Anyone tried the cheapie Tubular Control Arms on Ebay?

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by GS400s, Feb 11, 2010.

  1. GS400s

    GS400s Dan

    I used to dream of the Global West upper and lower units but the $1500 would put a halt to it on my street car.
    I do understand that they have a well thought out design for improved handling.
    Then things got interesting recently with the CPP prices at about half.
    Now the Chinese are in full swing at $395 FOR THE FULL SET!
    A different vendor has them for $389!
    Kinda makes you wonder if you will watch your front tire pass you by on a tight corner. Seriously they look nice.
    Has anyone tried these??? They do not give a brand name. Just sell under
    " 64-72 Chevelle Monte Carlo Tubular Control Arms A Body ".

    They are getting too low buck to not give it serious thought.
     
  2. 73-462GS

    73-462GS GS Mike

    I don't know about the ones you are talking about, but, the ones @ CPP look pretty good. Maybe they are made in China too. Probably an overkill for a street car in both cases. Although all the pylon racing going on at car shows beg for better handling. It would be a nice upgrade in my opinion. Peace, Mike D.
     
  3. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    Are you talking front or rear?
     
  4. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

    I believe he's talking about these:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-7...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

    Only $430, shipped to you. Hmmmm. It shows that he's only sold two sets recently. Unfortunately, I've learned in life that you get what you pay for. God only knows what the bushings are made of. And I wouldn't hit a dog in the a55 with some of the welded stuff I've seen come out of China.


    There is also this auction, which "sounds" better. But even he admits that it's a $160 upcharge to get good ball joints. So with shipping, you're up to $820. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1964...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories


    Then you have the Global West pieces. $1158, but you know what you're getting. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Glob...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories


    And here is Fatman Fabrications' web site. I've never personally gotten these, but I've never heard anything but good things about their stuff: http://www.fatmanfab.com/catalogpage.php?page=24
     
  5. kick71

    kick71 Mike

    I think over on the Chevelle site thee has been some bad experince with those.

    I have tubular upper and lowers from CPP. well made and easy install.
     
  6. BillA

    BillA Well-Known Member

    Actually CPP manufactures their products in Anaheim, CA.
     
  7. GS-XNR

    GS-XNR Well-Known Member

    And they make a great product. As far as "overkill" for street use...no way. If you are used to driving a modern car installing these is as close as you can get with our 40 year old cars. But to get maximum benefit you also need to add the quick ratio steering box and new tie rods, ends, center link and idler arm. Unbelieveable difference.
    Harvey
     
  8. GS400s

    GS400s Dan

    Too be more descriptive:
    Chinese Front Upper and Lower Tubular A-frames for $389.95 + dely.!

    The vendor has over 29000 Ebay feedbacks.
    The other vendor costs just 5 dollars more but states this confidence builder: DON'T BE FOOLED BY OTHERS ON EBAY THAT ONLY SELL PARTS AND HAVE NO IDEA OR CONCERN ABOUT THE QUALITY OR FIT AND FUCTION OF THEIR ITEMS. I AM AN ENGINE BUILDER AND LIFE LONG HOT RODDER I WILL NOT SELL ITEMS I WOULDN'T USE MYSELF!


    They actually LOOK nice. They do not specify tubing wall thickness.
    I am interested and I am concerned. Quality is of course the concern. I was just hoping to hear that these have been tried by a member on the board.

    I don't know how to attach an Ebay link. (Pls. feel free to educate me). I will try here.
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-7...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

    It describes them as follows:

    This Auction Is For A Set Of Upper And Lower Upper Do Not have Bump Stops Tubular Control Arms These Control Arms Are CAD designed Mandrel Bent and all components are either laser cut or CNC machined for exact tolerances. The control arms come complete powder coated with bushings, factory style ball Joints and RED Bump Stops. Also included is an adjustable steering stop. Pictures Are Of Camaro Control Arms You Will REcieve A Body Arms


    1968-1972 A body car Chevelle Monte Carlo El Camino Lemans Cutlass

    Stronger than the factory Control Arm

    Improved suspension Geometry

    Provides additional built in positive caster which improves your handling ability

    Bump Stops to provide Ball joint protection at full drop

    No modifications required to intall the Control Arms.

    A complete factory replacement

    The Bushings Do Not Squeek and are high wearing.

