Chasis work about to get interesting
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Virginia
Chasis work about to get interesting
Hey guys,
as some of you may know, I'm doing a body off resto-mod on my '81 coupe, in between getting the new engine sorted out and off to the machine shop, I've been working on stripping the frame down to parade rest to send in and have it blasted and powder coated. I'm sending the frame, trailing arms, upper and lower control arms, sway bar, coil spings, radiator support and drive shaft for coating, the shop quoted me $400.00 for everything.
anyway, it will be there about a week so I have time to order some parts for putting it back together, I'm replacing all the brake lines, hoses, fuel lines, calipers, rotors, bushings(all of them), ball joints, tie rod ends and the like.
my question is, which type of bushing should I use? this won't be a track/race car, just a nice weekend cruiser. I've heard the urethane are better for performance but the rubber offer a more comfortable ride. is this true?
also, does anyone know of a good quality "KIT" that has all the bushings for my car in one package? I can "piece" it all together but thought it would be easier to just order one package.
also, has anyone been able to talk to the vendors and swing a discount because of ordering large $$$'s of parts at the same time. (just a thought).
thanks in advance.
as some of you may know, I'm doing a body off resto-mod on my '81 coupe, in between getting the new engine sorted out and off to the machine shop, I've been working on stripping the frame down to parade rest to send in and have it blasted and powder coated. I'm sending the frame, trailing arms, upper and lower control arms, sway bar, coil spings, radiator support and drive shaft for coating, the shop quoted me $400.00 for everything.
anyway, it will be there about a week so I have time to order some parts for putting it back together, I'm replacing all the brake lines, hoses, fuel lines, calipers, rotors, bushings(all of them), ball joints, tie rod ends and the like.
my question is, which type of bushing should I use? this won't be a track/race car, just a nice weekend cruiser. I've heard the urethane are better for performance but the rubber offer a more comfortable ride. is this true?
also, does anyone know of a good quality "KIT" that has all the bushings for my car in one package? I can "piece" it all together but thought it would be easier to just order one package.
also, has anyone been able to talk to the vendors and swing a discount because of ordering large $$$'s of parts at the same time. (just a thought).
thanks in advance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Some of the parts vendors used to have a restoration discount, where if you spend a large sum up front you would get a discount for that order as well as smaller ones for a period of time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
I just rebuilt my control arms this weekend and went with stock rubber. piece of cake to install, didn't even need a press.
I've used poly before and it's more expensive and I don't think they last as long as people claim. I put poly motor mounts in 2 years ago and the drivers side is all melted after 6k miles. Going to replace this with rubber this year.
I've used poly before and it's more expensive and I don't think they last as long as people claim. I put poly motor mounts in 2 years ago and the drivers side is all melted after 6k miles. Going to replace this with rubber this year.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
I just rebuilt my control arms this weekend and went with stock rubber. piece of cake to install, didn't even need a press.
I've used poly before and it's more expensive and I don't think they last as long as people claim. I put poly motor mounts in 2 years ago and the drivers side is all melted after 6k miles. Going to replace this with rubber this year.
I've used poly before and it's more expensive and I don't think they last as long as people claim. I put poly motor mounts in 2 years ago and the drivers side is all melted after 6k miles. Going to replace this with rubber this year.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Hey guys,
as some of you may know, I'm doing a body off resto-mod on my '81 coupe, in between getting the new engine sorted out and off to the machine shop, I've been working on stripping the frame down to parade rest to send in and have it blasted and powder coated. I'm sending the frame, trailing arms, upper and lower control arms, sway bar, coil spings, radiator support and drive shaft for coating, the shop quoted me $400.00 for everything.
anyway, it will be there about a week so I have time to order some parts for putting it back together, I'm replacing all the brake lines, hoses, fuel lines, calipers, rotors, bushings(all of them), ball joints, tie rod ends and the like.
my question is, which type of bushing should I use? this won't be a track/race car, just a nice weekend cruiser. I've heard the urethane are better for performance but the rubber offer a more comfortable ride. is this true?
also, does anyone know of a good quality "KIT" that has all the bushings for my car in one package? I can "piece" it all together but thought it would be easier to just order one package.
also, has anyone been able to talk to the vendors and swing a discount because of ordering large $$$'s of parts at the same time. (just a thought).
thanks in advance.
as some of you may know, I'm doing a body off resto-mod on my '81 coupe, in between getting the new engine sorted out and off to the machine shop, I've been working on stripping the frame down to parade rest to send in and have it blasted and powder coated. I'm sending the frame, trailing arms, upper and lower control arms, sway bar, coil spings, radiator support and drive shaft for coating, the shop quoted me $400.00 for everything.
anyway, it will be there about a week so I have time to order some parts for putting it back together, I'm replacing all the brake lines, hoses, fuel lines, calipers, rotors, bushings(all of them), ball joints, tie rod ends and the like.
my question is, which type of bushing should I use? this won't be a track/race car, just a nice weekend cruiser. I've heard the urethane are better for performance but the rubber offer a more comfortable ride. is this true?
also, does anyone know of a good quality "KIT" that has all the bushings for my car in one package? I can "piece" it all together but thought it would be easier to just order one package.
also, has anyone been able to talk to the vendors and swing a discount because of ordering large $$$'s of parts at the same time. (just a thought).
thanks in advance.
The only thing I might mount in poly is the front sway bar. Use washers on the frame bracket mounts so that the bushings are not clamping the bar too tight. Zero clearance but no compression.
Make sure you leave the rubber bushings slightly loose until the car is back on it's tires and the suspension has fully settled. Then torque them up. A PITA to reach under the car, but this way, it puts the bushings in the center of their travel when the car is at normal ride height.
If you tighten them up when the car is in the air and the suspension is at full droop,the bushings will not last very long.
Last edited by gcusmano74; Jan 7, 2013 at 09:11 PM.
