Thanks guys!
'01 Bullitt 4v 5.3 Big Bore Stroker/T56 Build Thread
- Thread starter ninety5fiveoh
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UPDATE:
More bracket woes. I installed one of the MM a-arms on on the drivers side, and mocked up the spindle with the bracket I designed. Based on the mockup on my buddy's car with Team Z a-arms, I thought this would be in the ballpark and I would only have to machined off about 3/16-1/4 inch of the bracket. Mocking these up with the MM arms said otherwise...
This is with the wheels pointing straight:
Not bad, only needs about 1/8" of machining for the bracket to clear. Then I turned the wheels to the drivers side, full lock, so the bracket would move towards the back of the a-arm...
Doing this showed me I needed 7/8" machined off for the bracket to clear. Doing a little more measuring showed i could probably machine about .675" off the bracket, and relief the back of the bracket where the tube on the a-arm is, and it would work.
Welp, just quite not enough. So I did what I should have done in the first place and sold the MM arms and ordered the Team Z arms. I will be beefing them up with a cross bar and some gussets once I've fully mocked everything up, but at least I know Justin has mocked these up on his car with those arms and they worked.
Live and learn I guess, hopefully I'll have some updates this weekend.
More bracket woes. I installed one of the MM a-arms on on the drivers side, and mocked up the spindle with the bracket I designed. Based on the mockup on my buddy's car with Team Z a-arms, I thought this would be in the ballpark and I would only have to machined off about 3/16-1/4 inch of the bracket. Mocking these up with the MM arms said otherwise...
This is with the wheels pointing straight:
Not bad, only needs about 1/8" of machining for the bracket to clear. Then I turned the wheels to the drivers side, full lock, so the bracket would move towards the back of the a-arm...
Doing this showed me I needed 7/8" machined off for the bracket to clear. Doing a little more measuring showed i could probably machine about .675" off the bracket, and relief the back of the bracket where the tube on the a-arm is, and it would work.
Welp, just quite not enough. So I did what I should have done in the first place and sold the MM arms and ordered the Team Z arms. I will be beefing them up with a cross bar and some gussets once I've fully mocked everything up, but at least I know Justin has mocked these up on his car with those arms and they worked.
Live and learn I guess, hopefully I'll have some updates this weekend.
I'd rather see these brackets tailor fit to MM arms than to be swapped out for team Z arms. MM's tubular products have always given me more of a sense of "these were designed to be a weight savings over stock, while not compromising any strength or rigidity", whereas UPR, team Z, etc, has always been more of "how can we hold the front of the car up with as little metal as possible" Not knocking any company, all of their products are fantastic, I've just always seen MM as being the beefier product, catering to more than just straight line racing. I believe you made the right choice keeping the MM arms, and I can't wait to see these brakes behind the wheels for good.
Maybe you misread a bit, but I sold the MM arms, and purchased the Team Z arms. I share the same sentiment with MM's products, and I have many of them on my car, which is why I took a shot in the dark and tried their arms first.
Althought Team Z's products are indeed more drag race oriented, they are still excellent quality. They do offer an autocross arm for over $100 more, but I can achieve that strength myself. My plan is to weld a straight bar across the arm in the same fashion as the MM arms, and I will gusset both that cross tube, as well as the tubes that hold the bushings. There is no doubt in my mind these will be plenty strong when I'm finished with them! Stay tuned!
I see! Yep, totally misread that. Nothing wrong with going with what works! Looking forward to seeing what you do with the arms and the final fitment of the brakes. I was excited for the alcons, so this is going to be insane lol.
Thanks man, I appreciate it. Hopefully the rest of the project will go smoothly and I'll have some pics this weekend! Fingers crossed the a-arms come in tomorrow.
Hoping the team Z stuff works out well for you. I'm also anxiously awaiting fully installed pics 
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Hoping the team Z stuff works out well for you. I'm also anxiously awaiting fully installed pics
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Thanks man! I just got off the phone with Team Z, unfortunately I won't be getting the arms until Monday now, so this weekend is wasted. Guess I'll work on some other projects I had going...
Parts are starting to come in, finally!
These Team Z chromoly a-arms fit the ticket for my clearance needs, and I will be beefing them up a bit once final mockup is complete. Stay tuned for progress through the week.
These Team Z chromoly a-arms fit the ticket for my clearance needs, and I will be beefing them up a bit once final mockup is complete. Stay tuned for progress through the week.
UPDATE: They fit! I bolted up the Team Z arms, and there is miles more clearance than the MM arms. Here's everything mocked up on the a-arms:
And the clearance from the bolt to the a-arm at full lock:
AND the money shot
Then I tore it all down, so I can begin my strengthening process on the a-arms:
I started to notch the tubing for the cross bars, and the junk Harbor Freight notcher I borrowed from a buddy didn't work for the angle I needed. I ordered a new Woodward Fab notcher from Summit last night, so hopefully later in the week/weekend I can get moving on the rest of the fab work so I can start final assembly.
And the clearance from the bolt to the a-arm at full lock:
AND the money shot
Then I tore it all down, so I can begin my strengthening process on the a-arms:
I started to notch the tubing for the cross bars, and the junk Harbor Freight notcher I borrowed from a buddy didn't work for the angle I needed. I ordered a new Woodward Fab notcher from Summit last night, so hopefully later in the week/weekend I can get moving on the rest of the fab work so I can start final assembly.
Yaaassss!!! They look great on the car!
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That looks fantastic.
Thanks!
Man Mike, your a modern day hot rodder! Salute.
Thanks man!
UPDATE: My new Woodward Fab tubing notcher showed up from Summit today, so hopefully I can get the arms done tonight and painted tomorrow.
Ohhhh that's nice.Thanks man!
UPDATE: My new Woodward Fab tubing notcher showed up from Summit today, so hopefully I can get the arms done tonight and painted tomorrow.
Can't wait for updates. Been following this build on instagram for years. Really love the attention to detail that has gone into it. Good work!
Thanks man, I appreciate it!
UPDATE: A-arms are done, finally.
I started by pouring a nice glass of my favorite rum (Diplomatico Reserva for those who give a shit), and started notching tube with my new toy:
Then I got everything clamped together and the ends secured with all-thread and fender washers to prevent warping:
First arm welded:
Both arms done:
And another glass of rum because I like rum...
Then this morning I painted what I had welded. I bought some Rustoleum hammered silver paint in hopes it would match decently, but instead decided trying to create my own "silver vein" with paint. I used satin black engine enamel as a base coat, and floated the hammered silver on top. Not bad!
Black base applied:
Sprayout with the silver:
Completed!
Hopefully this weekend I'll have everything together and ready to roll!
Coming out great!
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