cab bushing / mount clusterfluff 73-80 frame

[blueboyshortbed]

so.... i am building a chevy k10 4x4 shortbed, trying to piece it all together, i bought a frame allegedly a 85 ( 87 cab, 85 front end, just a modern day johnny cash automobile lol)  and i bought cab mounts according to the frame, well they didnt fit so it must be 73-80 so i bought those mounts,  poly energy star, and i went to install them and this is where i have some questions 

everything ive bought thus far has been rigged on this project and im trying to unrig it so sorry if these questions sound dumb

the holes in the frame are a little over an 1 1/2 and the new mounts that go in the holes are a little over 1 inch so there is allot of play, did the previous owner drill the frame holes out or is that correct? If not should i machine some spacers to go around the poly bushing to lessen the play?

i saw the bushing replacement post in projects and the pictures of his bushing going through the frame is allot tighter fit then mine so im guessing they have been drilled ...

secondly the previous mounts that were on this frame when i got it had "sleeves" ( def. according to  ) on all 6 cab bushings.(i dont think they were right to begin with) but ive looked at the diagram on   and it says i only need sleeves on the furthest back mount is that true? im guessing it is but i wanted a second opinion cuz the energy star installation instructions say there should be a sleeve in all 6. and if so i can machine them and im guessing they would need to be a quarter inch shorter then the bushings right ? the rear sleeve has a length written on the install instructions and it is a quarter inch shorter the total bushing length ... so im guessing that would be the guideline for all if they need it?

any input is appreciated
thanks

[bake74]

     First off, the cab mounts should be bought for the cab, not the frame. ( frames are the same 73 - 87, cabs are not ).  You need to check the bushing for the cab you have and see if they are bigger.
     I have only had 1 truck 81 and up so far, and they only had sleeves in the back set.  Now I have taken apart at least three pre 80 trucks, and they have had sleeves in all the bushing.  I do not think it matters too much about the sleeves, they offer support for the bushings so they can only be crushed so far instead of some I have seen that have collapsed completely and the cab can move 1" to 1 1/2" up and down, that is when they start ripping through the floor.

[blueboyshortbed]

i'm pretty sure all the cabs are the same when it comes to mounting 73-87 , the frames are the ones that changed 73-80 are different then 81-87, i have bought both sets of bushings and the 81-87 need a 2 inch hole in the frame to fit through and the 73-80 needs around a inch and an eighth. I have roughly an inch and 5/8 in all 6 holes of my frame.

good to know thanks i think ill just make some sleeves just to be on the safe side i don't want any holes in my floor pan lol

[bake74]

i'm pretty sure all the cabs are the same when it comes to mounting 73-87 , the frames are the ones that changed 73-80 are different then 81-87, i have bought both sets of bushings and the 81-87 need a 2 inch hole in the frame to fit through and the 73-80 needs around a inch and an eighth. I have roughly an inch and 5/8 in all 6 holes of my frame.

good to know thanks i think ill just make some sleeves just to be on the safe side i don't want any holes in my floor pan lol

      Do a search if you need, it has been discussed in detail before. 

[thirsty]

The frames are different as far as the body mounts go. The holes are smaller 73-80. On mine I made the holes bigger because I already had the 81-87 bushings.

[Blazin]

73-80, and 81-87 / 91 You should use the body mounts that go with the year of the frame.

[blueboyshortbed]

After further investigation the hack who had this frame was not only briliant but lazy too lol he only drilled out 3 holes on the driver side and cut down the bushings on the pass side to fit in the holes in the frame ... so what i did was machined stainless bushings to make the 73 80s mount fit snug in the drilled.out holes of the frame and machined thick walled stainless sleeves and with some force and a miracle got everything lined up and on, i havent got.to.drive.it.yet but all the body.lines.match up


Thanks for all the help ill be needing more.here shortly by the.way th
is project is.going