Posted by rickyracer (IP: 209.20.173.111) on September 14, 1999 at 00:46:42:
In Reply to: Rear shock mounts? posted by Butch on September 13, 1999 at 23:10:41:
: Shock angles aren't that important as long as they aren't to weird. Most manufactures put them where it was convenuent. Put in new metal for the spring mounts. The metal is so thin and rust eats them out fast. Not the engines abuse rust is the big problem.
]The weakest point on these little suckers (Mavs) has to be the rear spring mounts. I have owned 4 of them now (three still in my yard) and two of those had one of their shock mounts completly ripped out. Unfortunately, one of those is about to get a much anticipated hot little 302 that I have been working on for 7 months. The mounts bolt on to a molded piece of sheet metal which in turn is spot welded to the flat piece of sheet metal that you see in the trunk. In this case both pieces are torn out.
: I have a parts car that has that piece still intact - is it feasable to cut the good one out and weld it in place in the keeper? Or perhaps I could start over and weld a heavy plate on the trunk side which would go all the way across. This one got torn out with a I6 in it - what is going to happen with a good stout 302? That leads me to another question - how critical is the angle of the shock to the back suspension? It would be much easier just to redo the whole mount than to try and rebuild it as is but if the angles end up slightly different will it screw up the whole rear suspension? Please, any advise or opinion would be appreciated. I am ready to drop a $3000. (almost) motor into a $250 Mav and this is the last stumbling block. Thanks