Hey everyone, new to the site and excited. quick question on my 69 Camaro SS with 396 and headers. Noticed last evening on my weekly drive that the car and suspension was pulling right, as I returned and popped the hood saw that the bushing on the right side control arm were done. As I discussed this with my mechanic, we noticed that the control arm is resting on the headers and we discussed replacing the current control arms with tubulars.....any suggestions on what to use with the big block and headers?

Thanks

 

Hi Scott,

Here is my question and don't take me wrong, but why can't you use the factory a-arm? Something wrong with them?

Tubulars are nice but there is nothing wrong with the factory setup.

Get yourself some good upper a-arm bushings and install them on both sides and go enjoy the car.

 

I'm going with Bruce on this one... the factory control arms are fine. The big benefit of those expensive tubular arms is being able to add positive Caster when aligning the car.
This can be done much cheaper by installing offset control arm shafts. Also, I would install polygraphite control arm bushings especially if you run headers, where the heat can break down rubber bushings. (I know that a lot of folks have a different opinion of poly bushings, but I am sold on them.)

 

I'm with you. I'm powder coating my stock ones, and installing new bushings. I use stock style rubber bushings. I've always had good luck with them.

 

I have a 1967 and went with upper and lower tubular control arms (cheaped out) and paid the price. Less than 100 miles had to install new upper and lower ball joints. Really did not notice a huge differance in the handling. This also cost me more time and money than it was worth. I still have all stock parts and at some point will put them back in. It may have been a different story if I spent more money for a good set. Hope this helps.

 

I bet he's done it, or fixed the stock ones after 5 months since posting the question!

 

Digging up bones.