ffmeltdown
Donating Member
Will the upper control arm from an 97 AWD GMC Safari van interchange with our trucks? They are tubular in design and may provide proper clearance and weight reduction. Tried searching but didnt come up with much.
upper control arm question
- Thread starter ffmeltdown
- Start date
fivetodrive
CRISPY
Re: upper control arm question
No one has tried yet. I pulled a set and wanted to see if I could get it to align with them but without having a truck that moves makes that impossible... They are very easy to remove and you could get them out of the donor astro and installed on a truck pretty quick. For me the benefit would be the additional clearance allowing for a coilover type spring and the removal of the torrision bar crossmember.
No one has tried yet. I pulled a set and wanted to see if I could get it to align with them but without having a truck that moves makes that impossible... They are very easy to remove and you could get them out of the donor astro and installed on a truck pretty quick. For me the benefit would be the additional clearance allowing for a coilover type spring and the removal of the torrision bar crossmember.
ffmeltdown
Donating Member
Re: upper control arm question
Thats what i was thinking also. I'm really surprised that it hasnt been tried. When i swapped the drive train in my safari i noticed the upper control arms were tubular and took some pictures and measurements. Unfortunately my ty is waiting for me to assemble the motor. I expect to have it ready by Spring realisticly speaking.
How much $ would i be spending if i used these uppers and bought a coilover shock and coil?
Thats what i was thinking also. I'm really surprised that it hasnt been tried. When i swapped the drive train in my safari i noticed the upper control arms were tubular and took some pictures and measurements. Unfortunately my ty is waiting for me to assemble the motor. I expect to have it ready by Spring realisticly speaking.
How much $ would i be spending if i used these uppers and bought a coilover shock and coil?
turbodig
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
Your avatar pic looks like it'd be close... what are the dimensions on it?
Got bigger pics?
Your avatar pic looks like it'd be close... what are the dimensions on it?
Got bigger pics?
ffmeltdown
Donating Member
Re: upper control arm question
I'll email you the pics and maybe you can post them. I do not have the proper skills for that task.
Off topic: Do you have the cam card by chance for that cam i bought a while ago? No biggie if not.
I'll email you the pics and maybe you can post them. I do not have the proper skills for that task.
Off topic: Do you have the cam card by chance for that cam i bought a while ago? No biggie if not.
turbodig
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
Cam card wasn't in the box? I'll send ya the full specs via e-mail.
Send the pics, I'll put 'em up...
I'll email you the pics and maybe you can post them. I do not have the proper skills for that task.
Off topic: Do you have the cam card by chance for that cam i bought a while ago? No biggie if not.
Cam card wasn't in the box? I'll send ya the full specs via e-mail.
Send the pics, I'll put 'em up...
JSM
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
Ok, Fiveo did remove these a arms, I have them at my shop to check compared to stock syty geometry.
From my intitial throw them in my jigs I used to make coilovers they are different. The Bushing spacing is the same, the location of balljoint is different.
I will try to get some better dimensions on how much (will require a bit more than throwing into jigs). So as is I don't see the alignment being possible.
Ok, Fiveo did remove these a arms, I have them at my shop to check compared to stock syty geometry.
From my intitial throw them in my jigs I used to make coilovers they are different. The Bushing spacing is the same, the location of balljoint is different.
I will try to get some better dimensions on how much (will require a bit more than throwing into jigs). So as is I don't see the alignment being possible.
turbodig
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
So, what if you used the astro lowers as well.....?
And follow-up ?... is this gonna make the already sucky ball joint angle better or worse?
So, what if you used the astro lowers as well.....?
And follow-up ?... is this gonna make the already sucky ball joint angle better or worse?
turbodig
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
Pics of the beast in question...
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/97 astro van awd upper control arm.JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/97 astro van awd upper control arm.JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (front 3).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (front 4).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (front).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (rear).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (top 2).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (top).JPG
Pics of the beast in question...
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/97 astro van awd upper control arm.JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/97 astro van awd upper control arm.JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (front 3).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (front 4).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (front).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (rear).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (top 2).JPG
http://digware.lunarpages.com/vanarm/upper right side (top).JPG
warmpancakes
New member
Re: upper control arm question
IIRc the astro is wider up front than out trucks so you would need the axles also and a way to widen the rear
IIRc the astro is wider up front than out trucks so you would need the axles also and a way to widen the rear
JSM
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
Possible, might change the wheel base, or GM had to slide the mounting points on the upper arm forward/back for clearance and adjusted location of upper ball joint to compensate.
Without 2 frames to compare side by side and some extensive measurement equipment I won't know. Unless someone can get access to gm blueprints.
Possible, might change the wheel base, or GM had to slide the mounting points on the upper arm forward/back for clearance and adjusted location of upper ball joint to compensate.
Without 2 frames to compare side by side and some extensive measurement equipment I won't know. Unless someone can get access to gm blueprints.
mattw
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
You guys are being too technical.. Just throw them on a truck and see if it will align.. I'd be willing to try them out as my truck is stripped down ATM and it would be a 10 min job to test fit them..
Here is a really quick/crappy photoshop of the astro arm on top of a stocker.. Looks pretty close to me.
-Matt
You guys are being too technical.. Just throw them on a truck and see if it will align.. I'd be willing to try them out as my truck is stripped down ATM and it would be a 10 min job to test fit them..
Here is a really quick/crappy photoshop of the astro arm on top of a stocker.. Looks pretty close to me.
-Matt
ffmeltdown
Donating Member
Re: upper control arm question
opcorn2:
opcorn2:
fivetodrive
CRISPY
Re: upper control arm question
I could pull another set for you but it would be about $50 just to pull and ship you a set. it would be cheaper to get a set at the local u pull it...
I could pull another set for you but it would be about $50 just to pull and ship you a set. it would be cheaper to get a set at the local u pull it...
JSM
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
I will get a picture tonight if I can. Photoshop does look close, having them in my hand didn't look remotely that close. I will base it on the actual part, sorry Matt.
Wish it worked, hence why I offered to look them over for Fiveo. Could have been a nice/cheap swap.
Not throwing idea away yet, but only about 10% confidence it could be made to work at this point.
I will get a picture tonight if I can. Photoshop does look close, having them in my hand didn't look remotely that close. I will base it on the actual part, sorry Matt.
Wish it worked, hence why I offered to look them over for Fiveo. Could have been a nice/cheap swap.
Not throwing idea away yet, but only about 10% confidence it could be made to work at this point.
mattw
Active member
Re: upper control arm question
Yeah, I need to get to the local you-pull-it yard. Its been a year or so since I've been there.
-Matt
Yeah, I need to get to the local you-pull-it yard. Its been a year or so since I've been there.
-Matt
ffmeltdown
Donating Member
Re: upper control arm question
I think i figure out how to post pics!! :tup:
I think i figure out how to post pics!! :tup:
