Is it worth boxing the stock LCA's? I am about to get stuck between a rock and a hard place because my IROC is coming out of the paint shop($2000) The RS is getting a 350Vortec to replace the now dead LO3($800) We are putting SFC's, Leather seats and carpet in the IROC(another $1500) and I wont be spending to much money on the RS.

 

I'd do it if I were you. Anything is better than whats under the car now.

 

If you're on a tight budget and can't afford new LCA's, then boxing your stock ones is the way to go. Add some poly bushings and you'll definitely see an improvement.

You might also try SLP. They were selling boxed factory LCA's and Panhard bars w/poly bushings for around $120 for the whole package.

 

That's a good tip BretD. I spent more than that on a Spohn adj. panard. Had I known... If on a budget I'd box the fact units. Come to think of it, I've seen some kits for just that lately.

 

I had the SLP boxed control arms. Junk. Pay a welder to box your stock units in. Then get some good poly bushings. You'll have the same thing as the SLP units only cheaper and probably get better bushings. My SLP bushings were loose as heck. I now have MAC greasable LCA's. Very nice pieces.

 

Considering that a set of Lakewood ones made out of square tubing and with the poly bushings already included only cost $80... there's really not much point in fiddling around with the stock garbage at all.

 

What's interesting is that my stock LCAs were "boxed" from the factory. They had a small metal piece "bolted" in to the bottom of the LCA. My guess is that they did this on cars without a rear swaybar.

 

how do you "box" your lca just take box tubing and weld them to the stock round ones????

 

SF,

The stock LCA's have a "U" shaped cross-section. "Boxing" the LCA refers to welding/bolting in metal in the bottom channel so that the cross section becomes "O" or box-shaped.

It's essentially playing "connect the dots".