Dropped UCA pivot shaft?????

[rchaskin]

Why does no one make a dropped UCA pivot shaft for the early Camaro / 3rd gen nova?
This would mimic the G-mod without having to cut the mount off the subframe.

I've seen this one for the early Mustangs.
http://www.totalcontrolproducts.com/upper_dropped.html

?????

Randy

[killer69]

Why not do the G mod? or use a tall AFX spindle?
Mainly due to the design of the upper control arm, you would be forced to use a bolt together cross shaft or Heim joints, or both as your example shows. in "MOST" states and feel free to correct me if i am wrong.. Heim joints are not legal to be used in steering / suspension components. i know here that is the case.

[rchaskin]

The G-mod bolt locations on my car are anything but flat, so I would have to cut the mounts off reposition and weld.

I currently am running all of the DSE bolt on stuff, UCA, LCA, 2" drop springs, Baer SS4t brakes and such. I would love to have the tall ATS spindle, but probably not on this car.

I was just thinking about machining a similar mount to the factory DSE UCA, but make it lower the pivots similar to the mustang unit shown in the link above. No heim joints.


I do have your 6 speed swap stuff though!!

[ace_xp2]

Why not do the G mod? or use a tall AFX spindle?
Mainly due to the design of the upper control arm, you would be forced to use a bolt together cross shaft or Heim joints, or both as your example shows. in "MOST" states and feel free to correct me if i am wrong.. Heim joints are not legal to be used in steering / suspension components. i know here that is the case.

Can you cite the section that's in? I remember the MV stating that years ago, but they overturned it and made them "legal" after Skyjacker suspensions took them to task over it. The reason for the quotes is how difficult it can be to find a VI that is willing to sign off on them if you get ticketed. This is BC mind, maybe a little different in other provinces.

[exwestracer]

You could probably use shoulder bolts and bushings to get around the "Heim law", if true. I see a bigger potential problem in the offset itself. You are now introducing a bending load on the 2 mount bolts. Combine that with a stack of adjustment shims, and you would very likely exceed the bending strength of any "normal" fasteners...

[killer69]

Can you cite the section that's in? I remember the MV stating that years ago, but they overturned it and made them "legal" after Skyjacker suspensions took them to task over it. The reason for the quotes is how difficult it can be to find a VI that is willing to sign off on them if you get ticketed. This is BC mind, maybe a little different in other provinces.

No i can't cite the section that is in, as far as i know you can't use them. if you can cite the section where it shows it was over turned that would be great then we can all start using them. if no MV inspector will sign off on it, you will probably have to have that in your back pocket.

[ace_xp2]

Knew I'd kept that link somewhere:
http://bb.bc4x4.com/showthread.php?4913-heim-joints
Wow time flies, I didn't think I'd read it that long ago...
In which case, the MV guys are great for changing things on a whim, so I can't guarantee that that would still be the case.

[killer69]

i can see all the 4x4 guys running to buy the cheap ass industrial low carbon farm impliment heim joints and using them on the steering??? i guess if it is good enought for a Deere its good for a 4x4

[ace_xp2]

Yeah, I'd think that's likely what set it off. The MV guys always have an eye on trucks, they get DOT'd all the time.
Either way, it wasn't the rod ends on suspension that can be difficult to pass VI with, but rod ends on steering:
http://bb.bc4x4.com/showthread.php?77126-Need-to-source-heims-ASAP/page2

[rustomatic]

Wow, to think there's something we don't get dinged for in California... Vehicle inspection? We don't need no stinking vehicle inspection!

[79-TA]

I actually built such a thing and have it on my car. I used it as my senior design project last fall. Sadly, I've just been too swamped to get the Trans Am all together again this season. I've driven the car with them since December, but have not done anything aggressive.

[rchaskin]

Do you have any pics of them?

Stock or tubular UCA?

[MonzaRacer]

Thought the Gmod was only used on first gen as they have short spindles and the newer fcars and Novas run the tall GM Spindle similar to the B car spindle.

[79-TA]

The 2nd gen still has a backwards camber gain curve when stock and needs some help. Tall ball joints are a popular solution. The Pozzis seem to have straightened Mary's car out with both tall upper and lower ball joints. I don't know if they've since moved on to another setup.

http://www.pozziracing.com/second_gen_camaro_tall_bal.htm
(in Dave's charts, the stock set up has correct camber gain, though not enough of it. That was most certainly not the case with my own car.)

Anyway, my bracket moves the pivot axis both down and then out a bit. I pieced together the upper arm with modular SPC components. Since the bracket wraps around the mount, the arm "opens" much wider than a stock arm (which is less ideal for the compression and tensile loads placed on the upper arm. Note that this doesn't cause me any wheel clearance issues.) Also, I am using .5" tall upper ball joints.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Ray's point about the torque on the stock mounting bolts bothers me as I overlooked it. I did get rid of the adjustment shims since the SPC arms have the needed adjustability built in.