where to buy solid body bushings?

[shelby987]

Who sells solid body bushings for G-bodies?

[Goatman]

Looking for the same for A-bodies.


Starting to think no one does..........

[jerome]

does anyone know whether there is a significant improvement over poly or rubber with a full frame car?

I understand the improvement can be significant with a subframe car using solid bushings because the subframe can deform the bushings and be askew relative to the rest of the car and ultimately the rear suspension, which causes handling inconsistencies.

With a full frame car, all that the bushings do is suspend the body above the frame. The bushings do not support any forces related to handling unlike subframe bushings. With new rubber or poly bushings, i dont think much body roll relative to the frame can be induced (and that really isnt a big deal in terms of handling either). The frame does the handling and the body just contains the driver. I think one would be better off with rubber or poly to insulate the body from vibrations.

Jerome

[ProTour69GTO]

Well im taking a wild guess but i think anything that can help stiffen a frame especially an A body frame might help handling. Thats just my thoughts, i could be way off though.

[jerome]

The frame itself wont get any stiffer with solid bushings. Only the frame-to-body connection will get stiffer, which would at best have a negligible effect on handling (slightly less body roll RELATIVE TO FRAME than poly), and make ride quality worse.

On the other hand, the body tied very tightly to the frame could in theory use the body's stiffness to stiffen the frame, but full frame car bodies are not designed with that in mind. The frame provides all structural integrity, and the body just sits on top. With enough torque or cornering g's to twist the frame (solidly connected to the body), you may actually end up messing up alignment/straightness of body while the frame would just twist back.

The only reason I would consider solid mounts would be in a subframe car, or if I was installing a cage tied to the frame and didnt want the cage bars to move relative to the floor of the car.

Jerome

[Derek69SS]

Stock A-body frames are extremely flexible without a body on them. The body is very-much designed to be part of the structure, just look at convertibles for example. They received boxed frames (no roof to provide structural integrity needed) where the same car with a roof, got a more flexible frame because the body was stiffer.

[jerome]

i guess i am wrong. i was basing that on my knowledge of truck frames, which may not apply to G/A body frames.

Jerome

[MonzaRacer]

As for me I would spend my time getting the car on a fram rack and make sure its straight and true and then box it like a convertible, then if you run a cage have it custome buit and run it through the floor directly to the frame, replace the body bushings so as to make sure its in the proper alighnment, and as for me the last one we did this too(G body) the car did handle better and it was actually very stiff and responsive for driver even with little 165 Volkswagon tires on front(had 10.5 DOTs in back)and when owner finally grew up and decided to drive it instead of act like he was dragracing it became a very sweet handling car. He does bitch when we have to replace the rubber gromments around the cage bars through the body and we also added a few from the body to the cage so its a little harsher but its defiantely never going to bent.A ladyin a 73 Caddilac caved in the left rear quaerter and it totaled her car ,all he needed was a new quarter and tail light.
This was done to the 86 Aerocoupe I dragraced for a guy when back in Lincoln Tech. The car winds up getting a custom car title and saw it at a car show last year.
Good luck
Lee

[ProTouring442]

I have been considering making solid mounts for my 442 from teflon. McMaster-Carr sells the stuff, and I figured I could turn them on my lathe.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"
'89 ASC/McLaren
'93 Suzuki VX800
'69 Triumph Bonneville
and the disease continues...