Body mounts - uh, what? Are they worn?

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King_V

Master Mechanic
Jul 17, 2013
307
5
18
Sicklerville, NJ
Ok, so, in the various ponderings of SBO vs BBO into my 1979 Cutlass Calais, I've been advised that some people have clearance issues when the body mounts are worn, and, yes, that makes sense to me - the lower the body is on the frame, the tighter clearance will be under the hood.

The problem is that I am absolutely 110% clueless as to where body mounts are on this car, or, eyeballing, if my car's body is sinking based on worn body mounts or not.

I mean, the car DOES seem slightly low to me, but that's because I'm used to driving a 1987 Crown Victoria every day.

So, uh, where do I look? What would my first clues be, if any, even before going underside and looking for the body mounts (which I have no idea how to identify or even where to find at this point), etc etc...

Yep, I'm feeling pretty lost at the moment on this!
 
Well, they are between the body and frame...

If you look behind your rear wheel you will see one without getting under the car. That will at least give you a clue as to their general location. Once you see that one, there is a set behind those (very ends of the rear frame rails), a set in front of the rear wheels, a set about mid way through the car (center of doors), a set behind the front wheels, and a set at the very ends of the front frame rails. With the exception of the very front (top part clearly visible under the hood at each end of the radiator support) and the one behind the rear wheels, you'll have to get underneath the car to see them.

I'm not sure if all G-bodies are alike, but the ones mid-way through the car were the worst as far as deterioration.
 
Some insane part of me gibbered out . . "But, but, but, sure it's 34 years old, but it's low mileage, rust free, and was always garage kept! That counts for something, right?!??"

Then the logical part of my brain chimed in "True, 47k original miles, in the garage, but the body's weight was still resting on those mounts the WHOLE 34 years, right?"

The first part started crying at that point.... but ah well, time to take a look around down there I guess!
 
My GP only had 26,500 miles but the rubber was dry rotted and hard as a rock. I did not have any frame rust at all but the mounts were shot.
 
here's the shelf life of most common rubber compunds and you won't find any that will last for 30 years...

tech_shelf.jpg
 
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