Body bushings

[MFPvette80]

My 1980 shows some major deterioration of the rubber body mount bushings. I noticed this when I removed the rear wheels. My questions for the group are these: 1) Rubber or polyurethane? Does it matter? 2) Any good reference material on how to do the job? Accessing the other mounts, and lifting the body would be my major concerns. Thanks folks.

[fatherlarry]

Removing the body mounts can go both ways....it could be an easy installation or a hard one, depending on whether or not the chassis body mount bracket is rusted, or the bolt is rusted to the nut inside the body casing. If it is then the bolt spins and you have to cut the bolt off with a hacksaw blade. Ecklers and Stoudts Corvettes sell the bushings and bolt kit. As far as going with the polyurethane, my opinion would be to stick with the stock body mount bushing. As far as lifting the body, once the body mount is out you can put two pieces of wood between the frame and body rail and get a crow bar to lift on the body slightly to install the bushings. On the rear there may be shims between the bushing and the mounting bracket to allow space on the quarter panel to door so it doesn't hit. What I mean is that if you tighten the bolt down it may bring the quarter panel away from the door space and leave a wide gap. That's where the shims will give you your adjustment.

A shop manual will give you the details that you need to see, but experience is important, so I would go to a body shop that deals with Corvettes and are familiar with C3's. They may be able to guide you in the right direction. If you're not familiar with auto body work, then it might not be something you want to tackle. You may want a professional to do it. I don't know how mechanically inclined you are, but this does take experience. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[MFPvette80]

Thanks for the input. There doesn't seem to be too much of a rust issue to deal with, and I planned on doing the job myself. My main concerns are whether I need to remove all of them first, or both back mounts, to avoid stressing the body. Also, accessibility to the some of the mounts is a question. Looks like the access panels should come off OK though.

I've got several manuals and I'll study them before getting in too deep. The car's up on jack stands now with the exhaust system off. Dual pipes are on the way.

-Mike