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For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms #1384092
02/09/13 06:09 PM
02/09/13 06:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
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Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline OP
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And 3/4 or 1 ton truck control arms... Something that has always bothered me a little about this deal was that once you drill the frame bracket for the 3/4" bolt you cant undo the modification without a lot of work/fabrication. After a bit of research and some measuring I came up with this sleeve that lets you retain the 1/2 ton 5/8" bolt. When I odered the tube for it I stepped up to Alloy Steel 4130 size .750"O.D. x .634"I.D. I made it slightly shorter (3.25") than the bushing length(3.34") so the bushing "teeth" will still bite into the bracket. It's pretty basic. Let me know what you think! Here is a pic of the sleeve...

7581752-P1040338.JPG (177 downloads)
Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Jwilli500] #1384093
02/09/13 06:19 PM
02/09/13 06:19 PM
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Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline OP
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The sleeve slid halfway in...

7581766-P1040341.JPG (166 downloads)
Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Jwilli500] #1384094
02/09/13 06:23 PM
02/09/13 06:23 PM
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Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline OP
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And test fitting the bolt in the sleeve in the bushing...

7581774-P1040342.JPG (170 downloads)
Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Jwilli500] #1384095
02/09/13 07:03 PM
02/09/13 07:03 PM
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Posts: 614
Id
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mopeman Offline
mopar
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Why un do it?


Mopar or no car
MoPar=Massivly Over Powered And Respected!

'93 W250 Ram
'68 Charger
'67 Coronet 500 my steet/strip rod-now a 6BBL!
Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: mopeman] #1384096
02/09/13 07:20 PM
02/09/13 07:20 PM
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Posts: 2,077
Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline OP
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I guess no one ever changes their mind about what direction they want to go with a project/vehicle? Also I'd think it would be quicker and easier than laying on your back in the driveway drilling 4 holes.
Quote:

Why un do it?



Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Jwilli500] #1384097
02/09/13 09:52 PM
02/09/13 09:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,357
central Florida
VL21 Offline
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central Florida

I had the same thought, hate to make the hole bigger.

But I'm not sure where to get the tube ...

since we had the same thought ...GREAT IDEA!

What is that saying? Great minds run in the same gutter?

7582010-hehe.gif (108 downloads)

It takes gasoline to interest me.
Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: VL21] #1384098
02/09/13 11:56 PM
02/09/13 11:56 PM
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C_Notch Offline
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I agree with why undo. seems like a very good idea though. but I did mine with no turning back. van lca new coils with half coil cut and now waiting on dakota spindles.

Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: C_Notch] #1384099
02/10/13 01:19 AM
02/10/13 01:19 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,291
Kent, Wa
340SHORTY Offline
Truck Nut
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Kent, Wa
I havnt looked at mine so Im not sure but if the OD of the van bushing is the same as the truck why not install truck bushings in the van LCAs?


I am truckless..
Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: 340SHORTY] #1384100
02/10/13 01:49 AM
02/10/13 01:49 AM
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Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline OP
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They're not the same O.D. plus it was only $6 to make these.
How much to replace the bushings?
From NAPA's website...
Van O.D. = 2.06" and I.D. =.76"
3/4 & 1 ton truck O.D. = 1.70" and I.D. = .76"
1/2 ton truck O.D. = 1.40" and I.D. = .63"
Quote:

I havnt looked at mine so Im not sure but if the OD of the van bushing is the same as the truck why not install truck bushings in the van LCAs?



Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: VL21] #1384101
02/10/13 02:00 AM
02/10/13 02:00 AM
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Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline OP
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LOL I've had this idea for awhile but havent been able to look into it completely till now. I bought 3 foot of it which should yield 5 pairs of sleeves. I got my tube at http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm...amp;top_cat=197
Quote:


I had the same thought, hate to make the hole bigger.

But I'm not sure where to get the tube ...

since we had the same thought ...GREAT IDEA!

What is that saying? Great minds run in the same gutter?



