Welding plates to trailing arms

[MAC71]

I just had my trailing arms sand blasted and was thinking about welding plates on the top and bottom like the C20 arms have, or maybe just welding the to sides together. Any thoughts on what will be best?

[mechanicalman]

Hi, I'm just subscribing I'm interested in the answers.

[watash]

I have never done it, but I have seen kits on the internet. From what I remember the plates were to be welded to the top and bottom.

[Fldawg]

i have a set of c20 arms that i have done this too, where the plating stopped i just welded as far as i could go, when i get home i''l post some pics of the arms

[Tom Vogel]

http://www.earlyclassic.com/catalog.aspx

^^^^^ This is what I used. (scroll to 4th item down)

[67swb72klb]

there should be a few threads on doing that if you do a search
just watch the heat and spread it out or they will be all twisted up

[Voodoo_Child]

I used the CPP plates and welded about 1" welds alternating sides to reduce heat and warping.

sorry for the bad pic but you can see the stich welds. I felt welding the plates fully would have been a real waste of time.

After cost of the plates and shipping, blasting, finishing the welds, POR 15, new bushings, and my time I was getting real close to justify new tubular arms.

If I were to do I again, I would cut my own and go from there or buy new aftermarket ones.

[Voodoo_Child]

Pic

[knuts82]

I just welded the seam top and bottom like this, and installed urethane bushings. They have held up great at 700rwhp.

[FirstOwner69]

Here are pictures of how the factory did it. Picked these up in Phoenix a couple years ago. Zero rust and still shiny where the paint flaked off.

[Fldawg]

here's the pics i promised, and these are factory 3/4 ton arms

[72bowtiestepper]

I welded plates on my 72 C-10 Trailing arms...Being from the Northeast coast, they did have some rust, so I cut out some plates from 1/8" cold roll steel plate & welded them on the top & bottom for piece of mind. Easy job...I had them off to replace the U-bolts & bushings anyway.

[Jurassic-1]

I use 3/4 ton control arms. They are plated already.

[MAC71]

Thank you all for the information and photos. I agree with the comment that if you buy the plates already cut and use that your going to be a lot into the project as far as money.
After reading all this I am leaning towards just welding the two halfs together and then maybe making plates to weld to the area under the axle mount and the spring. Any one have any thoughts on the pros and cons of each? Also what the real and noticeable benefit of having the control arms strengthened would be.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by MAC71

Thank you all for the information and photos. I agree with the comment that if you buy the plates already cut and use that your going to be a lot into the project as far as money.
After reading all this I am leaning towards just welding the two halfs together and then maybe making plates to weld to the area under the axle mount and the spring. Any one have any thoughts on the pros and cons of each? Also what the real and noticeable benefit of having the control arms strengthened would be.

Depends on how much power you are running. With a lot of horsepower the stock arms will deflect and could bend.

So if you are drag racing the truck with 600+HP, you probably need to reinforce.

[MAC71]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

Depends on how much power you are running. With a lot of horsepower the stock arms will deflect and could bend.

So if you are drag racing the truck with 600+HP, you probably need to reinforce.

no more than 400hp

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by MAC71

no more than 400hp

I don't see a need at that point, personally. Welding the gap will make them a lot stronger, so that's all I'd do at that point. Mine are still stock, but I'm a a little under 400 HP and not really abusing the truck.

[MAC71]

So I decided to just weld the two sides together. I am going to stitch weld the bottom and have a continuous bead on tom to try to keep dirt and water out. I am doing short sections at a time so I do not warp them.. Started tonight but ran out of wire for my welder.