T/C rod poly john's cars JCI kit

[zgeezer]

I recently purchased the JCI kit to install LS1 into early 240Z. I, also, purchased a set of poly bushings for the T/C rods.

 

Here are my problems: 1) I installed the poly bushings on the passenger's side T/C. The rounded edge to the outside and the square edges in both front and back cups. Veeeery dificult to install because the rod extends only about one thread outside the large washer. There is no "give" at all to poly. I have the 17 mm nut attached, but I can only get 1 thread outside the nut. With my old bushings I had 4 threads. I've put 45# torque on the nut, but it's solid. I don't like driving without at least 3 threads showing. Is this normal for the installation of poly bushings?

 

Problem #2 is that with JC's kit, there driver's side mount is on a beam that is secured at one end by a bolt though the Datsun motor mount stands and at the "aft" end by the body's T/C mount. The stack on the driver's side consists of the t/c rod, the welded "washer" on the t/c rod, one poly bushing, a cup riveted to the body mount, the JC mount, the cup, the bushing, the washer, and the 17mm nut. Note that the JCI instructions require that the back side cup be cut loose and reused on top of the JCI mount. The threaded end of the T/C rod simply does not clear the heavy washer enough to get the 17mm nut started.

 

After the search and reading about poly and broken t/c rods, I now have real misgivings about my current t/c set up and I think, maybe, using poly is not what I want to do. So here are my noobie questions:

 

1. This is not a race car, but I like crisp steering/braking responses. Should I simply dump the poly and go with new stock bushings?

2. Have any of you with the JCI kit had difficulty in installing the driver's side T/C rod?

3. Finally, is there any magic tool that would compress the poly to the point that I could install the T/C nut and get 3 threads.

 

Are having 3 thread showing (lesson from shop teacher years ago) simply not important in the age of blue/red locktite?

 

Finally, other posts in this forum have suggested that poly could be used upfront and the stock pliable bushings used in the rear. What are your thoughts? I don't want to go though this any more than once in 60,000 miles.

 

thanks,

 

g

[johnc]

Put a poly bushing on the front side of the TC rod and a OEM rubber bushing on the back side. Use some large vice grips to clamp the whole mess together to get the nut started.

[blueovalz]

I've always used the OEM rubber bushings. By the time they get compressed to the stops, there is little difference in compressibililty to the poly bushings as it relates to forces imparted by driving even with stickies. The good thing is that these can be tightened up while the car sets at its static ride height much easier than with the poly bushings can.