Hey all.

I've spent all my pitiful funds on buying my base car, a '70 Malibu. I'm slowly building up a few more funds (currently have enough for one fender extension! It needs both.) So I'm doing a lot of thinking and speculating right now while I can't actually do anything.

Here's my thought: I'd like to put a truckarm suspension (like Hotrods to Hell sells) in the back eventually. There's no way on earth I could afford one. The design for the suspension setup seems stupidly simple. It seems to me like it would be relatively simple (simple is never to be confused with easy) to home-brew such a setup if you got the correct measurements and did your math right.

Is there any reason why a good weldor and a good mechanic could not put this system together for a Chevelle? I mean, if HRTH can do it, why shouldn't I be able to (assuming requisite skills with welding and mechanicing)?

And should I attempt this, is there any reason why I couldn't modify a set of truckarms off of a pickup for the job? I keep gazing longingly at the rear suspension of the '60s and '70s pickups running around.

If the arms are completely fabricated from scratch, would mild steel be strong enough to handle 500+ horses (hey, I can dream, right? ;), or would i need to move to an alloy steel like 4140?

Anyone ever give homebrewing such a system any thought? It seems a lot simpler than a 4-link.

I was just thinking the same thing the other day. I used to have a '66 Chevy truck. I think the arms are a bit long for a Chevelle. I've seen on TV how they fab truck arms for NASCAR. They just take 2x4 box tube and slice it down the middle, switch sides and TIG it down the middle to make an "I" It would be fabbing the mounting points on either end that would be a little difficult. If you had the time and ambition, I suppose you could do it. I'm still kicking the idea around. It's on the "Someday" list :rolleyes:

Jeff

how about just ordering a set of "replacement" truckarms from one of the suppliers that eh Winston Cup teams use? i read somewhere that they get them from the same place, it's just a matter of findig out where. maybe that place that sells used Winston Cup parts could get you some, or point you in the right direction? too bad i forgot what that place is called..

Muscle Parts (http://www.musclemotorparts.com/) sells used WC parts. I checked with them about 10 months ago and they said $90 for a set of truckarms.