SPC Control Arm Clearance

[jtwoods4]

Well I finished installing the passenger side SPC Upper control arm on the 69 GTO today ( GM a-body) .


There is some cutting you will need to do on the upper control arm mounting bracket. The cutting makes some extra clearance for the SPC control arm when it is in the fully extended position. This cut is referenced in the SC & C instructions.


However, I did notice that the control arm will still hit the actual frame right where the forward most jam nut is. Keep in mind that this is with only the upper control arm installed so not sure if this will be an issue once the spindle and lower control arm are installed. See the last picture to show what I am talking about.


Anyway, here are the pics.




https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/01/8377613419_1955a65232-1.jpg


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/01/8377612955_4d369e255a-1.jpg


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/01/8378688584_6b2b82fba4-1.jpg


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/01/8377612249_5ea62852fb-1.jpg

[BuzzKillian]

Are you sure you have the right arms? except for the screw in ball joints, Mine look like this.
70046

[jtwoods4]

If you have a 1969 A-Body then you have the wrong control arm. Check out what they look like on the summit site and the sc & c site. Your arm looks like the one for a camaro.
Summit
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sps-94320/media/images/year/1969/make/pontiac/model/lemans

SC&C
http://scandc.com/new/node/735

[jtwoods4]

Just saw your picture on your profile. You have a Camaro, I have a GTO. The GTO is an A-Body and has a different style control arm than the camaro.

[Jameson]

For starters the balljoints are installed incorrectly, They drop in from the top not the bottom. Also going off my G-body instructions I wouldnt think it would be different but it looks like you have the arms installed on the wrong side as well. In my instuctions it says the bolt on the balljoint mounting pad is suppose to face the front of the car and the welded portion to the rear.

And finally they will hit even on my car at full droop, Does it say in your instructions that caution should be used when jacking the car to full droop or drag racing that limiting straps may need to be used to prevent damage?

[DarkoNova]

I was just thinking about this a couple days ago. Does anyone have pictures showing what it's like to adjust them on the car? One of their selling points and one of the reasons I wanted them was because of the way they could be adjusted. But I was thinking with the car at ride height and inner fenders installed, it's probably even more difficult to adjust them than it is the original control arms.

Does anyone have experience adjusting these arms?

[jtwoods4]

For starters the balljoints are installed incorrectly, They drop in from the top not the bottom. Also going off my G-body instructions I wouldnt think it would be different but it looks like you have the arms installed on the wrong side as well. In my instuctions it says the bolt on the balljoint mounting pad is suppose to face the front of the car and the welded portion to the rear.

And finally they will hit even on my car at full droop, Does it say in your instructions that caution should be used when jacking the car to full droop or drag racing that limiting straps may need to be used to prevent damage?


This car is not a g-body it is an a-body. Instructions specifically say that for added clearance the ball joints can be installed on the bottom instead of the top the control arm. The instructions also say that the welded side of the ball joint bracket should face the front of the car. Camaro installations are not the same as full size a-body installations.

If someone has installed these control arms on a Chevelle or the GTO please respond with your clearance issues if any.

[Rick Dorion]

Adjusting is not difficult. I cut down a box end wrench and just reached in from the engine side and did it by feel. I had the hex sleeves on my 69 which makes it easier.

[jtwoods4]

Sorry guys I edited my original post and added my car type. I didn't originally specify that it was a 69 GTO. Sorry for the confusion gbody guys.

[RobNoLimit]

I use a lot of SPC stuff, but not on A's or F's. This all looks normal. I think I would bolt in the spindles and the shock (no spring) and check the travel to see when the ball joints and shocks bottom out and top out.

[Jameson]

This car is not a g-body it is an a-body. Instructions specifically say that for added clearance the ball joints can be installed on the bottom instead of the top the control arm. The instructions also say that the welded side of the ball joint bracket should face the front of the car. Camaro installations are not the same as full size a-body installations.

If someone has installed these control arms on a Chevelle or the GTO please respond with your clearance issues if any.

Clearly I said I wouldnt think it would be different... Not that it will be the same, I am aware its a A-body now that you corrected that... Now that I know its a A-body I regret to inform you its the same instructions as my G-body....

Looking again now I see I was looking at the pictures wrong, but my explanation of orientation was still correct. I was refering to linear with the arms themselves, I apoligize for not wording it verbatim with the instructions.

[jtwoods4]

Here is a video update of the SPC Control Arms, lowering springs, tall ball joints, and koni shock installation. This is basically the front installation for the SC&C Stage 2 kit. I still need install the sway bar. I think the clearance is going to be fine. The lower control arm rides much closer to the brake rotor with the tall ball joints but I think it is going to work out. See the video below for details regarding the installation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHlaiT_veaU&feature=youtu.be

[MrQuick]

Once you get the alignment set it should move the sleeve and nut out farther.

[BuzzKillian]

Just saw your picture on your profile. You have a Camaro, I have a GTO. The GTO is an A-Body and has a different style control arm than the camaro.

Yes, I did pick up on the A body part... the point I was trying to make was with the bend in the front link, you would not have to cut on your frame. Depending on your Wheel Diameter the bend could cause clearance issues there. I am not that familiar with A body's front suspension.

You might checked out SPC's catalog, there are literally hundreds of combinations to build control arms. I ended up buying longer front turnbuckles from them to get the caster setting I wanted without over extending the threads.

[David Pozzi]

Install your shocks & look at it. Shocks will limit droop travel. Factory upper arms have a droop stop that usually hits first.

[shep]

Looks normal to me I installed mine and have the same thing the forward nut hits the frame if you let it go to full drop. With the stock arms the upper bump stop would keep the are from hitting the frame. Since these don't hit the bump stop they will hit the frame.

[496elcamino]

Thanks for posting video and picks, I'm about to install SPC uppers on my 69 A body, the stock arms are gone, so I was looking for pictures for reference, beyond the part sheet.

[Marcus SC&C]

Jtwoods4, the install looks fine, just incomplete. Notice that all Corvettes since 1984, Vipers, newer Ferraris and Lambos, RWD late model Hemi cars, Nissan 350Z have no down travel bump stops on the upper A arms either. That`s an old school feature. All of these modern performance cars and more use the shock to limit the travel just as our cars have always done in the rear. If you measured before and after there is actually more droop travel now than the car had from the factory. The only time we recommend any added down travel limiter is on serious drag cars running long travel 90/10 shocks. Then we run travel limiting straps from the frame to the lower A arms to prevent marring the finish on the A arms when they contact the frame. For street and performance handling use you`re GTG without them. As always, remember if you have any questions we`re just a phone call away.

[496elcamino]

Marcus that was my next post/question; about using straps, thanks.

Pictures of A Body arms

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4997073#post4997073

[protour_chevelle]

Thank god Marcus stepped in here. What a cluster of wrong information LOL.