C-1 body mount mystery

[Keith R.]

Now, I can't swear that the body mount shims that came off the car are original but they differ significantly from the fiber shims that Corvette Central sells. I have eight rubber cushions that are approximately 1/4" thick and two other rubber cushions that are nearly a 1/2" thick. These seem to correspond to the eight passenger compartment mount points and the two rear. I also have six fiber material shims that vary in thickness from about .16" up to .23". In comparison, the Corvette Central fiber shims measure .10". Has anyone seen cushions/fiber shims like this come off an original car?

Also puzzling is the fact that two of the fiber shims have remnants of 1 1/2" masking tape on them suggesting that the shim went between the body and the metal shim contrary to the AIM.

[Roger W.]

Re: C-1 body mount mystery

The rubber cushions look like the cushions used to mount the bumpers as shown on page 11-5 in the service manual.

[Joe M.]

Re: C-1 body mount mystery

Those are original body mount metal and cardboard/fiber shims. The repro metal shims are thicker than original and the repro cardboard/fiber shims are thinner. The 1-1/2" masking tape was used to hold the shims together during the body drop onto the frame.

[Rod K.]

Re: C-1 body mount mystery

For what it's worth, my '57 had laminated rubber/fabric pads similar to conveyor belting material about .234 thk IIRC at the eight pass compartment points, plus metal shims but no fiber. Rear two points had round rubber doughnuts below and above the fiberglass. I know mine had been apart to repair damaged fiberglass at a couple of the mounting points but have no reason to believe the pads, etc., weren't replaced as they were.

Your pads appear to be solid rubber, no fabric layers, which raises a question. Note the deep impressions of the steel shims into the rubber due to having no reinforcing fabric. My best pads showed little of that. Just wondering if yours really are factory or maybe something from another application as Roger suggests, but every body mounting pad of that type I've seen has the fabric layers, and I looked at a few in trying to find replacements for mine.

[Eric F.]

Re: C-1 body mount mystery

For what its worth the 54 I'm restoring has the same type of mounting pads and metal shims as Rods 57. There is no indication the mounts have ever been removed. The evidence from the metal ships, rubber cushions (pads) and frame indicate they are all original. The rubber pads are nothing like those I received from Corvette Central, which fit the application but they don't meet OEM standards.

[Chris S.]

Re: C-1 body mount mystery

both 54's I have done and the 53's have fiber material - looks like conveyor belt material and metal shims.
Brett Henderson repro's them and that is what we use when putting the bodies back on. I am sure as production changed and models changed - I am sure the mounts changed
I just took the body off a 59 - I will check those mounts.
Chris

[Keith R.]

Re: C-1 body mount mystery

Thanks Chris.

[Brad K.]

Re: C-1 body mount mystery

Keith....Here are 4 photos of the shims I took out of my '59 in 1985 (30 years ago....if you can believe that) I am very sure they are original as I purchased the car in 1969 when it was only 10 years old and very original except for paint and interior.

There are 19 metal and 10 fiber shims. The metal shims measure between .065 and .075 thick depending on how much crud is stuck to them. The fiber ones are all .200 inches thick which is a compressed thickness underneath the metal shims. The outer edges of the fiber shims are expanded to a somewhat greater thickness (and feathered into fibers). Most of the fiber shims have evidence of the 1 1/2 inch masking tape on them

I have no idea how they were stacked or where they were located. I put them into a baggie, threw them into a box and never laid eyes on them until about an hour ago! I never throw anything away...

I also have a baggie with 1/2 inch rubber shims which I am sure are rear bumper shims.

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