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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 93
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$150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
built my new trailing arms.... i couldnt afford to spend $600 plus truck freight to get new trailing arms the same as the old ones that rusted out.... my approximate total cost for the project was about $150, $90 in steel, $30 in u-bolts, $20 for new bushings, $10 misc bolts.
holes were drilled with a bridgeport and a hole saw, the box was cut with a hack saw after careful measurments were taken. welded in DOM tubing in the front and rear holes. the front dom started as 3/8 wall thickness before it was lathed out in the center for the bushing, same tube different size and thickness in the rear for the u-bolt.... my measurements on the u-bolt were too close and i had to take it to a machine shop at that point and have the holes slightly enlarged. end caps were welded on and stiffeners around the bend... material list as follows 2x3x3/16 box steel approx 6 feet long (i think) 10 feet of 1/8thx 3" wide for the boxing and the end caps 3/4 inside dia DOM tubing for the ubolts and thick wall DOM for the front pivot. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Centennial, CO
Posts: 2,954
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
There's nothing you can't do with a welder and some ambition! Those will last forever and are stronger than the originals. You just need e-brake cable mounting tabs now. Nice work.
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ClusterTruck: 68 C10 Bought in 89, wrecked in 03. Slow low $ rebuild started '17. 6.0 & TKO http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=788602 93 K1500 Short Step, 350, NV4500, EBL flash ECU. Vortec heads & roller cam someday... 05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. 3” lift & 6-speed 02 E320 the insurance total “free car” 13 Tahoe LTZ |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 93
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
yea the ebrake tabs are my next endeavor.... these things make my truck feel tight in the tail end and loose out front.... i think i need to invest in a balljoint set out front and some new panhard bushings... possibly a rear sway bar.
you can also see in the last pic part of my new exhaust consisting of long tube headers, cutouts, h-pipe, and spintechs |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Colorado
Posts: 412
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Successfully completing fab work like that is awesome. Especially when you save $$$. Nice job.
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 93
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
wow.... im surprised there is no interest or questions on these....
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#6 |
Insert Title Here
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Dyer, Indiana
Posts: 5,679
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
awesome work, good job........... do you have any pics of your exhaust set up? thats next on my list
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BOBBY _69 SWB_ 1000 pics of 67-72's>> http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-72/?start=all << |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,534
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Awesome work...really beefy campared to the originals and the price is right. Please post some more pics of your exhaust system and tell us how you like your spintech's. I want a pair for the GMC. Thanks
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'72 GMC SWB C1500 Custom, frame-off in progress. 383 SBC, 9:1CR, Comp Cams XE262H, Scat internal balanced crank, Eagle SIR 6" rods, Keith Black dish pistons, Dart Iron Eagle 72/180 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, Stewart stage I water pump, Holley 4bbl vac sec, TH350 with B&M Shift Improver Kit. 12 bolt positraction. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#8 | |
Rolled on Paint Club
![]() Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Windham, CT.
Posts: 232
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Quote:
That is probably because most guys here are in the south and havent seen many arms that were so rotted that they were not useable ![]() Those look great. I have thought of doing that about a week ago because I found that my arms were rotted to the point that I could see through the sides of them! I'll post about that in another thread. Bob
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1970 GMC 1500 swb fleetside SB 355ci. Smog heads Summit 1102 cam Performer intake and carb. Finally in about 1 piece in the yard. |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 93
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Quote:
my exhaust is the hooker headers (the cheap black painted models) into a 2.5" S-bend (hooker or hedmann i cant remember which) to go under the trans crossmember. (only place it would fit without major mods due to the headers) into the flowtech cutouts and the summit brand H-pipe kit, back to the spintechs and out in front of the rear wheels... very easy on each side there are only 2 bends that i needed to make and they were out of the spintechs to the outlet. all exhaust is under the frame but very flat, i wanted to do better then that but on a limited budget and no access to a good bending machine its the best i could do. the spintechs sound great and very unique compared to other choices out there. |
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#10 |
Global warming is a myth
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Henderson, NV
Posts: 208
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Note: this is not an attempt to buy or sell anything in this post, just a suggestion to the original poster.
OK, so set-up a jig & start building these for other people to buy. You could sell them for 400.00 a set as a "performance bolt-on upgrade", & they would fly out of your door. Again, this is not an attempt to buy or sell on this board, just a suggestion. Later, Buddy
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Henderson, NV 1972 K5 - Lifelong project - Needs Time, Place, Help & Parts!! 1990 K5 with 37's 2003 Discovery SE7 - Wife's |
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#11 |
PROJECT 7DEUCE
![]() Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: GRANTS PASS OR
Posts: 21,608
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Nice set-up and on the cheap too.. Great job...
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GO BIG GREEN ![]() MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P.. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 93
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
yes ive thought about marketing a kit, unfortunately right now i dont have the time. if i were to do this i would need a big drill press or mill and a lathe for the dom... but im sure it would eventually be worth it. ill consider doing it sometime in the near future when i have the bucks to back it up.
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#13 |
Have A Nice Day!
Join Date: May 2003
Location: California
Posts: 356
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
I did a web search for a neighbor on trailing arms for his 65 and saw these on ece's site. Not 600.00 but look way better than stock.
![]() ![]() http://www.earlyclassic.com 70 CST 4X4
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1970 CST K10 350/350/205
Short Bed - Fleetside Tach-Tilt-A/C-Tow Hooks Front & Rear Disc Brakes Front & Rear Posi 3.73 Gears 30 Gallon Stainless Fuel Tank SOLD 01/18 !!!!! 2007 2500 HD Classic Crew Cab LT2 4X4 Duramax LBZ ![]() ![]() |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Central Cal
Posts: 124
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Hey guys, haven't been logged in for a while, but I was looking at the board and ran across this thread and noticed you guys where talking about trailing arms. Well I happened to be at ece, lucky enough to be close to there shop, and noticed that they have a set of new trailing arms on there show room floor. Really well made, like all there other products. Anyway if you wanted to spend a little extra money for a well made product, this would be it. Also I'm not knocking what 72_Chevy_Truck did. I think thats great! I wish I had the time and equipment to build a set my self. Remember this is for people that don't have the time to do that and want a bolt in product. Anyway, this is a great thread, and don't stop building custom parts for yourself, if you got do it.
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69 Chevy Truck, 350, 400trans, Lowered 3.5/6, Disc brake conv, All early classic stuff. 62 Chevy Nova 350, 700R4, 2400stall, F9in, 3.70gear, AlburnPosi, Chevelle Disc Brakes, ect. |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 17
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Man Those Look Killer, Thanks For The Idea, Btw, What Is Dom Tubing?
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#16 |
Insert Title Here
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Dyer, Indiana
Posts: 5,679
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
Definitions of DOM tubing on the Web Dictionary:
Drawn Over Mandrel. Formed from strips and electric-resistance welded, then cold drawn to size. The cold drawing process causes the weld line to virtually disappear and gives the tubing it strength by cold working and allows consistent dimensions and tolerance. The carbon content also gives DOM (1020 or 1026) better mechanical properties than regular ERW tubing.
__________________
BOBBY _69 SWB_ 1000 pics of 67-72's>> http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-72/?start=all << |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 17
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
thanks 1lo. man i clicked on your avatar and that is one nice truck you have there
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#18 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,499
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Re: $150 new trailing arms.... forget ece and lmc
And I thought I was cool when I welded up the seams on my stock arms!
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Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! |
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