frame body cushions

[Darius]

http://www.metrommp.com/metrocart/PartL ... 20Cushions

www.indipalass.com/ARCHIVE/TechCorner/A ... Mounts.htm

Need a little help and advice (sometimes advice isn't too helpful).

My AWD 1950 Studebaker--on an S-10 frame--project is the first "body-off" effort I've done and everything is new to me. But, thanks to improving weather progress is being made and it is now time to source the spacers-cushions that are to go between the body and the frame. The original ones from the Studebaker were shaped like large dominos with a hole in the middle for the through bolt. After nearly 60 years of compression they are about 3/16 of an inch thick and are made out of some late 1940's fibrous material.

What new materials would be a better choice? Not looking for something just to take up space but to improve the ride quality and body stability. There are 14 mounting points (if I remember correctly) so cost could become a factor.

Any suggestions on materials and for sources?

Thanks in advance,

Darius

 

[76FleetBrougham]

A neighbor of mine ended up using some universal poly mounts for the body to frame:

http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/univ1.html

pretty sure the bottom of the page is what he used.  50 something dodge truck on a modified s-10 frame.  Ride was pretty nice as i remember.

Not sure if it would make the same difference, but on my daily driver i've just replaced all the bushings in the rear subframe, engine, tranny, control arm, and part of the diff with polymounts.  Ride definitely feels a lot "tighter" and more stable, and honestly the only big difference came from the engine/tranny mounts.  when taking off if you let the rpm's drop around 1k there is a noticeble shake of the car,  I just solve this problem by keeping it closer to 2k when slipping the clutch.  And also there is a Slight driveline noise from the tranny when cruising.   More like a slight whine but having others ride with me, it seems i'm the only one who notices since i remember it not being there before.   It definitely sold me on poly mounts.  I'd go with the 70a and you should be good.  says the bottom bushing is 2-1/2" OD x 13/16 and the top bushing is 1-5/32" thick- so you have a choice also.  with the slightly squishier makeup and thickness i think youll definitely be happy.

 

[Modly]

They make a Cadillac transmission poly mount?

I was going to get some new bushings for my car,  and I'm debating now if I should get polys or stick with the black stuff.  The rubber in the ones I've got now are almost gone though, so anything would feel better.

 

[dave brode]

Darius,

I'm a cheap sob, I admit, but at that price, I would cut them from a large truck mud flap. If the edges show, you could probably sand them on a rough belt to give them a store bought look.

Dave

 

[Nick Campagna]

  Some scoff at the idea, but hockey pucks might work well.

 

[76FleetBrougham]

   Some scoff at the idea, but hockey pucks might work well.

they work great as exhaust hangers too   ask me how i know. haha.  cut in half, 2 holes on flat side, 1 on bottom to mount to exhaust.  works quite well.

Just a quick look i found those body mounts to be around 25 bucks.  but csob thinking really means there are 4 mounts in that pack   two thicker upper and two slightly thinner lower that can all be used as bottom mounts.  just get yourself a band saw with a fine blade and a guide and vola- theyre all the same thickness

 

[mario]

hey darius:
on my 56 gmc, i used the rubber from the broken dock bumpers that are made from tire tread/sidewalls. i used a hole saw to cut the round shape 'pucks' and used lots of wd-40 to keep the saw from gumming up.
if you would like a couple of these pieces, send me an address and i will get them off by the weekend.

i can post a pict later in the day, but i have a few meetings to deal with first.
ciao,
mario

 

[dave brode]

Great idea. Probably thicker than the mat'l use on the flaps.

hey darius:
on my 56 gmc, i used the rubber from the broken dock bumpers that are made from tire tread/sidewalls. i used a hole saw to cut the round shape 'pucks' and used lots of wd-40 to keep the saw from gumming up.
if you would like a couple of these pieces, send me an address and i will get them off by the weekend.

i can post a pict later in the day, but i have a few meetings to deal with first.
ciao,
mario

 

[mario]

hi dave:
it runs between 1/2 - 3/4" wont rot and just about indestructable.
the truckers that deliver to the market just raise havoc with them. the back of the trailer catches the angle bracket that bolts to the dock face and then it separates the steel rods that traverse the rubber pads. we change them out a couple of times a year so my supply is always replenished... lol lol lol
ciao,
mario

p.s.: i'll bet that any warehouse that uses them has a few broken ones in the maintenance yard...

 

[MOCRUZN]

While working on the engine/trans installation into my '47 Olds I have been researching exhaust system info on Speedtalk and The H.A.M.B. among others.

Poly mounts, when used on engine, trans, exhaust, or body mounting, have been reported as the source of harmonic droning during street / cruise rpms.  Seems the poly transmits vibration more readily than rubber mount material.  In some reported cases the body & floor panels picked up the harmonic frequency generated and acted like a speaker box.  Replacing the poly mounts used with rubber solved the problem.

 

[mario]

here are a few picts, i hope.
ciao,
mario

 

[mario]

naturally, those are before in their natural state. here they are after being put to good use.
ciao,
mario

 

[Darius]

hey darius:
on my 56 gmc, i used the rubber from the broken dock bumpers that are made from tire tread/sidewalls. i used a hole saw to cut the round shape 'pucks' and used lots of wd-40 to keep the saw from gumming up.
if you would like a couple of these pieces, send me an address and i will get them off by the weekend.

i can post a pict later in the day, but i have a few meetings to deal with first.
ciao,  mario 

 

Mario and All,

Thanks a bunch. The answers you all offered were most helpful.

Mario, the pictures really told the story. It has been years since this old boy has worked a loading dock and I had forgotten about those bumpers. I hope to head down to the last place worked that had a warehouse and see if there are any "remnants" that might need a new home. The quarter inch thickness would be ideal and those puppies ought to last a fair amount of time. Six or eight of those, cut into strips should do the trick.

I love it when a CSOB solution is found.

May have found a "cheap" source of Dodge Viper "take off" tires. Seems some of the purist are buying the new run flat tires that also offers great handling and they no longer need the "original" tires.

 

[JW]

  Not sure id run tire rubber

Id use somethin like a pourable urethane

make a mold out of wood and just pour it in the mold and wait a few hours and pop it out

  Just a suggestion

  TI

  used to be able to buy eurethane rounds that you can if you are careful machine into whatever shape you want...andother option there