Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

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Rear Mounts Specifically The Uppers ?

Postby Hoonbash » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:26 am

Hi

I replaced the lower control arm bushings on my 74 Vega the other day and noticed that the upper control arm mounting system looks very weak.

The car had a narrowed chevy 12 bolt in it when purchased and they welded all the factory vega brackets onto the housing.

This Vega will be a street/strip terror,my combo is a 383,3500 stall with 3.73's for gears.

I think add a set of slicks and the carnage would begin.

What's the simplest fix for these??

Thanks-Hoonbash
87 GTA
70 Skylark
75 Vega GT
79 Sunbird
76 Sunbird
72 CoupDevile
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Postby 70styleVega » Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:48 pm

Your project is similar to mine. This and other H-body forums have been a big influence on how I plan to approach this problem. :lol:

I plan to add welds all around the perimeter of the rear upper mounts.

Next, I plan to purchase a set of the H-body traction bars off of ebay. These bars should take a lot of load off the the upper mounts and control arms.

Also, I plan to install a set of 82+ Camaro coil spring air bags to help tune/adjust how the rear axle reacts.

Finally, many veteran members that run a short tire/small tire (p235/60-15 ET Street Radials), recommend a 2700-2800 stall converter with 383-406 torque motors. (Higher stall speeds are more likely to blow the tires away).

These are the things I'm going to try..... I'm sure that other members, some with time slips, can chime in with suggestions.
75 Vega hatchback, EFI 5.3L/t350 swap kit, street/strip, budget build in progress
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Postby rustorbust » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:49 am

I have pretty much all the same setup. 406 edelbrock heads, 170 shot plate system, th350 3800 stall, 12 bolt with gm posi and 3.73, 26x8.5 MT's, I have a sway bar, airbags in both springs run them both at 25psi. The car leaves extremely hard 1.47 60ft times. It still has the stock upper and lower control arms that have been boxed. The only reason I put the bags in was cause the car was squatting so hard that the pinnion was hitting the floor board. It has went as fast as 6.79 @ 102 in the 8th. I have alot of passes on the car with all the stock suspension and have dialed it down pretty good. The car is in the garage right now, I took it apart to freshen it up and put a bigger solid roller cam in it. If you need any info feel free to ask, I can point you in direction that I should have taken when I first started building the car. Ill post some pictures of the car.
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Postby NixVegaGT » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:39 am

OK dude. You did not buy that car for $75!??!! That is a great view of the wrinkle wall launch...
- Nic '73 Vega GT "DogBoxx" Batwing LS1
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2357894
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Postby rustorbust » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:37 am

Yea I did 75 dollars, here is some pictures of it when I found it 2 years ago

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Postby NixVegaGT » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:31 am

I love the steelies on it. That's pretty cool. I noticed the Ranchero suffers from the same roof damage. We say it's raining cats and dogs here... LOL. That's a rough one to fix. You got any plans for that part? It's a good color. I love the "run what you brung" look of it on the track though. It's cool
- Nic '73 Vega GT "DogBoxx" Batwing LS1
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2357894
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Postby greg72 » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:50 am

I love this car!

The overall look plus the performance is a great combination. I bet that car is a heck of a lot of fun!
Greg
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Postby rustorbust » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:00 pm

Thanks, I could never figure out what it was that fell on the cars. Im assuming it was a pole of some sort. I dont think It will be that bad to fix. the headliner is still in the car and its probably gonna be the last thing to come out of it, when it does I will push that dent back out and straighten it up with some dollies and then here in the near future im going to paint it the same ugly green. Its pretty funny when I go to the track cause I have people always telling me man it just doesnt look like it would be that fast especially when you put a couple car lengths on the big tired cars right off the line.
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Postby flracer » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:09 pm

Hey rust or bust what is offset on your rear wheels?Thanks
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Postby v8astregt » Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:04 am

Very inspirational rustorbust! 8)

Gives me hope for my stock suspension! I noticed that you do not have 1) traction bars or 2) relocated mounting points. I always here about how that's supposed to help so much, but judging by your 60ft, you seem to be doing good without them?

And btw, do you know what your time would be for the 1/4 mile? Thanks.
75 Pontiac Astre GT: 406SBC/TH350, roll bar, S10 goodies, down to 11.47 so far, more to come later.
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Postby rustorbust » Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:18 am

Ther rear wheels are 15x7 with 3 3/4" offset. As fars as traction bars, relocating mounts, adjustable arms, I have tried to stay to the theory if it works dont change it. I know alot of other guys have problems with stock suspesion and wheel hop but I have never ran into the problems. I know that there will come a time where im going to have to re-enforce the mounting points for the rear arms but I have been keeping a close eye on them and havnt seem them doing anything wrong yet. My goal is to run it to or faster than 6.0 and I know it is possible with all stock suspension. I think right now it would run somewhere close to 10.50 in the 1/4.
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Postby Monzamouse » Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:11 am

Rustorbust, what front springs are you running? Looks like you get
great weight transfer.
Thanks
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Postby rustorbust » Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:13 am

They are the stock springs but I have 2 of the rubber helper bushing in each spring, I think you can buy them at autozone or pepboys. It also has s10 spindles im not sure if that sets it up any higher or not.
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Postby DEMON Precision » Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:22 am

rustorbust

that car is the shit !!! love that ride
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Rustorbust?

Postby BigTruckDriver » Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:29 am

How is the stock suspensions holding up? Have you got your E.T. lower? There is a 10.5 inch limited street class here in my area and I want to set up my Vega for it. The class here is running a average reaction time of .068 and average ET of 6.062 In the 1/8 mile.There is really not any setting up I can do , only mini tubs and bolt on links that must stay in stock location. Will I can also add sub connectors. Looking at your ride I think the my vega has potential. Do you think you have room to go faster (lower E.T.) with your current set up? NICE RIDE!
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