I have found myself a set of the aluminum control arms and am looking into modding to fit. I swear I read somewhere they had to be welded up a special way? Or can I take it to any fab shop/aluminum welder and have them done? I have a aluminum spool gun at my parents...can I just use that?
Then going from misblu's how to the balljoint holes have to be moved back approx 1/2"?
Being that this is a steering and control related item I wanna make sure im 100% right on this. Dont want any failures.
Yes. No welding as far as I know. Just need the balljoint mounts machined back and re-drilled.
Tinkles knows more about this
factory holes need to be filled first afaik... then the holes can be redrilled
strat81 wrote:factory holes need to be filled first afaik... then the holes can be redrilled
Yes I understand the process but I swear I read on here it had to be welded a specific way or with a specific type of aluminum. (sorry not overly versed on aluminum welding) But I think they said something about using a tig and a specific filler rod. I just happen to have use of a spool gun for aluminum though and wanted to see if I could use that or get the knowledge so I can tell the machine shop what to use.
don't try and weld it yourself with a spool gun.. odds of @!#$ it up are high. Just take it somewhere to get welded. They should be able to find out the type of aluminum it is to get the correct filler rods
I think with the welding, It is just for filling the original holes in the arm..Not positive though..
you need to weld the holes shut because the new holes take up a bit of the space they take up.
any professional welding shop will no exactly what to do and with what to use.
180hp in 1989 or 145hp in 2002, you decide. >
z yaaaa wrote:you need to weld the holes shut because the new holes take up a bit of the space they take up.
any professional welding shop will no exactly what to do and with what to use.
Ok I guess you guys are not understanding my question.
I fully understand WHY the holes need to be filled but am more concerned about the correct filler rod since to my knowing it matters. I know a competent shop SHOULD know, but lets say they are monkeys and can weld like the dickens, but cant think for themselves lol. Id like to be able to inform the welders of the correct rod so that it gets done right. If it doesnt matter GREAT! But if it does then id like to know as much info as I can when I go to them for it.
Unless of course someone wants to send me a set modded and i can send my unmodded arms back to them and pay whatever price is necessary.
ok then i would say call around to a few welding shops and ask their opinions.
Oldsmobile all motor > Saab/Opel boosted
Mike wrote:Tinkles knows more about this
I know what has to be done, but not how. That is up to the machine shop. FYI - Not every machine shop will be willing, I talked to a local shop and he refused due to the liability of welding them up.
Boost > N/A
180hp in 1989 or 260hp in 2008, you decide. Quad < Ecotec
