For my wheels to fit I need to grind of a bit of the upper control arm. (I have original '68 control arms) I need to remove the most about this much -------> III The I's show the the width of how much the most I would need to take off. Will that weaken the arm at all? Can it crack under too much pressure? Were they any thicker than the aftermarket ones?





Thanks

-Mike

 

I would use a spacer or get the correct backspaced wheels, rather than grind the upper
control arm. The stock upper control arms are not exactly solidly built. Also, bear in mind
that if it does fail and your cut caused the failure it could cause one hell of a big
financial liability.

But I am no suspension expert, just basing my opinion on my common sense.

Jav

 

Have you done the shelby mod?
Do you know what your currently alignment specs are?
Do you know the last time it was aligned?

 

What about a set of tubular control arms?

 

Never grind the control arm.What size are the wheels and back spacing?

 

they are 17x9s

 

Just to be clear, he has done the Shelby mod, but the car is not at ride height or aligned. He removed a tiny amount of material that is barely noticable.

The real issue is that he took the grinder to the lip of the arm without consulting me. I torqued him up about this more as a learning experience (don't assume you know more than the engineer and modify something because it is in your way). The arm is fine, in fact it is possible there was never an issue. Until the car is aligned and we can move the wheel through it's range of motion in all dimensions, we won't know if there was ever a clearance issue.

Mike is full of great intention and enthusiasm, but it is his first build and I insist he learn as he goes. Sometimes his excitement gets ahead of his judgement and I lean on him. I think this time I got him pretty worried, hence his post.

BTW, my favorite conversation with him goes something like this:

"Dad, what's the torque setting on this (or subsitute how does this go together)?"
"I don't know, did you look it up?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It is easier to ask you."
"So I can go look it up and then tell you? If you don't use the manual, you will not learn for yourself."

Mike is doing a great job on his car and is building it in his image. I am really proud to see him taking care and responsibility, but I may not be around next time and he needs to learn for himself.

 

Just where was the metal removed from?

And was this small clearancing determined based only on the static suspension position or were steering, suspension travel and changes in UCA inclination considered? (Hint: the outermost portion of the UCA moves relative to the wheel, and the relationship between clearance and suspension position/steering is not necessarily obvious).

Been through this with a different car, but I can look at the '66 later today.


Norm