[western star]

I hope this is in the right Forum. This is posted for a friend of mine. 1966 Nova 2 door hardtop. This car has been completely stripped down and built back slightly modified to the tune of $50k. Here is the problem. He has mono leafs springs, welded in sub frame including a 9" notch through the rear floor pans, gas shocks and polyurethane bushings in the rear leafs. When you go around a corner and get a bit of body roll the body it makes a creaking sound that at times is quite loud. It only does it when body tilts side to side and mostly around left hand corners. He wanted to know if anyone has had a problem like this and wonders if replacing the polyurethane bushings with the stock rubber ones would allow more flex. He's hoping that the welded in sub frame is not the culprit. Could it need extra frame bracing or maybe take off the sub frame connectors? Anyone ever experience this problem. Only know that the sound appears to be coming from about the back half of the car. :sweat:

 

[poncho62]

Probably is....does he have a roll cage in it too?

That would help stiffen it up and not flex.

 

[western star]

No roll bar. Keep in mind this car never had this problem before installing the polyurethane bushings and the sub frame connectors. He put the sub frame in to handle the extra power so the body wouldn't flex however the engine is only a 327 putting out about 350 hp but being this cars have no frame he wanted to make sure with the money he has into the car that he didn't get any body twist to damage anything down the road. .

 

[poncho62]

I wonder if welding in the connectors didn't weaken the structure a little. also, the car is almost 40 years old, has to be weaker than new.

The poly bushings don't allow for the movement that the rubber ones did. That may account for some of the squeaking.

 

[western star]

Not a squeaking, not the sound of a light gauge metal that has broken but a definate creak. Maybe something like you pushing in on a quarter panel and then it popping out. First time I've ever heard a car do this. I think it may be hauntedain: