I am doing a frame off resto on a small block/auto/posi 1970 malibu. I am replacing my bushings with MOOG stuff and I am planning to have about 290hp and 400lb of torque at the wheels. Will i have good traction with just boxing my lower arms, having sticky street tires and lowering it?. or Do you suggest i buy lift bars? I was thinkig of just boxing them in, but i wanted some reassurance

PS this will be a daily driver

I never tried boxed arms, but I can tell you I really like my lift bars!

My car doesn't hook at all, but it launches very straight and corners much better than it did with the stock arms. I also have NO WHEELHOP smile.gif

i have the ssm lift bars and agree 100% with Derek.

but, do you absolutely need them??? no, and you will come out cheaper just boxing the stock arms.

i will admit though it is easier to install the lift bars than it is to clean and box the original arms. this may be a deciding factor on what you decide to do, it was for me.

I too run the SSM liftbars,my car hooks pretty good,last time out on drag radials it was gettin air under both front tires with 1.67 60ft times.

Can someone please explain what "boxing" the arms means?

"boxed" arms came with the optional F-40 and F-41 performance suspension packages.

The lower rear control arms are like an open "C" channel, open on the bottom. "Boxed" arms have a plate welded in to make it like a square tube rather than an open "C". The boxed arms do not flex under accelleration like the "C"s do, so there is less chance of wheel-hop, and a more sturdy suspension.

Only the F-40 and F-41 equipped cars had the boxed arms, but it is common to weld in a plate to box the standard arms.

Thank you Derek

Originally posted by bri2203:
I am planning to have about 290hp and 400lb of torque at the wheels. Will i have good traction with just boxing my lower arms, having sticky street tires and lowering it?. or Do you suggest i buy lift bars? I was thinkig of just boxing them in, but i wanted some reassurance

PS this will be a daily driver My 70 SS454 has the stock F41 rear suspenion w/new rubber bushings..my stock F41 rear suspension has given a best 60 ft. of 1.83 w/2.56's and I'm sure my 454 makes more than 290 HP/400 ft/lbs. of torque at the rear wheels smile.gif
Just buy the weld in inserts,the GM rear sway bar,and the extra bars that run from the lowers up to the uppers.If you want to see the a stock,F41 "launch",click on my profile smile.gif

mr 4 speed
what are the extra bars that run from the lowers up to the uppers?

right now i am thinking i will get lift bars because they handle better(don't need to buy a $70 sway bar), get better taction and they bolt right up.