Honored to be a small part of this!

[65_LS1_T56]

I've been dying to show these pictures for going on a year and a half now. Of course back then, I had no idea what they were going on, other than a '39 Oldsmobile.

I'm sure pretty everyone has seen the 2016 Ridler winner '39 Olds, "Olds Cool" built by Customs and Hot Rods of Andice. If not, its this:

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/11260587_10153839244226830_906478279006332413_o_zp siaxxgccf.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/11260587_10153839244226830_906478279006332413_o_zp siaxxgccf.jpg.html)

I was approached by Mark Bowler, of Bowler Performance Transmissions (http://bowlertransmissions.com/) and Phantom Products (https://phantom-products.com/default.aspx), to machine the front upper and lower control arms. After a few back and forths with some potential changes for manufacturability, we were awarded the job.

We started with billets from 6061-T6 in 2" and 3" thicknesses. The arms were machined on out Haas VM3 3-axis VMC in 4 setups for each arm. Here is a link to my photobucket (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/library/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS) with several pictures, but I'll put a few here.

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20140924_121011_zpspk12ifwd.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20140924_121011_zpspk12ifwd.jpg.html)
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20140930_150153_zpsex11fous.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20140930_150153_zpsex11fous.jpg.html)
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141001_161833_zpsu24eyofv.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141001_161833_zpsu24eyofv.jpg.html)
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141001_171201_zpsrdavnbft.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141001_171201_zpsrdavnbft.jpg.html)
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141002_152937_zpstcsal1tb.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141002_152937_zpstcsal1tb.jpg.html)
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141023_150602_zpsqy2w2ewz.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141023_150602_zpsqy2w2ewz.jpg.html)

I was pretty excited when I found out that the parts we machined were on a Great 8 car, then after the big win, even more excited. Pretty cool experience. I want to thank Mark again for giving me the opportunity!

Of course, I can't disclose any pricing information, but for reference I had almost 3 weeks into making them. That is from the time we got material, CNC programming, machining and assembly.

Here's the photo link (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/library/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS) again.

[Flash68]

Wow, those are incredible Aaron. Congrats on being part of that.

[SSLance]

Oh my! How cool are those?!?! And how cool to be a part in the whole thing.

Show them off proudly Aaron, I know I would!

[65_LS1_T56]

Wow, those are incredible Aaron. Congrats on being part of that.
Thanks Dave!

Oh my! How cool are those?!?! And how cool to be a part in the whole thing.

Show them off proudly Aaron, I know I would!
lol, I would, but it's not my car! haha. All I have are the memories...and a few pictures, and lots of aluminum chips :P

[Yelcamino]

Those arms are awesome Aaron! Nice job! :drool:

[Spiffav8]

Jeepers. :ohsnap: Those are amazing. Very cool experience and such a great project to be apart of.

Congratulations.

[analyte]

I'm continuously impressed with the things you do. I love seeing a block of aluminum crafted into something spectacular.

I'm just waiting for you to start a group buy for Chevelle spindles!!! :hello:

[califconstruct]

Wow.. pretty cool stuff!!.. :king:

[65_LS1_T56]

Those arms are awesome Aaron! Nice job! :drool:
Thanks Herb. See, that coolant block wasn't so hard!

Jeepers. :ohsnap: Those are amazing. Very cool experience and such a great project to be apart of.

Congratulations.
Thank you sir! Yes, pretty darn cool.

I'm continuously impressed with the things you do. I love seeing a block of aluminum crafted into something spectacular.

I'm just waiting for you to start a group buy for Chevelle spindles!!! :hello:
Appreciate it Kerry. You been spying on me? Lol, I may or may not have a conceptual spindle modeled up :secret:

Wow.. pretty cool stuff!!.. :king:

:thankyou:

[NOPANTS68]

that car and those parts are absolutely incredible. I'm jealous and in awe. great stuff.

[Bad94]

Now I see why my fittings took so long.

[65_LS1_T56]

that car and those parts are absolutely incredible. I'm jealous and in awe. great stuff.
Definitely something I love to do. Thanks for the compliments.

Now I see why my fittings took so long.
Those and another billion things. Been lucky to be having so much work load, but man, I have a bunch of personal projects stacking up that I need to get to!

