Thread: Detroit Speeds' Control Arm, Spindle & Sway Bar Installation, '66 Chevelle

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I am the worst skeptic when it comes to the bolt-in stuff and upgrades. I figure a salesman just sold my customer a pile of junk and made irresponsible guarantees just to make a sale.
Detroit Speed is an exception. I am not done with the installation as i have yet to finish up the power steering and set the front end ride height etc before going to the alignment shop.
I started Monday and have worked steady and hard so it is a week-long project, my customer told me i could do it in a day and a half. He is an experienced guy and i didn't ask if the installation time was from Detroit Speed or not but in any project on a 40-50 year old car there are going to be unexpected complication that have to be dealt with. The customer has been involved with the installation and he has no problem with the amount of time it is taking as he is getting a very good job.

The first 2 pics are the upper control arm. the arm itself is very substantial, well formed and high quality materials. The bushings are some kind of polyester, will be easy to replace when the time comes. The only thing i didn't care for is the caster adjustment. They provide steel bushings that go into a presicion milled pocket on the shaft - the front end guy will have a nasty time of it making those adjustments.
They bolted in without problem and a new polester bump stop is provided for the chassis.

The lower control arms were of the same quality and construction, i'll have to replace the zerks with angled ones so i can grease it up but that is the only parts that had to come from my stock.
The 2" dropped spindle bolted up perfectly and it relocates the tye rod attachment point to keep the tyerod relationship the same as stock. Some cutting is required on the disc brake mount and the dust shield cannot be reused.

The swaybar itself is massive, machined from chromemoly. The splines for the arms are perfectly formed, they slid on and off by hand. The chassis attachment holes had to be drilled and tapped to 3/8ths.
They also provided the tubular tyerod adjusters.
I took a pic of the swaybar arm - it is a chunk of solid steel and the utility knife gives you a size for comparison. The hardware is to attach the arm to the lower control arm.

The powersteering is both larger and lighter than the stock unit, i didn't read all the sales stuff about it but i belive it has a performance ratio and the driver will have a better 'feel' for the road.
This pump is the only pain i had about the install. The steering box hos connection is the only bad thing about the install. It takes the newer style adaptors. No fittings or hoses came with the kit to connect the pump to the steering box and this kit is vehicle specific. A call was made and they shipped a hose kit. The kit is for -AN hose (of which there is none on this car so it looks ut of place) and the still didn't have the right adaptor to get the hoses into the stock chevy pump. Lucky me i had the right aeroquip fittings in stock so i can continue with the installation - but those are very esoteric fittings and a normal person working on his back in a garage will be proper screwed and will loose a couple days trying different fittings in the pump - it is a 5/8 double-flare to -6 adaptor and you will play hell trying to find one of them.

In breif, i give this kit a 'thumbs-up' for installation. I will make another posting when i get it back on the ground and out of the alignment shop - we'll then see if there really is an improvement of the stock handling.
If you need a special pic or a different view of something just post on this thread and befor it leaves the shop i'll check for any requests ok?
thanks oj

I have finished the install, the swaybar installation went as smooth as all the other componants. With the exception of the power steering hoses and hose kit. Be aware that this is a vehicle specific kit. This steering box is meant to connect to the power steering pump. The engineers at Detroit speed have the steering box and they have a stock pump, they know what it requires to connect the two. They sent (a last minute special order as it wasn't included) my customer a couple hoses with ends crimped onto one end, a couple adaptors for the steering box and a 90degree hose end to be installed after cutting the hose to fit. They charged about $180 for that kit. There wasn't any adaptor for the pump to connect the pressure hose (as i described) and the 90 degree hose end were not swivel hose ends but fixed so that when you tighten it in the vice then that is where it points to, you cannot clock those type of hose ends.
To connect the pump to the steering box took the better part of a morning - one hose. I tried to get a pic and my camera just can't capture it, but that whole piece of the puzzle is an eyesore and an insult to the rest of the installation. I have emailed Detroit Speed and have yet to hear back.

Front end got alinged and roadtested, i am very impressed with the steering box - in a parking lot i can wheel it around like normal power steering and at highway it feels like a manual box, i feel connected to the highway. the suspension gives it a great ride and i haven't tried anything stupid - yet.
I have just finished redoing the lines on the power steering dealing with leaks, they really are a piece of junk. Detroit Speed has yet to reply to my email and i am thinking it is time for a 2nd email.
I'll get it outside tomorrow and take a few pics.

I make a 2nd email to Detroit Speed yesterday and 1st thing this morning a rep called (Allen?) and we had an objective conversation of what when wrong with the hose kit order nand the best way to solve the problem.
Heres a couple pics, i think the front has settled down from the road testing and it is now too low but i'll have to deal with it.