QA-1 LCA's

Hi guys, finally putting a new motor in my Coronet so I decided to rebuild the front end and finally switch to disc brakes but I've hit a snag.

I've bought all new parts for the front end except for the strut rods. With the new QA-1 lower control arms the stock strut rods don't fit properly (see pic) the mounting point is to far forward with the rods and bushings in place. The lca's would be all bound up if I use the stock strut rods yet QA-1 says these are a "Direct Replacement" for the originals....NOT!

I tried the originals and everything goes together perfect but they're so bad and I don't have the needed equipment to repair them (plates have a lot of slop in addition to the trashed bushings) so I bought these.

So has anyone used these lca's and not had this issue, both sides the same btw...

Is my only solution adjustable strut rods if I use these?

One more thing, I bought the front end parts from Dr Diff and the new upper control arms / ball joints have a nut, washer and spacer on them.

What's up with the spacer? It doesn't seem like it's needed or use able when I bolt the spindle to it but why is it included, any clues?

The new motor for those interested...

On the ball joints, I've noticed a trend for quite awhile now requiring the use of washers under the castle nut to take up the extra length of the studs and position the nut correctly so you can put the cotter pin in it. I questioned the rep from Pro Forged last year at the SEMA show about this and he confirmed my suspicions the manufactures are consolidating parts used to make joints so that one stud can be used for more applications and joints. In years past, this was not happening. The other thing this effects is the other end of the joint where it can have an interference issue with the spindle if you are using a Stang2 suspension based swap on your car. I worked on an old shoebox Chevy that had the conversion done and saw this when I was rebuilding the front arms. Had to do some relief grinding on the spindles so there was no clashing between the upper arm and spindle. Another disturbing thing I found was for the same Mopar ball joint number, the stud lengths were different between manufactures in the overall length plus how far it it moved the gap between the spindle and upper arm which changes alignment specs and handling.

Thanks, I didn't even think about the fact the washer was usually not there. That said it seems to go together properly with the washer, the spacer no.

And I guess I need to use the adjustable strut rods, it just seems like the lca is positioned a lot farther forward now.

I know that would increase caster but is it excessive.....