g9m3c

Alright guys, I'm finally getting around to replacing my worn out mustache bar bushings. I thought I'd write this up to show what I've been doing and to hopefully help someone out who's about to tackle this project. First off, these things were terrible. It's turning into one of those projects. "Well, I have to take this off to get to that......so I might as well sand and paint it too." So here's what I started off with. The arrows point out the old and compressed bushings I'm replacing. You can see the slack between the bar and the bushings. Here it is all taken apart. Mustache bar and rear control arm mount taken off. Some people say to burn these bushings out, but I've never been a fan of using a torch on critical suspension pieces, so I used this method. I drilled a lot of holes around the perimeter of the bushings and then chiseled the rubber between the holes with a flat head screwdriver and a hammer to make the cut continuous all the way around. I got the rest of the rubber filed out of the sleeves and am painting the bar right now. Hopefully I'll have some finished pics up pretty soon. BTW, I bought the Energy Suspension bushings in black. They look and feel like exceptionally good pieces. I'll hold my final verdict until after they're installed though. Also, I'm going to try to come up with a solution for the check plug on the rear diff cover. There's hardly any space between it and the control arm mount crossbrace to get a wrench in there. When you do manage to get it in there, it's nearly impossible to turn. I might cut out a small notch around the head of the plug and weld in some new material if needed.

Haha, well if it makes you feel better, the blog has gotten the most hits today since I started it. Over 60 from today alone. I have it advertised on another forum as well If anyone else is interested in their own interview segment, please email me at g9m3chevy@gmail.com and we'll get it set up.

I interviewed Dave for a new segment on my blog, Thrill of the Ride. The second part is at the top of the page. Scroll down a little to start at the beginning. http://thrilloftheride.tumblr.com/

Looking great! I'm enjoying all the pictures.

Agreed. I went from being afraid everytime I drove my car for fear of a breakdown to total confidence and enjoyment. Not to overstate things; but they are the single reason I started driving my car again.

I've already made my opinion of you public and was penalized for it. I'll bite my tongue this time.

No, I didn't go back and read the OP and the discussion that followed afterwards. I don't tend to do that when an old thread has been dug up with an all new discussion; I just take part in that one. I agree that my reply was a little harsh and I probably deserved the infraction. I just saw fit to express my opinion on the matter. It didn't refer to this one thread in particular. It just happened to be the unfortunate one that I posted my reply to. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Ah! Sorry to hear about the trouble. Hopefully you'll find a quick solution.

Not to start (continue) a flame war here, but I just stumbled upon these statements today ( a tad late, perhaps.) Every post I have seen from you when talking with members of other Z Car sites (even on here, with people who have migrated over) has been brash and, well.........rude. Are they misinformed? Possibly. However, they (for the most part) are very friendly and courteous to Z owners of all backgrounds. Now, I'm speaking mainly about the CTZCC. I have read quite a bit of mis-information and bias on that website, but I still frequent it a lot. Why? Their members have created the nicest Z Car forum on the internet and treat their members with respect. I understand that a certain bit of friction will always exist between certain people, but the way you spill it out onto the internet is just plain obnoxious and dare I say, elitest. Whoo hoo, you had the option of a 5 speed from the factory. What are we supposed to do about it now? Give you a cookie?

Looks familiar! Make sure before you install them that the small little fuel delivery hoses at the bottom of the carbs aren't kinked. One of mine must have gotten budged during shipping, so I had to take the clamp off and reposition it. The video and paperwork tells you all of this though.

"I am talking about the windshield wiper arms." Ok, I understand that part. "The actual thing that bolts to the motor(s) and hold the wire to the window. I have one. Can you guys provide pictures of the arms you guys have." This part further confuses me. These are wiper arms. I have no idea what you're talking about with the word "wire" thrown in there. That is, unless you're talking about the metal slats that support the rubber on the actual blades. In that case, you can buy blade assembly from any parts store.

Sorry to hear about this! If you're just taking the Z to leave it at a friend's house, I would suggest packing it full of your most valuable parts. Whatever you can't fit in the Z, I reckon would be somewhat expendable. If some of them are oily or greasy, just lay down a tarp or some plastic in the trunk and load it up.

