[Todd Hack]

Question from a new builder. I purchased new FMS lower control arms for my build. Does anyone have a suggestion on the best way to cut the notch for the front coil-overs in these. I tried a roto-disc and the grove ends up being too much of a "V" (doesn't make a nice clean cut). I've also bought a bunch of blades for my old jig saw but they continually break. Does anyone have any suggestions they can pass along?

I wish I had a plasma cutter, but I don't..

Thanks!

Todd

 

[Doug Huey]

I used a high speed die grinder with a high speed steel metal eating bit to rough it out and finished it smooth with a flapper wheel. I did not make a "V" but more of a "C" shaped notch in the control arm.

 

[Bob Cowan]

For the first one I used a cutting wheel on a drill motor. Took two discs, 40 minutes, and made a heck of a mess. But it cut it exactly the way I wanted.

For the second one I use my new sawzall with a medium tooth blade for the two long cuts, and the cutting wheel for cross cut. Took maybe 10 minutes, and not nearly as much fuss/mess.

 

[Raddog]

Sawzall or walter zip-cut blade both work great and your done in no time, John Hudson has an indepth explanation on his build site, with sizes and depth of cuts.

Cheers Ray

 

[Horizon200]

I used a dremel cut off to rough it & then a 4" grinding wheel. Went back to the dremel to smooth it out afterwards.

 

[579]

Then there's the brute force method.

I used a sawzall for the long cuts, then drilled a bunch of little holes across the bottom and used a BFH and a cold chisel to break it off.

E

 

[John / My427SC]

Drill some holes across the base of the cut and then a hacksaw or sawzall on the sides. Break out the "tab" (wiggle with pliers or something) and clean it up with a file

 

[teamfour]

I marked the area to be cut with soapstone and them took the arms to the local machine shop. They cut them with a plasma cutter for $10 in about 5 minutes. They also did the mod to the AC bracket at the same time.

[ December 27, 2002, 08:03 AM: Message edited by: teamfour ]