#2 Body Bushings

[Rgpmalibu]

Hi gang,

Here's the facts:
'78 Malibu
Replacing totally shot body bushings with Energy Suspension 3-4141.

Passenger side #2 bushing bolt spins, but isn't coming out.
Driver side #2 bolt broke.
I have a feeling I spun the driver's side nut before the bolt broke.

Question:
How can I access the cage nuts for the #2 bushing bolts. Is there access behind the plastic inner fender, or could it be from inside the car in the foot well? All other bolts are out, but these two are holding up the program. I don't mind cutting if I need to, but I would rather not if I don't have to. Has anyone had to deal with this?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Rt Jam]

Not really access but what you want is behind the plastic wheel liner, not inside the car.

 

[Rgpmalibu]

Sweet, that's what I was hoping. Thanks a lot.

 

[Rgpmalibu]

I think I'm going to cut two lines straight down from the edges of that square hole and peel the metal back so I can access the cage nut. Hopefully that'll get the job done.

 

[Rt Jam]

Then weld it back up, install the plastic liner and only we will know.

 

[Rgpmalibu]

Then weld it back up, install the plastic liner and only we will know.

That's exactly my style man. Thanks brother.

 

[Rgpmalibu]

Just like the plan. All bushings are out. I have a little welding to do on driver #6, but that'll be quick work. I'm going to make the #6 access a little larger and then put in a patch, then cover it all up. I have a little over 3 hours in so far. #1's, #3's and #4's we're fine. #3 bolts looked like new for some reason. I had to cut holes for #6's and #7's.

 

[ssn696]

Thanks for sharing some pictures to document the problem/solution. You have some frame work ahead of you.

 

[Rgpmalibu]

Update on this. If you're someone who upgraded to tubular control arms with polyurethane bushings, and are running coilovers and sway bars and stuff, and you haven't done your bushings yet: don't wait. Do them now. This made a huge improvement in ride quality and made a lot of noises disappear. I'm super pleased how this turned out. This car handles like a dream now. It has way surpassed my wildest expectations when I bought the car in 2019 and it was just a aging car that didn't even run.

Here's a pic that my wife took of the t-bar setup. Made getting to #3 a little tricky, but it worked really well. Stock #3 bolts wound up being too short after the swap by the way.

One last note. If you have a Lokar shift linkage running to your swapped trans, don't forget to unhook it. Ask me how I know