Frame Work

[Heap64]

We got the body off my son's '85 this week and it looks like a good time to give the suspension a good re-working. Looking for some good advice on bushings and sources for them. Will need new body mounts as well.

[camino81]

I put Energy suspension polyurethane bushings in my 81 camino. I know i got the complete set (front and rear suspension and tranny mount) from summit. i just looked on the summit website and they don't have the complete kit listed but they do have the front and rear separate might have to call for a complete set i'm not sure. they also had body mount sets on there too. don't know if you are planning on installing these your self or not, but if you do a shop press and an air hammer will make thing a whole lot more easier. also you will need to make some kind of spacers to put between the control arms so they don't crush together. I took a peice of 90 degree angle aluminum and made some spacers for mine when i pressed them in and they worked great. i'll warn you now that the front uppers are pretty fun to do with the cross shaft. Good Luck

[ElkyPete]

I believe that I got all mine as a Kit from PST suspension, its in the links section.

I would suggest that while your re-doing stuff now that you have it all the way down. When you remove the rear Upper and Lower control arms have them boxed. What this consists of, if your not already aware, is to weld a piece sheet of metal over the entire opening on the control arms, front to back. It will cost probably 25 or so bucks, unless you already know a friend with a welder, but it immensely improves the grip and ride and everything about the rear suspension. Use about the same gage steel that the arms are made from. It is a good upgrade.

If you are in the north and road salts are a consideration, I'd also clean them really good just before boxing them and then after you've welded them use a narrow wire brush to clean up the inside a bit and paint them inside and out. POR15 would be great here. Then install the new bushings. You will not need to support the control arms with anything once they're boxed.

Un boxed control arms pick up a lot of flex and deflection in power take offs and cornering, boxing them creates a solid tube which adds a lot of strength and reduces the chance for flex or twist.

Just some advise for what its worth.

Good Luck.