The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > General Truck Forums > Suspension

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-24-2012, 10:05 AM   #1
Realnoisy
Registered User
 
Realnoisy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 229
Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

There is very little information on shortening the stock upper and lower control arms to narrow the track. I know they did this old school and would like to see photos of C10's with this modification. I have read about removing 1.5 out of the upper and lower to achieve the narrow track. I currently have a 65' C10 LWB with '73 C10 1.5 sectioned xmember, bagged with 2.5 spindles. I'm just curious of how this done so any photos of the type jig used, links to modification, or any input would be appreciated. I know I could buy arms and dropped members from vendors to achieve a narrower track but I'd like know more about this modification.
Realnoisy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2012, 10:42 AM   #2
SCOTI
Registered User
 
SCOTI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,879
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

I know about sectioning the lowers to pull them in but not the uppers (typically narrowing the lowers requires fewer shims for the uppers thus pulling them in).

Mine had the lower BJ cut out as a square section, removed the amount of material that the BJ needed to be moved inboard, & then re-welded together. The bump-stop is removed of course & the a-arm lip is trimmed significantly.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod
64SWB-Recycle
89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck
99CCSWB Driver
All Fleetsides
@rattlecankustoms in IG

Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
SCOTI is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2012, 10:53 AM   #3
Realnoisy
Registered User
 
Realnoisy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 229
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
I know about sectioning the lowers to pull them in but not the uppers (typically narrowing the lowers requires fewer shims for the uppers thus pulling them in).

Mine had the lower BJ cut out as a square section, removed the amount of material that the BJ needed to be moved inboard, & then re-welded together. The bump-stop is removed of course & the a-arm lip is trimmed significantly.
Scoti, any mods to the tie-rod ends after doing this?
Realnoisy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2012, 12:58 PM   #4
stefan
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: texas
Posts: 118
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Thats what i was wonering im interested in buying pb narrow arms and to move the wheel forward but what about the ty rod assembly or sway bar being narrowed,i guess i need to call Nathan at Portbuilt.
stefan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2012, 01:42 PM   #5
SCOTI
Registered User
 
SCOTI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,879
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

There's enough thread on the tie-rods that they can be trimmed accordingly. You will have less total adjustment in the end.

The sway bar will require trimming. But, this is already true when doing bags in these trucks anyway. The bracket that mounts to the a-arm will possibly interfere depending on the set-up. Aftermarket bags w/end links vs the fixed bushing mount might work better but would be trial & error as for what will work the best.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod
64SWB-Recycle
89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck
99CCSWB Driver
All Fleetsides
@rattlecankustoms in IG

Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
SCOTI is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2012, 03:10 PM   #6
Realnoisy
Registered User
 
Realnoisy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 229
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

This was posted by lowestsixty7 and are the only photos I can find on the site. I'd like to see what they look like mounted.
Attached Images
  

Last edited by Realnoisy; 12-24-2012 at 03:10 PM. Reason: typo
Realnoisy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2012, 03:50 PM   #7
SCOTI
Registered User
 
SCOTI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,879
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Basically, I have a set of lowers that were cut on the yellow line.
The material between the yellow & red lines was removed
The BJ section was moved inboard & then it was welded back together.

The lip was trimmed back to the shock mount & blended. The front lip was done a similar amount....
Attached Images
 
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod
64SWB-Recycle
89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck
99CCSWB Driver
All Fleetsides
@rattlecankustoms in IG

Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
SCOTI is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2012, 04:07 PM   #8
Realnoisy
Registered User
 
Realnoisy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 229
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
Basically, I have a set of lowers that were cut on the yellow line.
The material between the yellow & red lines was removed
The BJ section was moved inboard & then it was welded back together.

The lip was trimmed back to the shock mount & blended. The front lip was done a similar amount....
Very cool Scoti! I was wondering what you were describing when you said you cut out a square. THANK YOU!!!!
Realnoisy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2012, 01:40 AM   #9
bdiamond
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 459
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
Basically, I have a set of lowers that were cut on the yellow line.
The material between the yellow & red lines was removed
The BJ section was moved inboard & then it was welded back together.

