lower control arm resting on 15"rim

[chevykevy]

Morning!
I have a 71 front cross member under my 64 so I figured I post this question here. After putting on new McCaughys 2.5 inch drop spindles and one inch springs under the truck yesterday, the lower control arms are mere millimeters away from resting on the inside of the rim. I have read lots of posts about trimming the gutters for clearance but none mention trouble clearing the wheel at rest with the wheels straight ?

Would more drop in the spring move the lower a arm up away from the wheel?
Wheels are steel Corvette Rally , 7 inch with 4 inch BS. new from jegs.

[chevykevy]

pic

[chevykevy]

Better picture

[LockDoc]

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Mine did the same thing with 7" rallys. The wheels wouldn't rotate at all when I bolted them on with the wheels straight. I just trimmed the bottom of the "A" arm until they would rotate. I have 1000 miles on it now with no problems.

LockDoc

[ol_skool_chevy]

Are your lower control arm ball joints tight???? I don't see a cotter pin in your castle nut??

[chevykevy]

Everything is tight. I have no cotter pins in yet, still mocking up. It is tight but I have been swappingthings around and figure I will be trying differnet things. So trim the bottom of A-Arm?

[clemsonteg]

Either trim or get different wheels. All of the drop spindles I have seen have a note along with them that they may not work with 15" wheels. This is why. lowLife has a picture floating around here with the area to trim. Maybe check out Nates build.

[chevykevy]

I'll have a look, Are most trimmed along the gutters and the bottom?

[clemsonteg]

Originally Posted by chevykevy

I'll have a look, Are most trimmed along the gutters and the bottom?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...4&postcount=61

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by chevykevy

Are most trimmed along the gutters and the bottom?

Yes

[chevykevy]

Looks Good. Thanks. Back to the drawing board........grinder

[chevykevy]

Thanks.....Back to the Drawing Board........and Grinder

[chevykevy]

oops.....thought my first didnt go through. Thanks again guys

[vics stuff]

With the drop spindles that I am going to use , they recomend to use the lower control A arm from a 1985 - 1987 chevy truck and also the 85 - 87 lower ball joint.
That might get me the proper clearance I need for my wheels. Not sure but will find out.
Vic

[lolife99]

It's not the arms.
It's the 4" backspacing on a 15" wheel.

[chevykevy]

I am going to be putting a 72 rear in the truck and will need a set of wheels for the rear. I could use the front wheels(5 lug) on the rear and order different wheels? Will a 3.75 BS make a difference or will Wheelsmith be able to make a Rally wheel with an even narrower BS. 3.5 or 3? What do you think lolife 99? I have a 6 lug rear(POSI) in the truck now that is original to the truck

[Robznob11]

If it's not rubbing I wouldn't worry about it. Mine are close. How would that gap get tighter, with any wear it should get farther apart. Just won't be able to run weights on the back, thank goodness for stick ons

[vidman]

I think Wheelsmith can make you a wheel with most any backspace. their making me a set of 15" smoothies with 10" backspace. Talk to Rex at Wheelsmith he is a great guy to deal with..

[Robznob11]

I'm surprised no one has come up with a ball joint that will go 1/4 " deeper in the pocket of the spindle. I did see fast and loud use taper cutters to drill bigger holes in a spindle. Makes me wonder what a couple of thousands of cutting might achieve?

[chevykevy]

vidman, thanks for the info. Ill call him tomorrow.

Robznob11, what type of wear are you thinking of?

[lolife99]

I would just trim the a-arm.
I have the same backspace wheel on the front of my '69.

[chevykevy]

OK, Looking at the clearance while truck is on stands supported under LCA shafts, No weight as if you hit a bump and unweighted, the clearance increases. Wonder what it looks like when weight increases? A arm will travel inward

[chevykevy]

OK meaning , Got you lolife99

[Robznob11]

Originally Posted by chevykevy

OK meaning , Got you lolife99

I'm just thinking there is not a way for the clearance to get tighter. If you ran the parts till they wore out, which you shouldn't, they would only get further apart!

[chevykevy]

Gotcha Robznob11