Radius Arm Drop/Extension Project

[boots]

My 67's caster is off due to 4" lift coils in the front, so im extending my radius arms, and dropping them. The reason im extending them is because I will get more flex that way, and more important, dropping my radius arm brackets farther back on the frame will be easier. I pretty much have my whole front end apart, and tomorrow im picking up steel to drop the arms. i got my arm extensions from bent-and-twisted, they overlap your old arm, then you weld it. They extend your arms 10.5"... Here is a pic of the arms.


and a picture of a arm on a Bronco, not my truck


and here is my very rough sketch of an idea on how Im going to drop the brackets.


Ill update tomorrow as I get the metal and start welding

[heep70]

Aren't the radius arms forged? You going to heat them up before you weld them?

[4x4_Welder]

Preheat to 150º minimum, 300º maximum interpass, and use 8018 or 80s filler material. The arms are a high chrome alloy, and if you use 7018/70s or 60 series rods, there is a very good chance the welds will fail. 8018 rods and 80s wire, as well as temp sticks are available at most weld shops.
Please don't try to do this with a 110 mig, use stick or tig.

[heep70]

The radius arms in the pic look like the stamped steel ones on the later models.

Here is a link on the stamped radius arms. http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... adius+arms

The stamped ones would be the way to go.

[boots]

Preheat to 150º minimum, 300º maximum interpass, and use 8018 or 80s filler material. The arms are a high chrome alloy, and if you use 7018/70s or 60 series rods, there is a very good chance the welds will fail. 8018 rods and 80s wire, as well as temp sticks are available at most weld shops.
Please don't try to do this with a 110 mig, use stick or tig.

Im probably going to be taking it to a shop to get it welded, not sure yet, dont matter right now, I have a long ways to go, welding the extension on is the last thing im goint to do.

[Heavenlyfire]

Looks like it might be a great idea boots. Very nice job.

[boots]

thanks, John

Well I picked up the steel today, but alot later than I planned! It got late so quick I didn't get a chance to weld at all, but I did start laying out everything on my steel plate. Im just trying to get everything perfect, so I don't have to change anything huge after I cut. Well, I didn't just sit there all day today, when I got back from school, I jumped into the garage to get the stock brackets off, I grinded down all the rivets, and could not get any punched out at all. I used a good punch, and a heavy sledge. After trying that I drilled a 3/16" hole through one of the rivets, tried to pound it out, and still nothing. So tomorrow Im going to have to get my oxygen tank filled up so I can get the torch going and get these brackets off. Ill get some pics tommorow.

[flyboy2610]

Those rivets are swaged into the frame and it takes some wompin' to get them out. I had to remove the cab mount brackets on mine, so I know what you mean.
It gets dark here by 5:30-5:45, so it's probably gettinmg dark there by about 5:00-5:15, I umagine.

[boots]

Well today I made the 2 brackets for the arms, that bolt to the stock bracket. I made it out of 2 1/2" square tube - 1/4" steel, and they are 6" long. I will cover the ends of the square tube up and weld the top 2 edges to the frame.

My dad just filled the torches up so tomorrow I will get out there and get the stock brackets off.

Here are pics..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/ ... 140018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/ ... 140019.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/ ... 140022.jpg

sorry for big pics, not 56k friendly!

and a new picture of what it will look like. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/ ... usarm1.jpg

[460 crew]

hey Boots you think these might work for you? http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-235 ... ackets&sy=

[boots]

I was looking at thoes but they could not tell me for sure if they would fit my 67. So im just using the stock bracket and dropping it. I may look into thoes brackets later on though.

[mrung0wa]

Good luck my brother
It looks like your latest project will be another guinea pig success!

Thanks for "runnin' point" for all US Brothers that want to lift our trucks the right way but don't want or can't spend a lot of money.

I sure do love this place!!!

Lawrence

[boots]

I got one of the stock brackets off finnaly. I needed alot of heat, and a big hammer. and it fits perfect with the drop bracket! I could not ask for a better fit.

[mrung0wa]

AWESOME PHOTOS!

YOU DA MAN!!!

Lawrence

[Heavenlyfire]

Looking good buddy.