Making Steel Cradle Bushings (or hope to)

[fiero308]

well the title says it all, really.
I understand that the 88 uses solid mounting and I know that every front engine, rear drive car I have ever seen does NOT have the equivalent 'double rubber' mounting effect that our rear cradle has (cradle is rubber mounted then OFF THAT is the control arms; FURTHER rubber mounted....)

So all that being said I have found in my build up that I seem to be 'short' some steel caps or plates that go above/below the stock rubber or poly bushings (I have a set of poly..... ) so.........
I am going to see how hard it might be to make a set of steel bushings. I also know that the hot rod and racing types prefer steel .....even over aluminum. (Surprise.)
Steel simply lasts longer; like indefinitely, I guess. So after laying in an assortment of steel hole saws, (whew; the big ones - ie 3 1/2" dia- are not cheap... ) I am going to start fiddling with this idea.

I have been asked by a local member if I would be interested in making an extra set and I am saying yes at the moment but beyond that I am going to have to see. Hole saws don't last forever and one bad moment/slip can break one easily so I am going to have to take that cost into acct.

I am using or thinking of using hole saws to make my circular plates simply because I am not will to spend my time cutting them on a bandsaw etc and then grinding them round; a very slow and not as exact process. Cheap with my time these days. 

So once I get people off my back at work here I will get going on this. Oh, by the way, Darrell Morses pieces seem to be nice; (aluminum bushing set) but I am figuring that they are just about $200 Cdn once they arrive in my hot little hands. $100US with exchange, shipping, customs, duties and taxes. So that is my 'option' and comparison.

More in the next couple of days. This IS holding up my build thread so I have to get going on it.

[aaron88]

Two things:

One; I agree with part of the steel argument.  I prefer steel (read stainless) A-arms and such but prefer aluminum bushings with a stainless insert.

Two; you can use the lath here at my work if you can get out when I'm here after work or on the weekend.  It should make for much better accuracy.

Aaron

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[fiero308]

thanks for the offer Aaron but I have an idea in mind about making them hollow; or at least trying that route.   
I have no prob with mild steel - everything else in the car is steel (and SOME of it is scary-lousy quality!!) and so this wouldn't be a weakest link in any way. I'll see how it goes; it is something I was thinking of doing anyway. Just figured it would be later rather than sooner.

Once I figure out a reasonably quick 'manufacturing method' I'll start the thread; but right now I have people starting to scream so I better keep them happy.....

gp

[fiero308]

well things are on hold on this for the moment; I was very wishfully assuming that I would just whip thru this and get on with my engine swap etc etc but I am too impatient at the moment to wait and go thru this. So.........
since I already have a set of poly cradle bushings I am going to get the steel caps I need and just do it that way in an effort to keep moving ahead with the overall project.

I DO plan on doing the steel bushings, just it will have to wait a bit is all. I'll revive this thread or start another when I do.
g

[dguy]

Just in case you haven't seen it, and for when you get back to working on solid mounting the pre-88 cradle...

Ninth post in on this PFF thread shows a custom cradle which appears to be meant to solid mount to the pre-88 chassis.  It may be feasible to do something similar with a stock cradle.