Does a Camaro body sit on bushings when using a full frame like the Roadster Shop?

[davepl]

I'm about to start planning a build (and I'm a builder, not a dreamer) for my '69 RS/SS Camaro, which I'd like to make into a driver with a full frame and late model LS engine - yes, yet another one.

One question I didn't find a handy answer to: if you use a full frame like the Roadster Shop's, does the body mount solid to that or does it sit on bushings that would give you some ride quality?

My goal is more "ride like a mid-90s BMW sedan", not autocross or road course. Modern ride in an old car, not all-out performance. With that goal I think it might be better to have the body on rubber bushing that sits on the chassis, but I have no idea how these full-frame options mount the body.

Thoughts?

[dontlifttoshift]

Ride quality and NVH are two different things. It is important to make that distinction.

I don't believe that anyone uses rubber or urethane bushings when mounting a full frame, I wouldn't....most guys don't use rubber bushing when mounting a subframe. Bushing material between (sub)frames and bodies will have zero effect on ride quality. Bushings can help isolate you and your passengers from Noise, Vibration, and Harshness.

If ride quality is at the top of your list, I strongly recommend and independent rear suspension.

[davepl]

I consider NVH part of ride quality, but that's semantics. I don't mean handling, so why would NVH not be part of quality?

But point taken - I want both! And I'll sacrifice lateral Gs and performance to get them. I've been watching a build with Art Morrison front and rear clips that includes an independent rear, but not a full frame. With a bar I assume it's still pretty rigid. That makes for a solid ride, but I want a "Mid 90s BMW 528i" style ride - not even 540, let alone M5.

Does that 528/540/M5 analogy work for anyone? I just want the 528 part.

[Schwartz Performance]

We also have a full frame. The rear mounts solidly to the factory rear rails, and the front half attaches to the factory pouts with acetal (plastic) bushings.

Our ride quality is quite nice, most of our customers do not autocross, but we've designed it to have the best of both worlds.
Check them out at www.GMachineChassis.com

-Dale

[Rod]

I haven't seen a replacement full frame chassis design that uses the bushings....I guess in a round about way NVH can be considered part of ride Quality....because its part of the overall ride experience...but the main producer of NVH sources of noise in a vehicle are many, including the engine, drive line, tire contact patch and road surface, brakes, and wind. Noise from cooling fans, or the HVAC, alternator, and other engine accessories is also fairly common...and are generated acoustically and propagated by airborne paths...those noises are reduced by absorption or through the use of barrier materials....where as NVH like these have no bearing on a "structure-borne" noise that is low on the noise generating spectrum...and Structure-borne noise is attenuated by isolation of the noise......
that is why there considered two different things

in short no amount of suspension will eliminate the common NVH issues, suspension wont fix wind, tire, engine and road surface noises

now Ride quality on the other hand is controlled in large part by dampening (shocks) I have seen some really good suspension screwed up with bad geometry and CRAPPY shocks



? I just want the 528 part.

buy a 528 and splice the suspension onto the car.....

[TheJDMan]

I think you need to contact the frame manufacturer for details. However, I don't see an aftermarket full frame under a 1st gen Camaro being designed to be mounted on rubber mounts simply because that is not how the bodies were designed and most people who install them are looking for maximum rigidity. Obviously, you can install a subframe with rubber mounts and you can install rear leaf springs with rubber mounts but a full frame might be a challenge. Like Rod said the shocks will be the biggest factor in ride quality. Personally, I suspect a complete level 3 air ride system from Ridetech might be the best approach.