Early Chevy trucks are currently the hot ticket for hot rodders. Go to any cruise night or car show and you’ll surely see several. When the ability to locate a classic muscle car in good, rebuildable shape to use as the basis for a project started getting nearly impossible, the early Chevy trucks became the go-to replacement. But it was no surprise that enthusiasts building a hot-rodded hauler want it to be more like a car.
While a classic truck was never designed to handle in the same manner as a car, the folks at QA1 saw no reason trucks should not be able to accomplish that. To help accomplish that, they have recently released a new tubular crossmember for ’63 through ’87 Chevy trucks.
Over the last several years, QA1 has developed bolt-on suspension parts that not only improve how a truck can handle twisty roads, but also give enthusiasts options about how to upgrade their truck’s suspension. If your budget only allows you to build your suspension in “stages”, QA1 can help you do that. QA1 is about helping enthusiasts get the most out of their trucks while not putting them in the poor house.
Case in point, the new C10 tubular crossmember. I know what you’re thinking, how can a tubular crossmember be better than the beefy OE piece? While a front crossmember swap might not be the first thing that comes to mind as you plan any suspension upgrades, it is actually something that should be at the top of your thought process.
The QA1 tubular crossmember is designed to directly replace the OE crossmember found in the early Chevy and GMC trucks.
For starters, it is literally, the foundation upon which all other front suspension components attach. It is a major structural element of your truck and ties the front frame rails together. But what is wrong with the OE stamped and welded piece? Have you ever really looked at it? The OE crossmember is made with two pieces of stamped metal tack-welded together. While the welds do keep the two halves together, this design does allow a certain amount of flex. This flex might be okay for a stock vehicle, not a hot-rodded truck. Also, it’s a big chunk of metal that adds a lot of weight to the front of the truck and takes up a lot of space under the engine.
You can either completely disassemble the front suspension and take everything out in pieces or drop the crossmember with the suspension intact.
The QA1 tubular crossmember is an ideal…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at DragzineDragzine…