrive.

Tyler

[Damn True]

Hey Tyler, thanks for posting that stuff. If you'd sent me the photos I don't think anyone would have believed it was me making those welds.

Important feature of the Speed-Tech arms that I really want to point out [white arrow]



That bolt is the key to getting the 275x17" tire on a 9.5" rim on the front of a 1st Gen with a stock subframe. It's a steering limit adjuster and it allows you to slightly limit the steering angle such that the tire will not rub the subframe. The loss of steering angle is negligible.

Speed-Tech is the only aftermarket UCA/LCA manufacturer to offer this feature.

Strap gussets on the bushing housings are a nice addition as well. Stronger with a minimal increase in weight.

Of course, the Acetron (delerin) bushings will offer little/no deflection, exceptionally long wear, no squeaking and have a convienently mounted zerk fitting as well.

Tyler informs me that the modification shown above was significantly easier on the Speed-Tech arms than on other available products.

[Jr]

I will be watching this build.

Tyler,
Nice welds.

[Damn True]

Thanks, stay tuned. There'll be more stuff in a few days.

The perception is that it's one thing for Tyler and his guys to install the Chicane-LM stuff in their shop and something else entirely for a home builder to do it.

I am doing the remainder of the install myself, with the intention of illustrating how easy it is for someone to do this install even with basic home fabrication equipment......and trust me, my capabilities (skill & equipment) are VERY basic.

I only had Tyler install the LCA double shear mounts because I don't have my shocks yet and thus cannot correctly set the spacing.

I don't have a videography department (just kidding Frank) but I'll try to give you guys as much stuff as I can.

[James OLC]

Looking great True.
You'll have no problems with the rest of the assembly.

[Damn True]

I get the sweats thinking about installing that rear system....I'll be calling you....a lot.

Gotta see if I can't talk Matt into spending a weekend in Mountain View.

[conekiller13]

Originally Posted by Teetoe_Jones

So while you were busy ripping your pink car apart we were busy modifying your lower control arms to a double shear mount for our coil over kit.

We took your tubular control arms and setup our lower mount:



Then we ground down the powder coating off the top and bottom so that we could TIG the mounts in place:




The frame gets modified by cutting off the single shear shock mount from the upper control arm bracket, plasma cutting the spring pocket out to allow for the coil over to pass through, and then welding the new upper coil over mount itno place inside the control arm bracket. Final results look like this:

Hey Tyler,
Are those upper shock mount systems available seperatly and would they work on an A-body?

[Teetoe_Jones]

Dan-

The mounts are available by themselves but they might be too tall to work on an A body.

Tyler