SCREEEEEE Trans Am Moving Plan Day 13

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit) 03/16/2018 at 11:41 • Filed to: trans amess, trans am, wrench every day, looking for bolts is wrenching, project car

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13

That’s the sound of my plans coming screeching to a halt. Because I needed to order this:

The plan was to put this

Here

But all I had was this

So without the radiator support mounted, I cannot mount the fenders, without the fenders I cannot mount the hood.

Sooooo while I wait for my package to arrive (of course I chose the slowest cheapest shipping) I guess I can put the windows and regulators in.... the front bumper bar on.... uhh... that’s, that’s about it. OOH! Gas tank. I can put the gas tank in. That’s pretty big. That’d be one less big thing to find a place for during the move....

crowmolly > Takuro Spirit 03/16/2018 at 11:51

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FYI don’t use anything but solid bushings if you plan on welding subframe connectors in.

Takuro Spirit > crowmolly 03/16/2018 at 11:55

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I have a full poly set. But the bolts and nuts aren’t included so I’m just buying this and installing it temporarily to move the car to my new house.

Once the car is DONE DONE I’ll be putting the poly set in all the mounts, suspension, etc and doing subframe connectors then.

crowmolly > Takuro Spirit 03/16/2018 at 11:59

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I get that :)

But when the time comes solid interlocking bushings will be better with subframe connectors. Poly still allows some movement which won’t really be good with welded connectors.

Takuro Spirit > crowmolly 03/16/2018 at 12:08

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Its just gonna be a weekend cruiser, not a race car. Yet.

I’ll probably just get bolt in connectors anyways, until my welding skills or wallet size increases.

lone_liberal > Takuro Spirit 03/16/2018 at 12:22

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I’m not sure how the radiator support on these later F-bodies are mounted but in the early ones there are both the ones that mount on the subframe and to a bracket on the support and ones that are mounted between a bracket that bolts to the subframe and the support, seen on the left.

The latter were unobtanium for a long, long time so you just had to deal with bushing that had turned to dust or make your own. Luckily they’re being made now. On the thread that I got the picture from someone mentions that NOS ones were going for $100 on eBay at the time.

Takuro Spirit > lone_liberal 03/16/2018 at 12:29

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Yikes. There’s just the two lower mounts right to the subframe, and a bunch of close out panels/brackets and the fenders themselves that attach to it. Nothing else to my knowledge is rubber mounted.... but I got the car blown apart and am just now piecing it back together.

lone_liberal > Takuro Spirit 03/16/2018 at 12:34

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It makes sense that they changed it since on the early 2nd gens the bumper brackets were bolted to the rad support and those bushing and bolts were the crash structure. I’m sure they beefed things up when they went to the bigger bumpers.

Takuro Spirit > lone_liberal 03/16/2018 at 12:37

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Mmm, beefy:

My bird IS the word > Takuro Spirit 03/16/2018 at 12:57

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Subframe bushing buddies! I still have to get the old ones out though :(

Takuro Spirit > My bird IS the word 03/16/2018 at 14:45

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I wish I had old ones to use... would have saved a whole $23

My bird IS the word > Takuro Spirit 03/16/2018 at 16:02

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grade 8 bolts from the hardware store are fine, finding the right size may be a struggle though.

Takuro Spirit > My bird IS the word 03/16/2018 at 16:04

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Not knowing what size, and having to get bushings as well I’d rather spend the money on the right stuff, that way its together properly, and when I put the poly bushings in it later I’ll have the nuts and bolts needed.

My bird IS the word > Takuro Spirit 03/16/2018 at 16:12

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ok. I thought you already had the bushings. I do have my new replacements in the box if you wanted the measurements, but grade 8 is what they use anyway.