I already have a noticeable amount of gear noise, so you definitely just talked me out of poly. Where is a good source for the OEM bushings? All I've found on MSA are poly.

I kind of figured so. Any suggestions on an upgraded option? Would poly be a good choice for these?

This is a pic of my differential rear crossbar mount. (Don't know the proper terminology here) Common sense would tell me it should be sandwiched between those two washers/bushings. I guess this is where my faint clunk is coming from when switching gears. It was solid as a rock after I installed my RT style front mount, but it has slowly developed a slight clunk again. Would the nuts have backed off or something? Should I just run them back up, or are the bushings worn out and compressed? Both sides look the same....

x3 There's nothing that's "rippable."

I know the feeling. I got my ZTherapy carbs about 2 months ago, and it's been perfect ever since. Hope you'll be as happy with yours as I am with mine.

Looks great!

I definitely agree. Although, I don't necessarily agree with the statement that the Z was the only sports car sold in the U.S. during its time.

It's fixed! Minor outpatient surgery.... (still haven't washed this thing since it sat all those months ) Excuse the soon to be demolished shack we just inherited. The culprit.... Front water pump seal; the weep holes were dry and unstained. New pump installed with new mounting bolts, fan studs, and painted pulley. I also noticed something today that caught my attention. My fan has a very slight wobble. It's hardly noticeable, but it possibly might have contributed to this pump going out so soon. I would have expected to see more of a wobble if that's what caused it, though. Oh well, time will tell. If it happens again, it'll be getting e-fans.

Are you talking about the ones I used in my balance tube, or the ones in my exhaust manifold? The brass ones in my balance tube are actually plated steel. They are inverted flare thread. Just tell the guy at the parts store you need some IF plugs. Now the ones in my exhaust manifold are zinc plated steel metric drain plugs. These should definitely be easily obtainable at any parts store. The one in my t-stat housing ended up being regular NPT thread. Go figure.

Alright, a little update here. A couple weeks ago, I took the car on its first trip after the round top conversion. I drove up to my parents' house, which is about 65-70 miles north of Tuscaloosa. The trip up there was great. The car was running perfectly, the weather was great, and traffic on my way out of the city was my only complaint. That night, I was visiting a few friends and took one of them on a little cruise around town in it. About 20 minutes later or so, I notice water droplets on the windshield, but I didn't think it was raining. I pull over and open the hood to feel hot little drops of water stinging my arms. Well crap. That's not good. I took him back and drove home. The next morning, my dad and I looked at the Z, trying to find the leak (pour). Turns out, it's the water pump. Either the seal or my mounting gasket. I want to believe it's just the gasket because, if I remember correctly, none of the bolts were in good shape and I even think I was missing one. I planned on swapping them out soon after we put the top end back together, but I never got around to it. I'm hoping the gasket just finally blew out or something. However, the best we could tell, the water was running out from the pulley, which would mean a seal leak. That sucks because this pump doesn't even have 300 miles on it yet. The place I bought it from was independently owned, and recently burned to the ground, so my warranty on it is no good. :mad: So, I ordered a few things. I bought a new water pump bolt kit and hood-cowl seal from MSA. I also bought a new water pump gasket, as well as a new pump. I'll return what I don't use. (hopefully the pump ) I also boguht a new pulley stud kit at work. Hopefully, it will be repaired by Friday. I leave on a family vacation to Pigeon Forge, TN on Sunday and will be gone through the 13th. I plan on bringing the car back to Tuscaloosa afterwards. I'll be in Pigeon Forge for the last part of the Fall Grand Rod Run, and will be there all weekend for Shades of the Past. Anyone else going to that show?

I don't know why I didn't realize it before, but the answer to your question was in the pics I posted. I'm no longer using the stock mount. As far as vibrations making their way into the car, I haven't noticed it at all. What I have noticed is no clunking on acceleration and a firmer feel when shifting gears quickly. I love it.

Everyone seems to know someone that's at school in Tuscaloosa. We might have to get a Z car meet together one of these days around Birmingham.

To be honest, I can't remember. I'm pretty sure I took it out because there was no need for it. The Energy Suspension GM trans. mount has an internal interlock feature allowing it to bear compression and tension loads. I think I remember throwing the stock mount out because it was torn in 2 anyway.