For decades, performance junkies have been very familiar with the red polyurethane bushings that can be found at just about any automotive store. Polyurethane is more resilient to chemicals and the elements than rubber is. Rubber can break down, lose its shape, and is vulnerable to abrasion. So where do many enthusiasts go when their rubber bushings have failed them?
Energy Suspension has been a leading provider of suspension bushings and components for decades, and while many of its products are a direct-fit replacement to the factory bushings, there are universal parts that can be used for custom installations, too.
We’ve come across replacement suspension and sway bar bushings, as well as a replacement mount for many GM transmissions. But when it came time to find a new set of engine mounts for a 1966 Ford Galaxie with a slightly warmed over 457 cubic-inch FE.
While there are replacement rubber mounts for this application, the problem with those mounts is that they don’t last long when you’re subjecting them to the amount of torque a big-block Ford is putting out.
After scouring the internet and not finding a suitable replacement engine mount in polyurethane, the owner visited the Energy Suspension site and was able to purchase a pair of universal engine mounts (Part # 2.1102R) that would work perfect for his application.
It’s difficult to make a universal mount that can fit multiple applications, but after getting a little creative with some scrap metal and a die grinder, a suitable mounting plate was made to adapt to the Energy Suspension universal engine mount.
The factory mounting brackets have a little bit of a different shape, but that’s part of the game when you’re fabricating, so a new mounting bracket was cut and a stud was welded into place to accommodate the Energy Suspension mount. Once assembled, it was easy to see that the universal mount was going to work for this application, providing a much stronger, durable mount that will not only last longer than rubber will, but will also be impervious to the elements.
We’re used to getting creative when we have older cars like this, and sometimes finding a universal part like this engine mount can make all the difference in the world. Without it, the owner might have had to resolve himself to using the weaker rubber mounts, with plans to replace them before long.
Check out the Energy Suspension website and see what they have to offer. If you find yourself in a bind, give them a call and tell them what you’re looking for – they might just have something that will work and help get your project car or truck back on the road.
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