What control arms to use for second gen?

[72camarors]

I have a 72 camaro and have 20x10's and 20x8.5's. I couldn't get the offset I needed for the front and the wheels are rubbing the fenders. I have hotchkis springs with 1/2" cut off them. I am wanting to purchase narrowed control arms and was wondering which ones would be the best. Does anyone other than Heidts make the narrowed arms?

[bg5512]

Call Marcus @ SC&C. He is a sponsor here and will steer you in the right direction. Fatman Fabrication makes a set, but I couldn't tell you anything about them. I believe they are at least an inch shorter than stock.

[SLO_Z28]

Control arms wont help wheel fitment. Your problem is insufficient backspacing, on a 8.5 inch wheel id want 5.0-5.5BS. The other option is to run a TON of camber.

[72camarors]

I have a 5.0BS. Why would a 1" narrowed control arm not work? I don't need very much at all! I have talked to Heidts, BMR, Fatman and they all said it would solve my problem. The narrowed control arm pulls the wheel in 1" from the outside of the car.

[MoonMan]

Should work...I'm have the Heidt's narrowed and am going to be running an 8" with 4.25 BS.

[Hotchkis]

I have a 72 camaro and have 20x10's and 20x8.5's. I couldn't get the offset I needed for the front and the wheels are rubbing the fenders. I have hotchkis springs with 1/2" cut off them. I am wanting to purchase narrowed control arms and was wondering which ones would be the best. Does anyone other than Heidts make the narrowed arms?

Hey 72CamaroRS,

Solving your fitment problems with shorter control arms isn’t a great fix. Shorter control arms for Camaros are for using a Camaro subframe under the front of your street rod or early pickup truck. Changing the length of the control arm will adversely affect your handling by changing camber curve geometry and shorter arms will change the leverage of the suspension causing the spring rates to increase exponentially as the arms get shorter. Another problem with the shorter control arms is possible interference between the wheel and the control arm due to steeper angles of the tubing to compensate for the shorter arms and decreased turning radius due to interference.



Do you have any pictures showing how much tire to fender interference you have? Some people have had luck with altering the inner wheel well and the lip of the fender.

[killer67]

X2 for a call to Marcus. Would not recommend Fatman from my experience

[SLO_Z28]

Hey 72CamaroRS,

Solving your fitment problems with shorter control arms isn’t a great fix. Shorter control arms for Camaros are for using a Camaro subframe under the front of your street rod or early pickup truck. Changing the length of the control arm will adversely affect your handling by changing camber curve geometry and shorter arms will change the leverage of the suspension causing the spring rates to increase exponentially as the arms get shorter. Another problem with the shorter control arms is possible interference between the wheel and the control arm due to steeper angles of the tubing to compensate for the shorter arms and decreased turning radius due to interference.

Do you have any pictures showing how much tire to fender interference you have? Some people have had luck with altering the inner wheel well and the lip of the fender.

Dead on accurate.

A baseball bat and some camber shims might be all thats needed.

[vdaviemusclecars]

Had the same issue with my 2nd Gen. went with a little smaller tire in the front...