411 on Global West Del Alum front bushings

I would like some feedback on front control arm bushing upgrades.

I am considering the Global West pieces for upper and lower to free up movement over stock replacement bushings that were in the arms when I got the chasis. Likely low miles on the current bushings and shafts but they are aftermarket stock bushings and shafts.

This one says if using stock control arm shafts use kit 1030.https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/gls-1012/overview

The Global west shafts choices are offset $75/ea https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/gls-702/overview/
or >??? $63 /ea https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/gls-709/overview/

this is kit 1030 and "applications" don't inlcude GM A Body..... https://proshop.summitracing.com/parts/gls-1030/overview/

So if my "stock" shafts are good and less than 1500 miles on them, why spend the extra on the optional shafts and just not upgrade using the 1030 kit? It appears there is adjustabilty [tuning] capable with the offfset shafts?


Cheers!

MarkO

 

The offset bars allow for more positive caster allowing for less rolling resistance. The upper arms aren't that bad for the whole assembly, I got the lowers and uppers for $880. For the work involved, time and the loss of perfectly good stock arms I went with the new arms, not the most economical route but when I weighed the above that's the way I went,...and I remembered I'm lazy and have no time so it was easier ha

 

Ethan is correct. The offset shafts allow for more positive caster. I was able to get 4* into mine with the off set shafts. Plus you can pick up the front of the car like this, by hand with the del-a-lum bushings:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEuch0sNtzX/?taken-by=buick4speed

 

Thanks fellas. I'm Going to swap to 6cyl springs and the GW bushing setup over the winter.

 

Ethan, I presume delrin bushings over poly, but if the arm swap is being contemplated here, did you go with the TLC Drag series? Steel or Chrome Moly?

Looks like Gplus allows front front sway bar use and TLC does not?

I run QA1 adjustable shocks and in the stock arms (which I had to clearance the shock opening in the lowers for the larger diameter shock to fit in) accessing the adjuster dial is a bit of a task. From the photos on Summit, it looks like the lowers have that rubber spring collar which look to maybe challenge that adjuster knob access...any experience there?

 

Yep TLC drag series, not as heavy as the "Touring" arms but heavier than the typical drag arms IE good for Street driving in our big sleds, delrin bushings and yea mine have the isolator and getting to the knobs aren't terrible but not exactly easy either, I'm running conventional style spring. Not a huge weight savings but the convenience was worth it IMO as well as the getting the better geometry and hell they look cool

 

No front sway bar; how much street driving do you do?

 

Pretty much all I do is Street drive

 

I have a spool , manual steer, manual brakes, no sway bar, and heim joint suspension in the rear, my car feels fine driving around at the speed limit, I wouldn't try to take an off ramp at 50mph but otherwise it's all good

 

Right! I'll opt for the lowers that allow for front sway bar and just pull it off at the track.

What's the benefit of the spring cushion?

 

You won't need the front sway bar with the HR bar installed.

I don't have one installed and you cannot tell.


You might also want to keep an eye on the welds at the rear crossmember. Here is mine after 100 or so passes.

 

Nicely Done !!

 

Thanks Paul, the welds at the cross member were the first place I looked when I started noticing that BANG at shifts....didn't see any cracks but I will submit to my OCD and go check again..