I just took the front control arms off of my bird and was thinking about boxing them with some 16 gage sheetmetal before pressing in the poly bushings. This should only add about a pound per arm and may stiffen the control arms up. What do you guys thing, good idea or bad idea? Has anyone done this? Thanks

 

I haven't done it, but was considering doing it a while back.If you can weld, I think it's a good alternative to buying aftermarket arms.After boxing and installing stiffer bushings (polyurethane) they should work as well as most of the aftermarket LCA's.(not as good as spherical-bearing units).
I think Chassis Engineering used to make a LCA boxing kit that included die-cut pre-bent steel plates requiring minimal prep work.
Lakewood square-steel LCA's are only $84 a pair,so I ended up buying them instead.
-Rich-

 

He is asking about the front control arms.As far as the fronts go,I don't think you will see or notice any gains by doing this,I left mine alone when I did all my suspension work,pretty strong from the factory.But hell if you got them off and it will make you feel better,I say go for it.

------------------
1982 Z28:355,4 Speed,Lots of bolt ons

 

Oops...my bad.
No I agree ,boxing those might not make any difference, but it couldn't hurt.Good bushings are probably the best thing you can do for them.
I prefer the Global West Del-A-lum bushings over polyurethane, though.
-Rich-