checkered racing subframe body mount problems?

[garrett68]

Recently picked up subframe for my 68 camaro. It came with solid bodymounts. The problem i'm having is i cant run a bushing under front mount under firewall. The mount on new subframe is 1" higher than the original frame. With the bushing in it puts the front down and out of level. Will it be okay to mount it direct with no bushing? I have it in the car bolted up and dont see a problem with it. Just not sure if it will cause problems. I have subframe connectors to put in so i know you should run solid body mounts.

[TonyHuntimer]

Welcome to your first post on the Pro-Touring.com forum. I don't know the exact spec, but there should be bushings (close to 1" tall) between the subframe in the at the firewall area and under the front seats. If yours don't fit, there's something wrong. I've never heard of Checkered Racing, so I can't say give a qualified review of their products. But I would not run a subframe without body bushings! Without them you push the engine and transmission into the floorpan and can cause interference with the engine into the firewall.

Do you have pictures?

Good luck,
Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[garrett68]

I do have the bushing in at the rear. The mounting plate they welded on the front mount is an inch higher than original subframe. When bolted up to car without bushing it puts it where it needs to be like the original subframe. The motor and tranny will be in same spot. I just want to make sure it will be alright to direct bolt it on the front mount. I will cut mount off and reweld where it should be if i have to have a bushing in it. I cant get the right answer from who i got it from so i get nowhere. It is a cheaper subframe and i am definatly learning you get what you pay for!

[TheJDMan]

Can you post pictures please!

[garrett68]

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[BuzzKillian]

I can't see a problem with mounting it that way. It looks like you have good clearance on the floor. That said, I think that gusset on the outside of the frame could move down 2" or so. IMO

[Crazy Carl]

If it really is an inch taller than stock the front of the car is going to look really tall with a bushing in there unless they've made up the difference elsewhere or designed it to run without one. Rather than taking our advice, call Checkered and ask them: 812-863-4600.

[DButler]

So basically they have designed the subframe to bolt directly in front opposed to using a solid bushing? I have looked into buying one of these frames for a 69 I am building. there is a guy on LS1tech.com that is using one of these frames. if I am not mistaking his uses a bushing but he had to maket the hole bigger for the bushing to fit in. Either they changed designed or it is a mess up. Get on tech and search checkered racing and it will come up. I am curious to see what you say. How is frame built nice? For the price they seem like decent pieces.

[silver69camaro]

Those firewall mounts need more gusseting.

[killer69]

Those firewall mounts need more gusseting.

Ya Think
they are taller to eliminate the bushing for sure!!!

[garrett68]

I'm going to gusset that better forsure. I installed it first with the bushing in and it turned the front of the frame down. So took bushing out to see where it would be. Seem to me it was setup for no bushing. So i measured stock frame verses new one and mount was inch higher thickness of new bushing supplied. So i called them and there answer was we havnt figured those out yet some guys run them some dont. Like that make alot of sense! Found one pic of someone elses car with same subframe directly bolted. I assume thats the way its suppose to be.

[killer69]

that is confidence building

[TheJDMan]

They are selling a product that presumably is destined to be operated on public streets and they haven't figured it out yet? What kind of fly by night outfit is this anyway?

[zbugger]

Being that you're running solid bushings, you may be fine without the center bushing. It's technically a solid mount anyway. But with the response "We haven't figured those out yet...", ummm.... I'd be questioning the rest of the subframe.

[pokey64]

My wife's car came with one of these frames. I'll look at it this weekend and ket you know how it's installed.

[garrett68]

I just got suspension on car and wheels on the ground everything looks good. Now need to set clip back on to see how that lines up.

[Mercmarc]

I installed a checkered racing front sub-frame in my nova last year. I don't recall an issue with the bushings. I bought it because it was the cheapest kit available and the only one I could afford. I wish I waited another year and bought a higher quality kit. The thing that really blew my mind was a project this complicated had very little in the way of directions. The company itself was helpful as they could be messaging me, but pictures of the process would have been nice. I'm not a fabricator but I did the best I could actually guessing to where the engines best location would be. The end result is not what I expected. The springs are super stiff riding like a dump truck. The brakes pull a bit to the right, and I get an unsettling vibration now and then. I guess it's true you get what you pay for.

[Rod]

I installed a checkered racing front sub-frame in my nova last year. I don't recall an issue with the bushings. I bought it because it was the cheapest kit available and the only one I could afford. I wish I waited another year and bought a higher quality kit. The thing that really blew my mind was a project this complicated had very little in the way of directions. The company itself was helpful as they could be messaging me, but pictures of the process would have been nice. I'm not a fabricator but I did the best I could actually guessing to where the engines best location would be. The end result is not what I expected. The springs are super stiff riding like a dump truck. The brakes pull a bit to the right, and I get an unsettling vibration now and then. I guess it's true you get what you pay for.

its a mustang 2 suspension configuration, what springs and shocks do you have