Getting ready for a show is always hectic; most people always want to do something new to their cars. During a recent visit to Homies Hydraulics in Paramount, California, we were asked if we wanted to document a pair of A-arms being customized for a show car. Always on the lookout for the latest trends to hit the show circuit, we said sure. A pair of stock A-arms received a custom touch within a few hours.
Homies owner Anthony explained how you gain a few "hidden" benefits when you mold A-arms, including how they're better able to take the abuse that is caused by the hydraulic pressure. Another benefit is that the A-arms looks like show-winning pieces with a cool custom look. Let us show you how the pros at Homies Hydraulics customize A-arms using pieces from the Original Parts Group. You may want to do the same to your A-arms.
These stock lower A-arms were ready to be customized.
1. First on the agenda was to remove the excess road grime using a wire brush.
2. To ensure a good bond between the metal and the welds, the lower A-arms were sandblasted.
3. Homies crew member Cesar started off by cutting a cardboard stencil.
4. The stencil was then checked and trimmed to ensure a perfect fitting.
5. Once the stencil was perfect, it was traced and cut out using a cutting torch. | 
6. The 3/16-inch metal plates had all of the excess removed. They were also allowed to cool off before being handled. |
7. Moses cleaned the A-arms using a wire brush. This ensured that the areas to be welded had a strong bond. | 
8. This procedure is the same for most lower A-arms, including these '64 Impala A-arms that were being customized simultaneously. |
9. In order to get the metal to do as you want, you'll need to take the metal plate pattern and weld it in sections. | 
10. Moses then "persuaded" the metal with a sledge hammer, which was used to form the necessary contours. |
11. The procedure continued with more welding. | 
12. The A-arms were allowed to cool off, but were not allowed to warp or become misshapen as this is one of the sections that takes most of the abuse from hydraulics. |
13. The welds were ground smooth to see what sections needed to be retouched. | 
14. The coil holders were also molded smooth. |
15. The A-arm was now ready to be ground down and shaped in a free-flowing style. | 
16. The A-arms were smoothed out using a hand-held grinder. |
17. Before being sent to the chrome plater, these lower A-arms received a new set of bushings and ball joints. | 
18. These lower A-arms were triple-plated in a show finish and were ready to go back onto the frame. |