ghiaracer

so whats going on with this stuff?

jimlab

Looking into it, talked to someone a couple weeks ago, in fact. Just too many projects going at once, but this one hasn't been forgotten.

yellowbird

Another Jim project, and we know how Jim does his projects, second to none. Jim, I would be interested in those arms, of course finances permitting at the time. I would be more interested in the arms if they had some type of longer life bushing. My RX is my only car, and my daily driver so rod ends that disentigrate after a few months of use, especiially in the Florida wet season would not work well for me. But if you were to make something with a more long lasting (polyurethane?) bushings, I would be interested, especially considering the care and attention to detail that always seems to be a hallmark of your projects. BTW, how is the beast coming along, I have not seen any updates lately, or I missed them.
J

jimlab

I didn't plan on using rod ends, which aren't really suitable for street use no matter where you live.

The arms would have sockets which match the stock bushing socket dimensions, so that you could use OEM bushings, Mazdaspeed bushings, my bushings, or whatever you chose. The ball joints will be cheap and easily available, if this works out.

In other words, you could change out a bad ball joint in a couple hours at a cost of about $35 or so, instead of buying a new ~$300 control arm, and worse, having to press out new OEM bushings and replace them with your high performance Unobtainium bushings...

GoRacer

iTrader: (2)

Would bad front control arms cause your car to push or pull to one side?

jimlab

Possibly, but so would a bad alignment or bad bushings. How long since the car has been aligned?

ddr10

iTrader: (1)

I am DEFINITELY interested in this.

Any updates?

Greg

Id think that chromoly would be the best way to go because of the strength and because of the weight. Also Chromoly Rod ends are pretty easy to find for good prices so replacing them wouldnt be a problem

jimlab

No updates yet, too much other stuff going on and I can only manage so many projects at once. I'm hoping that in August after my car is finished being painted and the engine (hopefully) is on its way, that I'll have some time to take on a few other projects, like the control arms.

ddr10

iTrader: (1)

Just curious, any new on this?

Does anyone have a set of lower control arms w/ blown bushings that they would like to part with cheap? My future bro-in-law is a Nascar machinist in Indiana and offered to make me a set this winter...

Mercury

pm me when you are going to get thing rolling

jimlab

Many months later...

Yes boys and girls, there may be tubular control arms in your future. We haven't figured out a solutionf or the front upper arm yet, but I believe we've got the lower control arms covered.

As soon as I have the engine cradle or the Cobra cradle out of the way, we'll be building the first set of tubular control arms with replaceable ball joints. The inner bushing sockets will be machined to OEM specs so that stock or aftermarket bushings can be used.

In addition, I'm considering redesigning the front lower control arm bushings as a 3-piece bushing (as opposed to two) with a "grease channel" between the two outer sections to make lubing them easier.

I'll likely be posting pictures in my larger V8 thread, but if anyone is still interested, let me know here. We're looking at a price point of about $375-450 per pair, possibly a little more expensive for lighter chromemoly versions.

rxrotary2_7

interested. please let me know when the time comes.

fd3virgin

p m me also when it's all done ...thanks.

Howard Coleman

iTrader: (6)

fabricated front control arms are on my to-do list but for a different reason...
if you run a 25 inch (at top of wheel well) ride height you are unable to dial out the right amount of negative camber for street settings. i had planned to replace the upper A-arm w a chrome/moly arm that was adjustable as to length. it would also feature a bolt-in Moog ball joint. i planned to do the upper arm because it is unsprung and non-load-bearing. if you do the front end i strongly suggest one of the arms be
length adj.
howard coleman

jimlab

My new engine cradle has a greater range of adjustability (thanks to Ryan) than the stock cradles do, but I'll keep the adjustable upper control arm idea in mind. It could be an adjustable rod-end style design without compromising the quality of the ride because it doesn't share the same loads as the lower arms do.

DomFD3S

Jim, you make it hard for some of us to recover from spending money from the previous group buys (such as the current Race Logic group buy).

Money in,....money out. (I'm going to be poor forever!!!!)

jimlab

Yeah, but think how incredible your car will be to drive!

DomFD3S

That is what I keep telling myself every time I buy more car parts. Unfortunately, my bank account thinks different. hahaha.

travisorus rex

I know you are busy Jim with the cradles but is there any chance that these will be fabricated any time soon?

jimlab

It's been on my list for awhile. Ryan said he can do the lower control arms pretty easily, but the uppers present more of a challenge. I've been trying to finish up some of my current projects before starting any more.

travisorus rex

Well, let me know if and when you get them done. I want a set.

cohbra

iTrader: (13)

Very interested, if I have enough warning, I'll probably get a set.
Brian T.

edit: what I mean by warning is advance notice when they are going to be for sale

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I assume you'll be doing some structural analysis of the tubular design - if so, how?

Mostly curious.

Dave

jimlab

Sure. You're paying for it, right?