[Bad94]

Those and another billion things. Been lucky to be having so much work load, but man, I have a bunch of personal projects stacking up that I need to get to!


Personal projects? What are those?

[dontlifttoshift]

You know personal projects, self help type stuff.

You stand in front of a mirror and

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/52494014.jpg

[MaxHarvard]

Those are crazy nice!

I can't imagine the time and effort that went into that!

[65_LS1_T56]

Personal projects? What are those?
Exactly.

You know personal projects, self help type stuff.

You stand in front of a mirror and

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/52494014.jpg
Errr, uh, thanks Donnie? lol, no help for that!

Those are crazy nice!

I can't imagine the time and effort that went into that!
Thanks, you mean the car? :headspin:

[214Chevy]

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141023_150602_zpsqy2w2ewz.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141023_150602_zpsqy2w2ewz.jpg.html)

Pretty cool Aaron...well actually, they're down and outright beauthiful. And you don't have to tell me a price. I can only imagine >> :faint: :faint: :faint: :faint: LOL!!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

nice work!! so this means you have to charge more? :idea:

[65_LS1_T56]

Pretty cool Aaron...well actually, they're down and outright beauthiful. And you don't have to tell me a price. I can only imagine >> :faint: :faint: :faint: :faint: LOL!!
Thanks man, appreciate it!

nice work!! so this means you have to charge more? :idea:
They would've been much more if I was able to charge time and material! Thanks Vince.

[89 RS]

That's automotive artwork right there! Awesome job!

[Sieg]

Yowza! Nice artwork Aaron.

If I may ask, how many estimated design and machine hours are in those pieces?

[65_LS1_T56]

That's automotive artwork right there! Awesome job!
:thankyou:
Yowza! Nice artwork Aaron.

If I may ask, how many estimated design and machine hours are in those pieces?
Well, the design was provided by the customer, CHRA. We did make some minor changes to allow use of a steel insert to accept the Chrysler screw in style ball joint and some other small things.
As far as the rest: design and make fixtures, CAM out the multiple setups per part and the machining time, we were right around 3 weeks total if I remember correctly. It was a fun project when we made them. Had no idea that they would end up being on a Ridler winning car then. Pretty cool.

***additional thoughts continued next post!

[65_LS1_T56]

Oh, yeah, in those 3 weeks Sieg, I did make a booboo. Happens to the best of us :bang:
I had to start completely over on one of the lower control arms. Seems as though while programming on the computer, I got the wrong tool number called up. I was planning on a 8mm ballnose (about 5/16") and got a 1.5" indexable end mill instead. Well I trusted the program and walked away to come back and find this:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/65_LS1_T56/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141006_113840_zpsnp7oynrf.jpg (http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/65_LS1_T56/media/Miscellaneous/BILLET%20CONTROL%20ARMS/20141006_113840_zpsnp7oynrf.jpg.html)

Oh well, order more stock. Start over and three setups later I was back...but that was not gonna buff out!

[Sieg]

Oh, yeah, in those 3 weeks Sieg, I did make a booboo. Happens to the best of us :bang:

DOH!

I could probably manage to do that on my manual machine. :sieg: :(

[minendrews68]

I just love car porn! :lol:

[GregWeld]

Not sure how I missed this --- I can't even think of anything smarmy and smart to say!!

Holy crap comes to mind....


Well done Aaron. Good god! And the Ridler car ain't bad either!

[65_LS1_T56]

DOH!

I could probably manage to do that on my manual machine. :sieg: :(
:D
I just love car porn! :lol:
Who doesn't? :thankyou:
Not sure how I missed this --- I can't even think of anything smarmy and smart to say!!

Holy crap comes to mind....


Well done Aaron. Good god! And the Ridler car ain't bad either!
Greg speechless :headscratch:
:lol:

[Sieg]

Greg speechless :headscratch:
:lol:

March 6, 2016 at 6:34 p.m...........the silence heard round the world.

:underchair:

[65_LS1_T56]

March 6, 2016 at 6:34 p.m...........the silence heard round the world.

:underchair:
:ohsnap:

[Streetking]

Very cool, congrats!