Radiator Core Support Bushings

[scoti]

I know different car, but my 70 from the factory has washers under the core support to set the height that was needed and then used the bushings.

I get there might be a need to slightly shim things. A 3/4" gap is not shimming IMHO.

My initial assumption was there must be different bushings depending on which model & this group could/would confirm the specifics. Seems it's still a mystery. At this point, I'll probably just make some spacers & go from there.

 

[bracketchev1221]

I get there might be a need to slightly shim things. A 3/4" gap is not shimming IMHO.

My initial assumption was there must be different bushings depending on which model & this group could/would confirm the specifics. Seems it's still a mystery. At this point, I'll probably just make some spacers & go

3/4” is about what I have.

 

[scoti]

Bringing this back around for some follow up in case another might fall into this rabbit hole.....

There are definitely different height core supports (as measured between where the fenders attach @ the top & the core support bushing location).
My OE 1978 Malibu Classic core support is ~11" tall in this area. The core support I bought from a g-body specific used parts source is ~10.5" tall @ the same location. The core support for the parts car I just purchased ('81 4dr Malibu) is ~11". So there's a 1/2" difference right there.

Now add the bushings to the mix.
I purchased new 'g-body' core support bushings from Dixie Restorations when I began this journey. Once the height difference was noted when trying to align & gap the front fenders to the different/replacement used core support, I looked harder @ the possible difference is height of the bushings. While physically slightly different, the height for the new replacement vs. the used OE were close but the new bushing was slightly shorter (1.125"/new vs 1.250" used). This is where the recommendations for the possible need for 'shimming' made sense.

But.... I did some more research & found a different set of core support bushings from Mikes Monte's. These new bushings physically resemble the OE/1978 bushings & measure in @ 1.5" tall.

So, combine the 1/2" difference of the actual core support heights PLUS the difference of the support bushing heights & I now understand why there was a ~1" gap @ the core support if/when the fenders were aligned for the best gap @ the doors.

Scrutinze your parts/parts combo. There's no reason one should need almost 1" of 'shims' to get things aligned.