    The Control Arms come Powder Coated with new hardware.

    The Control Arms come standard with Stainless Steel Cross Shafts.

    I have frt. Willwood disks to install on my 68 GS Convertible. Doubt that there is any tech support on fitment issues with this front end. Also no idea if the tall spindles can be used.
    Sure is cheap though....:puzzled:
     
  9. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    From all of my research, the tall spindles will require an aftermarket upper a-arm to avoid ball joint binding. So, I would pass on these for tall spindle conversions.

    Have you looked at this guys stuff? He seems to have figured out that we just need a taller spindle, aftermarket upper a-arm to resolve the majority of the factory's inadequacies. It isn't cheap but it appears he has a clue. I'm not a big fan of aluminum for a spindle but I'm willing to be educated. Is it safe? Opinion?

    http://www.lhkustoms.com/products.htm
     
  10. lostGS

    lostGS Well-Known Member

    By looking at the pictures these seem to be well made from what I can see. but I would ask about wall thickness.

    Tim


     
  11. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    What about Howe tall upper ball joint and a CPP or other upper arm? It appears that you get the effect of tall spindles and the better geometry of the upper arm for less money. Opinions?

    - Bill
     
  12. GS400s

    GS400s Dan

    The Alum. spindle is cool. I believe Corvette has alum spindles? Does seem a little disconcerting though.
    Tall spindles are, I believe going to best for handling. Does that then limit me to the Global West brand A-arms? Does anyone else have a "shortened upper tube?
    Thanks
     
  13. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    BTW, the $389 arms are gone now. They jumped to $499.

    I put a set of these on my car a few years ago with the tall ball joint.

    http://www.scandc.com/spcarms.htm

    The only downside to these is no bump stop provision.

    I don't think they would be a bad choice for a tall non-dropped spindle. I figure I'd go back with a stock ball joint and still be taller with the L&H Kustom spindle than the stock spindle and tall ball joint. The $750 just seems a little steep but it is almost the perfect choice for minimal modification and maximum improvement. B-body spindles are definitely out for me.

    I think bumpsteer is the only thing left to work out and a revised steering arm would do that.

    Apparently, wanting a stock ride height to keep my M/T repro headers from being beat to crap is not the norm among those that want to handle well.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Thanks Greg - how long have you had that set up? track runs? miles driven?
    Any issues other than the bmp stop?

    - Bill
     
  15. nekkidhillbilly

    nekkidhillbilly jeffreyrigged youtube channel owner

    it was some had some bad bolts in them and the company replaced em free with better bolts
     
  16. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    I've had this setup on my car for about the last 4 years. To be honest, I put a few hundred miles a year on the old girl. Half of that is in mid May when the GS Nationals are in town. I like to wring it out pretty often when I drive it but I've not had it down the strip in a long time. Total miles since install is probably less than 1,000. It does improve the caster/camber on the car.

    Before the arms/tall ball joints, just turning in my driveway at slow speeds would result in squalling of the front tires. I was wearing out the outside edges of front tires before I wore out the rears. My friends couldn't believe it wasn't the other way around because of the way I was always smoking the tires and barking the tires with every up-shift and down shift.

    Now, the tires don't squall in low speed and really bite in the curves. In a curve, the tires are like a bike, the inside tire slants out at the top and the outside tire slants in at the top.

    When I was younger, I used to whip up on the T/A and Z/28 boys that put big and littles on their cars. I had 60's all the way around, T/A bar up front with poly bushings and I could out run them and out corner them on anything under 120MPH.
     
  17. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go


    Thanks Greg - why are you switching back to stock BJ and Kustom Spindle? Are you keeping the SPC A arm?

    - Bill
     
  18. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    That what I was thinking would yield a more optimal geometry. I haven't done anything yet. $750 is a big pill to swallow. It would be a nice solution to drop a lot of unsprung weight off the nose.
     
  19. jasonweissinger

    jasonweissinger Well-Known Member

    I bought rears off ebay for $250 brand new.. Great product and excellent company to deal with. I would check to see if they make fronts. www.c3fab.com or 562-472-8380
     
  20. PaulGS

    PaulGS Well-Known Member

    No chineseum parts for me.

    I won't risk my car or life on suspension parts that are inferior.
     

Share This Page