The lip was trimmed back to the shock mount & blended. The front lip was done a similar amount....
I did a pair like this. I cut 3/4" and after blending looked factory.
bdiamond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2012, 01:33 PM   #10
SCOTI
Registered User
 
SCOTI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,879
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by bdiamond View Post
I did a pair like this. I cut 3/4" and after blending looked factory.
i recall that was the amount removed from mine as well.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod
64SWB-Recycle
89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck
99CCSWB Driver
All Fleetsides
@rattlecankustoms in IG

Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
SCOTI is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2012, 03:51 PM   #11
Rochlow
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St. Albans, Vt
Posts: 2,520
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Could you move them forward to center the wheel in the wheel well?
Posted via Mobile Device
Rochlow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2012, 04:53 PM   #12
LONGHAIR
just can't cover up my redneck
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Columbus OH
Posts: 11,414
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Seems like you would have bump-steer issues with this?
__________________
You can review the site's rules here.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Longhorn Man View Post
As for reading directions...
The directions are nothing but another man's opinion.
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make them all yourself...

Bad planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an instant emergency on my part....

The great thing about being a pessimist is that you are either pleasantly surprised or right.
LONGHAIR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2012, 07:06 PM   #13
Realnoisy
Registered User
 
Realnoisy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 229
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rochlow View Post
Could you move them forward to center the wheel in the wheel well?
Posted via Mobile Device
I moved the xmember up the rails 1 inch to center in the wells. I have heard of stepping the arms instead of using dropped spindles to lower but never read anything about centering the wheels this way.
Realnoisy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2012, 10:49 AM   #14
SCOTI
Registered User
 
SCOTI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,879
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rochlow View Post
Could you move them forward to center the wheel in the wheel well?
Posted via Mobile Device
That could be done but would require larger diameter wheel to accommodate the change. I doubt 15" wheels would clear...
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod
64SWB-Recycle
89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck
99CCSWB Driver
All Fleetsides
@rattlecankustoms in IG

Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
SCOTI is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2012, 05:53 PM   #15
bdiamond
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 459
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rochlow View Post
Could you move them forward to center the wheel in the wheel well?
Posted via Mobile Device
The No-Limit guy has a build thread where he moved the ball joint forward like an inch or more. Used a balljoint ring from Speedway and a holesaw. It looked kinda rough, but apparently it worked.
bdiamond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2017, 03:17 PM   #16
Capo_Customs
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 18
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Bringing this post back from the dead. What is the reasoning behind narrowing just the lower control arm?
Capo_Customs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2017, 04:02 PM   #17
tinydb84
Registered User
 
tinydb84's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Jose Ca
Posts: 2,871
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by Capo_Customs View Post
Bringing this post back from the dead. What is the reasoning behind narrowing just the lower control arm?
Most of us are lowered enough that the upper control arm needs a bunch of shims to fix the camber. If you shorten just the lower it will just require an alignment and not have as many shims.

It will slightly decrease the camber gain through the suspension cycle as well for those who like to roll a bit low.
__________________
David
Used parts build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=638991
My brother's Nova: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=727985
Rear suspension rework: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=750557
Instagram: myfabguy
tinydb84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2023, 11:21 AM   #18
5150
C10 Club Tennessee
 
5150's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: White House, TN 37188
Posts: 8,277
Re: Shortening Control Arms for Narrowing Track

Quote:
Originally Posted by Realnoisy View Post
This was posted by lowestsixty7 and are the only photos I can find on the site. I'd like to see what they look like mounted.
Do you have a picture of it finished? Especially the uppers.
__________________
Bryan

www.gmtruckshow.com

Project "Andes"-Halen's First Truck

Project: Patina Burb

for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4
5150 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com