'72 Correct Control Arm Bushings?

[Barry U.]

This is my first post on your website, My question is are there correct bushings when having your car judged?
My 72 coupe has original bushings/coil springs. Are points deducted if I install MOOG springs/bushings?

Cheers,Barry

[Joe L.]

Re: '72 Correct Control Arm Bushings?

This is my first post on your website, My question is are there correct bushings when having your car judged?
My 72 coupe has original bushings/coil springs. Are points deducted if I install MOOG springs/bushings?

Cheers,Barry

Barry------

First of all, as an NCRS member, this is as much your web-site as it is ours. So, feel free to post whenever you need advice.

As far as the bushings go, you will probably find that the bushings available from Moog are exactly the same as the ones currently available from GM. In any event, the lower GM bushings will be embossed "Harris" on the rubber (as I expect the Moog bushings will, too). These bushings are identical to the ones originally used on your car.

The current GM upper bushings are embossed "Clevite" (as I would expect the Moog bushings are, too). Clevite became the supplier of the upper bushings for GM for the 1973 model year, PRODUCTION and SERVICE. These also became SERVICE for 1963-72 Corvettes. The original 63-72 bushings were manufactured by Harris and they differed slightly from the Clevite bushings in configuration. The difference is that the Harris bushings have an exposed rubber "extension" or "collar" on the inner end. The Clevite bushings use an outer steel shell that extends all the way to the end of the rubber. Reproductions of the original configuration are available.

I expect that judges for 1963-72 look for the inner rubber extension on the upper bushings and probably deduct if they are not present.

As far as the springs go, I'm sure they would also receive a deduction IF they could be identified as non-original. This would likely be hard to do if the springs were finished as-original (natural steel) and installed in the car. However, if the ride height of the car, which is affected by the springs, were not as-original, you would definitely receive a deduction for that. Many aftermarket springs do not produce an as-original ride height.

[Terry M.]

Re: '72 Correct Control Arm Bushings?

This is my first post on your website, My question is are there correct bushings when having your car judged?
My 72 coupe has original bushings/coil springs. Are points deducted if I install MOOG springs/bushings?

Cheers,Barry

Welcome Barry.

We judge parts based on their configuration, date, completeness, installation & finish differences (commonly called CDCIF) (if any) from original.

For that parts of them you can see springs are springs, but your original springs did have an ID tag attached to them and that is available in reproduction from most of the big box Corvette parts suppliers.

Replacement lower control arm bushings (what we can see of them) are the same Moog or GM originals.

Upper Control Arm (UCA) bushings are another matter. The originals had rubber protruding from the inner end and most replacements, including I believe Moog, do not have the rubber protruding from the ends any more. A reproduction UCA bushing is available from the usual sources that has a configuration that is close to the original, but it is most likely not made by Moog.

[Barry U.]

Re: '72 Correct Control Arm Bushings?

My springs are originals I can see the Green tag still present. I think I will replace the CA bushings and paint the Control arms.

Should I just clean up the springs and try to leave the Tags alone?

Thanks for the input

Barry

[Joe L.]

Re: '72 Correct Control Arm Bushings?

My springs are originals I can see the Green tag still present. I think I will replace the CA bushings and paint the Control arms.

Should I just clean up the springs and try to leave the Tags alone?

Thanks for the input

Barry

Barry------


I think you will find it very difficult to clean up the springs and preserve the existing tags. For one thing, the tags will likely be quite fragile by now.