i bought prothane bushings for the front Control arm's. in my searches there i've read that there is shells that the poly bushing needs to be insterted into?

Think my stock 132K car still has them left or you think they crushed into pieces?
Upfront has alot of movement because of worn bushings

 

The shells are just the metal sleeves that the stock rubber bushings are attached to when the A-arm is assembled. Burn out the rubber material with a torch, and the shell will be all that is left. I wouldn't think that the sleeves themselves should ever wear out, regardless of milage.