Bent/ curved radius arms...

[PlumCrazy]

Look at Josh's build. They put a bend in the arms just after the stock stub. They alsi butt-welded the tubes which seems a bit sketchy to me....

If you want to get real crazy...cut the wedgies of and reweld them at a more aggressive angle inward..

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I would move he wedgies if I could but mine are solid cast. I would lave to put new tubes in then put wedgies on her.
Thanks I 'll look his build up!

 

[PlumCrazy]

I have a bend in mine to fix the caster angle...no issues yet, Im using 2x2 box .25 wall and I plated the bends. No issues and I tend to be hard on things sometimes..

 

[Scrambler82]

What about the James duff Units ?
They are bent but they look rugged.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I'll be using 1 1/2" ID X .25 wall dom. I assume that'll be strong enough. I don't wanna do massive bends just enough to make my Johnny Joints set higher and to keep my tires from rubbing. I was thinking about gusseting the inside of the bends with 1/4" flat steel.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I plated the bends shortly after this...It just kept eating at me and making me nervous without any reinforcement. I have no clue why I didn't do it when I first built them.lol

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Did you weld them your self?

 

[PlumCrazy]

Yep. If its on my truck and not original....then it was done by me.lol

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

What rod or wire did you use? I've heard there's a special rod designed for welding steel to cast iron.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I used regular solid .030" wire with CO2/Argon mix, they welded just fine...I think they are forged? I could be wrong.

 

[Harley]

I'm getting some really good info here...thanks!

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Idk I know the ones I have out of 78 F150's are cast. I assumed they were all cast. Hmm if I can't find a shop to weld them for me I'll have to try that.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Pretty sure they are the exact same arms from 66 through 79, and that they are cast steel same as the D44 pumpkin. If they were cast iron they would snap instead of flexing. Heated with a torch to +/- 400℉, then welded (preferably w/ high-nickel rod with a TIG), then reheated and wrapped to slowly cool it.

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[PlumCrazy]

The hole spacing for the coil seat changed, as well as the shock tab design. My 75 Bronco and 78 150 arms were different in both of those ways. Also the 75 arms had "crisper" edges. Same overall size though.

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[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Pretty sure they are the exact same arms from 66 through 79, and that they are cast steel same as the D44 pumpkin. If they were cast iron they would snap instead of flexing. Heated with a torch to +/- 400℉, then welded (preferably w/ high-nickel rod with a TIG), then reheated and wrapped to slowly cool it.

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I wonder if there's a high nickel arc rod?