Last edited by Jwilli500; 02/10/13 02:03 AM.
Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Jwilli500] #1384102
02/10/13 11:31 AM
02/10/13 11:31 AM
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Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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So, your going to cut a set for who ever wants some, and send them out for about $10- $12 a set? A business opportunity awaits.
If I had a 2wd truck and was contemplating swapping the lower arms, I would buy a reasonably priced set of the sleeves rather then drilling out the frame holes. just thinking out loud. Gene

Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Jwilli500] #1384103
02/10/13 11:53 AM
02/10/13 11:53 AM
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Lehigh Acres, Florida
rickstershemi Offline
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great idea

Rickster

Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: rickstershemi] #1384104
02/10/13 12:28 PM
02/10/13 12:28 PM
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Marion Illinois
72d100 Offline
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thats a good idea in case you ever have to switch back to truck control arms. since the van arms are kind of scarce around here

Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: poorboy] #1384105
02/10/13 12:48 PM
02/10/13 12:48 PM
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Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline OP
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LOL Actually I have NO intention of starting a business. Thats why Included dimensions and even a link to a place to order the metal. I just cut the metal to length with my chop saw and dressed the ends on my bench grinder. I just wanted to bring you guys an idea.
Quote:

So, your going to cut a set for who ever wants some, and send them out for about $10- $12 a set? A business opportunity awaits.
If I had a 2wd truck and was contemplating swapping the lower arms, I would buy a reasonably priced set of the sleeves rather then drilling out the frame holes. just thinking out loud. Gene



Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Jwilli500] #1384106
02/10/13 12:49 PM
02/10/13 12:49 PM
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Posts: 1,357
central Florida
VL21 Offline
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Thanks!
That is great they are willing to sell small quantities, I figured I would have to buy a much longer stick of it.
I have bookmarked it!


It takes gasoline to interest me.
Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: VL21] #1384107
02/10/13 01:48 PM
02/10/13 01:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,077
Oklahoma City
Jwilli500 Offline OP
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Yeah, their shipping is a bit high but who's isn't and it comes packaged well in a shipping tube. The shipping cost doesnt vary much either.
Quote:


Thanks!
That is great they are willing to sell small quantities, I figured I would have to buy a much longer stick of it.
I have bookmarked it!



Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Jwilli500] #1384108
02/10/13 04:59 PM
02/10/13 04:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699
Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit Offline
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And to really think outside the monkey cage - that same material could be used to return frame rails that had been drilled (to 3/4") back to their original size! A couple thin slices of the tubing welded into the holes would shim them back to 5/8" hole dia. Who-da-thunk-it...


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Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: Evil Spirit] #1384109
02/10/13 06:21 PM
02/10/13 06:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Quote:

And to really think outside the monkey cage - that same material could be used to return frame rails that had been drilled (to 3/4") back to their original size! A couple thin slices of the tubing welded into the holes would shim them back to 5/8" hole dia. Who-da-thunk-it...




Suppose that could be done, but by the time you went through the process of cutting the tubing to length and welding it into the enlarged frame holes, you might just as well lay a weld bead all around the hole and drill it out fresh. Holding such a thin piece of tubing into a hole in the frame would be a pita, and you will likely have to dress up the new hole anyway.

I pretend to be a welder in real life. Gene

Re: For Guys Lowering With Van Control Arms [Re: poorboy] #1384110
02/10/13 11:29 PM
02/10/13 11:29 PM
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Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit Offline
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Newport, Mi
Quote:

Quote:

And to really think outside the monkey cage - that same material could be used to return frame rails that had been drilled (to 3/4") back to their original size! A couple thin slices of the tubing welded into the holes would shim them back to 5/8" hole dia. Who-da-thunk-it...




Suppose that could be done, but by the time you went through the process of cutting the tubing to length and welding it into the enlarged frame holes, you might just as well lay a weld bead all around the hole and drill it out fresh. Holding such a thin piece of tubing into a hole in the frame would be a pita, and you will likely have to dress up the new hole anyway.

I pretend to be a welder in real life. Gene




There's pro's and cons to both methods - I guess it depends on what you are set up to do. For me it's easier to slice off a piece of tubing with my bandsaw to weld in than trying to drill out a welded hole, due to the difficulty of drilling weld hardened material. I do small equipment repair as a side line, and I repair damaged areas often with this method when just simply welding a hardened washer on won't work. Either way it's only about a 10 minute repair at best.

I pretend to be a fabricator in real life. Willie


Free advice and worth every penny...
Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........






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