Ok - I was supposed to get the project rolling today. I ordered Fatman front tubular lowers - stock replacement. Well, either I'm stupid or these are waaaaaaaaay wrong.

The spring cup on the arms is 6 7/8 inches diameter - and the springs are only 5 inches.

Here are some pictures:

New Vs. Old (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Elusive_R/tempSidebyside.JPG)

Stock Spring Cup (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Elusive_R/tempStockSpringCup.JPG)

New Spring Cup (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Elusive_R/tempNewSpringCup.JPG)

New Spring Cup 2 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Elusive_R/tempNewSpringCup2.JPG)

I also found this gentleman (don't know is he's at this site or not, but likely) who had the Fatman arms, and they are completely different from mine.

Jeff's Fatman Arms (http://www.72chevelle.com/images/fsuspics/pic291.JPG)

The arms I have do not include any way to hold the spring at the proper index. I don't know if Fatman changed their design or what, but I hope someone here can help me if these are in fact the correct arms. There were no spring-specific directions included.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :confused:

Ryan

I have their arms. Mine are like "Jeff's" in the picture. The spring goes on the outside of the ring.

I'd say you have the wrong ones but Fatman doesn't seem to have pictures on their web page anymore.

Tim.

I can't see how the ones you have would work correctly. Give em a call and tell them to send you the correct arms.

http://www.72chevelle.com/jeffk/fatman.jpg

Thanks for your help guys. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something before I called and complained on Monday. Here's hoping they make it right...

Ryan

BTW - Jeff & Tim, nice cars! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Ryan, did you call Fatman about this yet? I'm curious what they said.

Hey Ryan,
Thinking about ordering a set of these myself.
Any word yet?
John C.
Pensacola FL

Yes, I did call them and they told me they must have forgotten to include the rubber ring that sits in the spring pocket. Apparently, they've changed their design. I think the ring is supposed to look like the Global West 'rotating spring cup.' I'm still not sure if this will work, but I'll let you guys know as soon as the rings get here!

Ryan

Is there anyone out there that sells new stock lower control arms? I don't really want to scour the junkyard trying to find arms that are not cracked.

I bought hotchkis upper control arms with 1" lowering springs and B Body spindles. What are my options of brands to use for lower tubular control arms?

Thanks

Guitarca,

Your only options are Fatman and Global West. I don't know of any places that sell new stock arms, but I believe there are a few that sell reconditioned arms (non-tubular).

Ryan

Guitarca18, I just bought a used lower right side last Saturday from True Connections in Riverside Calif. $75. This company scours wrecking years for Chevelle parts as do others around the country. You might try calling various Chevelle stores.

Guitarca18,

I have a stock set off my 1969 Chevelle that I would be willing to sell. They have been powder coated satin black. There are no bushings or snubbers currently installed. I ended up using Global West tubular lowers.

Let me know if your interested. E-mail me if you would like them.

Bill

mind if I ask how much the fatman arms run?

Fig,

The Fatman lowers are $425 with ball joints and bushings. I ordered mine without either since I already had the ball joints (B-body spindle swap) and poly bushings and they charged me $400.

Still waiting for the rings.....

Ryan

1969: You bought tubular lowers what did you end up using for uppers? Also Global West? I'm wondering if i should just go for the tubular lowers made by global west and use hotchkis uppers that I already have.

G18,

I ended up using Global West uppers. I used a tall spindle off a 1997 Firebird. If you decide to go with lowers from Global West let me know and I might be able to get you a slight discount.

Bill

Ok, update:

I'll try to keep this from going into vendor bashing, but this whole experience has been a nightmare. I finally got the rubber spring cup, and it is very similar to the Global West design. However, in my attempt to install the ball joints, I discovered that the ball joint hole in the control arm is (on both arms) somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.997 inches. The stock arm holes are approximately 2.008 inches. The ball joint is 2.010 OD (correct) = too tight to press in. I tried using a brake hone and managed to get one arm up to 1.995, but still no go. I even tried one of my old ball joints and it will press in like butter into the old arm, but won't go into the new one. It's now been a month since I ordered the arms and I still can't use them. :mad:

I'll report again on Monday and hopefully Fatman will make this right.

Ryan

Any news Ryan?

John C.

Well, I called Fatman on Monday and they told me that I must have the wrong ball joints :rolleyes:

They told me I could send the arms back and they'd be happy to put the ball joints in for me, but I can't wait that long. My arms are now at a machine shop. The guy there told me that a 15 thousandth press fit is way too tight and that you can't make them fit at that gap. So, he's probably going to end up boring out the ball joint holes in the arms to get them to a 4 or 5 thousandth press. They're supposed to be done tomorrow, so I'm crossing my fingers!

Ryan

Originally posted by 1969sleeper:
I used a tall spindle off a 1997 Firebird.That would be quite the trick suspension. The 4th gen F-body spindles are really tall. I think it either was an older Firebird or another car you got the spindles off of.

Peter

I am be wrong, but wouldnt it be safe to turn the ball joint down on the OD instead of takeing some off of the control arm? You may lose some of the strengh in the arm itself.

Originally posted by shaggon wagon:
I am be wrong, but wouldnt it be safe to turn the ball joint down on the OD instead of takeing some off of the control arm? You may lose some of the strengh in the arm itself. True, but I think the manufacturer needs to get Ryan a correct dimensioned lower control arm. No need to custom make parts when someone else screwed up.

I'm hoping they come through for you Ryan.

Otherwise you might just be p.o.'ed enough to design your own, market them and take over their market share ;)

Joe

Originally posted by 72SSAbody:

I'm hoping they come through for you Ryan.

Otherwise you might just be p.o.'ed enough to design your own, market them and take over their market share ;)

Joe Joe, I wish I could say they came through for me, but nothing yet. I am going to try calling them Monday and I will send a letter if I have to. Otherwise, I'm going into the control arm business smile.gif

I ended up paying the machine shop $75 total to bore out the ball joint holes in each arm. Not too bad, but still unnecessary. But the good news is that chassis is rolling!

There is a big picture here (http://members.cox.net/elcaminoguy/current2_large.htm) and some others here (http://members.cox.net/elcaminoguy/suspension.htm) . I apologize if the webpage isn't formatte very well, but it's late and well, there's beer involved.

Hope you all enjoy! I will have more pictures in a day or so along with a parts list, etc.

Ryan

Originally posted by Elusive_R:
there's beer involved.

Ryan For without beer, things don't seem to go as well.

Joe

I called Fatman again today, and after some discussion that borderlined arguing, Brent, who is the owner, said he would send me $50 as a good will offering. I accepted, as I didn't want to make a bigger deal out of it than it already was.

I am very pleased with the arms - they look awesome and seem to be very strong. I was displeased with all the extra waiting and the extra work I had to have done to get them right, but it's almost the norm with anything aftermarket anymore. If anyone reading this decides to purchase these arms, make sure to ask about the ball joint size. I have a feeling that Fatman is selling the arms with a wrong ball joint that has the same taper as a Chevelle ball joint and calling them stock. Either that or they are very confused on their dimensions graemlins/clonk.gif

Now I just have to get the engine in, put the body back on the car, get everything wired, run brake lines, ...............................

Ryan

Good luck Ryan.

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

I'll keep them in mind if I ever want to run tubular control arms.

Joe