Ginky Weeds Restoration Project

[elagache]

Dear Chuck and mid-60s Buick "checking that list twice" types, . . .

Still shopping for parts!   

By all means keep shopping!  No wallet was ever hurt by shopping . . . . . that only happens when you actually buy something! 

If you buy it on a credit card, the pain doesn't come for another month or so!

Cheers, Edouard 

[cwmcobra]

Dear Chuck and mid-60s Buick "checking that list twice" types, . . .

Still shopping for parts!   

By all means keep shopping!  No wallet was ever hurt by shopping . . . . . that only happens when you actually buy something! 

If you buy it on a credit card, the pain doesn't come for another month or so!

Edouard,

My wife manages the finances so it's only painful for her, and I love her for it!    

Chuck

[sjfd04]

Brian provided me with this info:

Picture with dimensions reference is attached.  Front to rear arrow is 6.5?, and side to side arrow is 7/16?.  More detailed description:



From the seam at the front of the tunnel to the front edge of the shifter hole, it's 6 1/2 inches. On the side-side measurement, here is what I did: from the seam inside the rocker jamb, where the rocker is spot welded to the floor pan there is a hard edge there. From the left (driver) side seam to the top edge of the shift hole opening is 28 1/8 inches. On the right (pass) side, the measurement is 29 inches even.  From the center of the car, the distance to the edge of the shifter hole is 7/16?

[cwmcobra]

Thanks for the dimensions.  That will be a good double check for my installation!

 

Chuck

[cwmcobra]

I've hit a snag in my shopping 

Any leads on where to find a new center steering link and new front A-Arm bushings (actually, rods and bushings).  I can get them special ordered from ESPO, but they are really expensive.  Any other sources you guys have found?

I think my rods are OK, but ESPO says no one sells just the bushings without the rods.......

Thanks,

Chuck

[WkillGS]

The upper A-arm shaft and bushing set is made by Rare Parts
http://rareparts.com/
They are on the expensive side. They are sold through other vendors, you might be able to apply a discount coupon or something. NAPA and Autozone carried them some years ago.

The centerlink is once again available from the various resto suppliers or on eBay. Most likely made overseas but that's the only choice unless you find a NOS one somewhere.

[Mark Ascher]

Chuck,

Check Rare Parts in California for the bushings & shafts. No idea what the price is on them there, but they were not cheap years ago.
The alternative is to use upper arms for a non-Buick with press in bushings. What was the cost at ESPO?

Not sure what tell you on the center link... google + phone are your friends. May be the same part as Chev/Pontiac/Olds so keep
other sources in mind.

Mark

PS: Walt, you beat me to it!

[WkillGS]

$145.53 direct from RareParts.

Do a Google search for 'Control Arm Shaft Kit RP15605'  for other vendors.
Year One lists them for $116, Autozone (with 20% off coupon) is $114.

The originals can often be reused if they are not worn.

[telriv]

Chuck, once the upper ball joint is dis-connected wiggle the a-arm to see how much play may be in there. Can see that it HAS been greased so it may be OK. At what they cost no need to replace parts that are NOT nec.

[cwmcobra]

Thanks guys.  I've got the shafts and bushings, along with a center link in my cart at Autozone, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.  Tom, I appreciate your comments.  The suspension is all apart now, but when I was disassembling, the A-arms felt very solid and tight.  The bushings and rods have now been disassembled, can I inspect for wear?  Where do they wear, inside the end caps?  If I could replace the bushings/seals only I probably would, but haven't found anyone that sells those separately.  Is it advisable to reuse the old rubber seals and metal end caps?

If I clean up and reuse the shafts that I have, how should they be finished?  Painted chassis color or clear or?

Chuck

[cwmcobra]

Any experiences to share with rubber vs. polyurethane suspension and body mount bushings?  It seems that's all that Energy sells and I've heard from a number of people that the polyurethane improves tightness, body roll and other handling characteristics.  The knocks on them are that they are noisy (creaky, squeaky) and deliver a harsher ride by telegraphing roughness of the road.  My car will be a driver and while I enjoy a tight handling car, I'd hate for it to become annoyingly noisy on road trips.  That said, I'm leaning toward the rubber bushings for both suspension and body.  Are all rubber bushings essentially the same or are their preferred brands?

Anyone with much better experience with polyurethane than I'm hearing?

Thanks,

Chuck

[35chevcoupe]

Chuck ,
I,ve driven older cars with polyurethane bushings and it did seem to make them handle better but I really didn,t care for the feel of the car , just too much road feedback for me .
But thats just my opinion , some people maybe like that feel .
We even put a set of aluminum bushings in a camaro once , with poly bushings in the control arms   OMG   

[cwmcobra]

Thanks John.  That's exactly the feedback I've gotten from other sources, including ESPO.  Don't think I'd like that.  Oh well, rubber is old school, right?  I'll have to dig up a thread I remember about where to source body mount bushings.

 

Chuck

[Mark Ascher]

Chuck,

I reused the factory upper bushing rubber dust boots and the small clamps that hold them on. Can't recall if the Rare Parts bushings
had the rubber boots and clamps, if they did, they didn't look right - in any case I ended up using the originals.

The shafts were never painted to the best of my knowledge, I just shot a coat of clear on them to keep them from rusting up.

I have 0 experience with plastic/polyurethane/etc bushings. If your not building a dedicated drag race, slalom, road race type deal,
use the rubber parts. Will you drive it enough to wear it all out again?

Mark

[cwmcobra]

Thanks Mark.  I'll get the shafts blasted, clear them and clean up the dust boots.  They're not torn and the crimped clamps were reasonably tight.  You guys just  saved be about $300!

I read last week that studies now indicate the common drug Metformin, that's used to lower blood sugar for those that have diabetes, can have powerful anti-aging characteristics.  Scientists now think it is reasonable that life expectancy can be stretched to about 120 years.  So, don't count me out on wearing out those bushings.  Now to get my doctor to confirm those results and write me a script......or not.   

 

Chuck