OEM boxed upper, lower control arms Watts link

[Bradley G]

I finished the entire set of boxed (welded together) suspension parts.
They are painted gloss black.
I tried to upload photos to the gallery, But, keep getting "No Image to display" message.
I will e-mail them to someone, if you want to see them.
This is my first attempt to box the short upper arms.
I just purchaced the billit aluminum uppers(limo), for the Marauder and they were plug and play.
This is also the(my) first attempt at boxing the Watts link arms.
I am anxious to see/feel how they perform.
With several members upgrading thier suspensions to Metco and Mac & Zacks' offerings, the take off parts are lying around in basements, garages and sheds all over.
Not to trow stones, the OEM bushings are suited for the custom arms, How much stronger could two factory arms welded together be?
Now I have extra bushings, anybody need some, just ask.

[martyo]

Brad:

If you e-mail them to me at martin_ochs@hotmail.com, I will post 'em up for you.

[Bowman9]

Hmmm... I have been thinking about upgrading my backend and didn't even think about "boxing" the stock ones.
Please let us know how they work, I am expecting a full report :)

[Bradley G]

Thanks Marty!
I sent them a few minutes ago.

Brad:

If you e-mail them to me at martin_ochs@hotmail.com, I will post 'em up for you.

[Bradley G]

The boxed ones (lower), are already on the Marauder, along with the billet aluminum Limo uppers.
They are great!
very preditable in the turns.
The second set of lowers I made for the Marquis, along with the first set of boxed uppers.
I was waiting to see if the entire boxed suspension set was wanted for testing against the more popular choices.
The new boxed Watts link arms will go on the Marauder.
This can be a very inexpensive mod, for those who are willing to invest some energy & resources.
I guess the best way to compare any handleing improvement is a skid test

Hmmm... I have been thinking about upgrading my backend and didn't even think about "boxing" the stock ones.
Please let us know how they work, I am expecting a full report :)

[martyo]

Bradley: I didn'y get the e-mail on my end yet, but I will keep an eye and post the pics as soon as I get 'em.

[Bradley G]

I got a message, "File too large"
I got greedy and tried to send eight pics of the parts, in various stages.
I will try again with fewer pics.
Bradley: I didn'y get the e-mail on my end yet, but I will keep an eye and post the pics as soon as I get 'em.

[martyo]

I got a message, "File too large"
I got greedy and tried to send eight pics of the parts, in various stages.
I will try again with fewer pics.

I still didn't get it.

Still didn't get it. You suck at the internet! :D

[Bradley G]

But I'm good at .... Nevermind!:baaa:

[martyo]

Brad:

The pictures you sent me where ENORMOUS!

Mary resized 'em and here they are:

http://www.legalknevil.com/albums/Miscellaneous-Car-Stuff/aep.sized.jpg

http://www.legalknevil.com/albums/Miscellaneous-Car-Stuff/aeq.sized.jpg

[Zack]

http://www.legalknevil.com/albums/Miscellaneous-Car-Stuff/aep.sized.jpg

http://www.legalknevil.com/albums/Miscellaneous-Car-Stuff/aeq.sized.jpg

Brad, your design is really quite ingenuitave and simple. The use of over the counter parts at inexpensive prices is a good thing.
I would imagine the improvement would be just as good as M&Z arms, as well as Metco's.
The only flaw to your design, and the most important one is the fact that the entire bushing is not covered by the control arm surface.
Otherwise, thumbs up from me. :beer:

[Bradley G]

Thanks Marty and Mary!
I was without power for a day and a half.
Yeah Zack,
This was not my idea.
I got it from here.
I also got huge support from our southern contingent.
Marc (Shakes26) donated a whole set of take off parts, that made this possible.Thanks Marc!!!
This Mod, is an alternative for guys with more time than money.
I thought about the bushing only being supported on one side of the arm, I asked my welder guy, if spot welding the bushings to the arm was necessary.
He seemed to think once bolted down there is no where for it to move.


On my way home last night, I took a hard right turn laying into the pedal as I neared half way around.
The Car tracks awsome!
My rear tires are beggin for help!

[SergntMac]

I echo Zack's sentiments, nice job!

Need to know something, Bradley. Once the supply of spare lower arms and Watts links dries up from fellow members, how much is it going to cost someone to buy a complete second set to tack on to stock OEM bits? It's a whole second set of lowers and Watts links, plus two limo upper arms, right? What's that cost?

[Bradley G]

Thanks !
I put them through one more #600 wet sand and the umpteenth coat of rattle can paint.I used Rustoleum Industrial.
The uppers and lowers were less than fifty dollars each (I get a break as a Ford employee).the Watts link assembly was eighty and change.
The limo upper control arm is the way to go IMO.
The reason I chose to box a set of uppers, is they were freebies, and I don't think anyone chose, to take this route.
Obviously more expensive, to purchace both halves, but for daily drivers, not much choice.Unless you can complete the mod in one day.
I purchaced two sets of uppers, one set of lowers one watts link assembly for about two hundred thirty.
paint, sand paper, wire wheel, welding, another sixty.
It would be a little over three hundred in new parts for the entire set.

This is where the recycle of parts becomes so important.
When I get to put control arms on the Marquis , I have promised the take -offs in trade to another member.




I echo Zack's sentiments, nice job!

Need to know something, Bradley. Once the supply of spare lower arms and Watts links dries up from fellow members, how much is it going to cost someone to buy a complete second set to tack on to stock OEM bits? It's a whole second set of lowers and Watts links, plus two limo upper arms, right? What's that cost?

[Bradley G]

I couldn't figure how to link the pics, so I dragged this out of the archives

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Cool deal, I have a Lincoln SP 135+ mig and am planning on doing the same thing. Just gotta find me a set of donor arms...

[Bradley G]

THEY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE, I have bushings to make a set.
I'm working on a set for a local member, the shop that is welding them is being slow.

Cool deal, I have a Lincoln SP 135+ mig and am planning on doing the same thing. Just gotta find me a set of donor arms...

[Brian Humphries]

How 'bout someone post a set of stockers for side by side copmarison.

[fastblackmerc]

Stockers are just half of the control arm that Bradley G made.

[Bradley G]

I don't think I took picks of the raw stockers, Zack posted up pics of a pile of stock arms with the bushings removed.
That reminds me, I need another set of doners.
I have a set of bushings going to waste here.

How 'bout someone post a set of stockers for side by side copmarison.

[MM2004]

Post #1..

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=28904&highlight=control+arm+install

Mike.

[BigCars4Ever]

Or just buy new parts here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-thru-05-Crown-Victoria-Rear-Lower-Control-Arm-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategory Z33583QQihZ024QQitemZ370051140 001QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Yeah those are really cheap for new. You probably couldn't get someone to sell their prized used arms for that little.

[Bradley G]

WITH ONLY TWO sets AVAILABLE, not enough to make a pair , unless you use your own.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

If I didn't have so much going on right now (moving to a new house in a few weeks), I would buy those, since I really don't care about ruining the originality of the car by using my own.

Crap!

[Bradley G]

Thanks Ts-pa for the doner arms!