Does anyone have the dimensions for the rear shock mounts? I am about to fabricate a pair of "solid" ones. I'd like to have them ready before I take the car apart.
I could take the old ones off and measure I guess if noone knows.

Why do you want to make your own? I dont remember them being expensive - like $30 each or so....

These will cost me $0, plus I like making things.
Do you mean the Ford ones, or the ones that somone was making?

I heard that someone has them from a Thunderbird site or something... Solid ones.

I also recently ordered some parts from American Air Suspension and spoke with Eddie. He tells me that within a few weeks they will be offering a solid mount and Monroe sensitrac combo. Apparently he found a fabricator to make them for him.

If anyone else has any information please let us know. I am in the market to buy a pair of mounts myself.

There is a guy from markviii.org that makes them. That's probably where Eddie is getting them, unless he makes them himself.

As far as I can tell this guy from MarkVIII.org with solid upper mounts DID in fact make a run of solid upper mounts... Whether or not he still has any or still makes them is a very interesting question, nobody seems to know.

just remove the rubber from the old ones ! and your done with it , cost is $0

I wonder if the hole is too big when you just remove the rubber? Are the bushings that you used the ones that came with the shocks Buddy? I remember the post when you burned the rubber off yours. Is it holding up OK?

they are good looking.I haven't installed them yet because I think I'l use my 97 for a parts car(what few parts there may be sence it's a hurricane car)but these look good.I many years ago was a welder/fitter,beginner tool & dye maker and I know good craftsmanship when I see it.I put the mount on the gromet and on the shock and they line up.Just needs to be compressed and bolted up.I'm just learning this stuff so I'm not an expert but am going to have fun.The guy's name is Eric and his address is neasham@hotmail.com the price being $35.00 for the pair and this covers S&H.I hope all of my bussiness with others goes this well.I built a supercharged motorcycle mostly from the net and it got a little toooo indepth for me.O'well. Later:)

they are good looking.I haven't installed them yet because I think I'l use my 97 for a parts car(what few parts there may be sence it's a hurricane car)but these look good.I many years ago was a welder/fitter,beginner tool & dye maker and I know good craftsmanship when I see it.I put the mount on the gromet and on the shock and they line up.Just needs to be compressed and bolted up.I'm just learning this stuff so I'm not an expert but am going to have fun.The guy's name is Eric and his address is neasham@hotmail.com the price being $35.00 for the pair and this covers S&H.I hope all of my bussiness with others goes this well.I built a supercharged motorcycle mostly from the net and it got a little toooo indepth for me.O'well. Later:)
Jerry, would you mind measuring it and sending me the dimensions?

I wonder if the hole is too big when you just remove the rubber? Are the bushings that you used the ones that came with the shocks Buddy? I remember the post when you burned the rubber off yours. Is it holding up OK?
the hole isn't too big, yes the bushing from 97 t-bird shocks , yep both the cars .... no problems

same here on my car, no problems either....:I :I

I think I will just burn the old rubbers off then. FIRE!:gr_devil:
Thanks

I followed BuddyLee's advice and put the fire to the old mounts and used the 97 T-Bird rubber bushings and still working great.:)

I bought some monroe gas matic shocks at advance for $12 each. I hope the weather is nice this weekend.

What is the advantage of the solid or T-Bird bushing setup?

What is the advantage of the solid or T-Bird bushing setup?
If you use the T-Bird bushings in the stock mount after removing the stock rubber, the cost is 0.00. :D

Cost, the best kind of advantage. :)

I agree Dominus! Have you seen the price of the mark viii shocks and mounts?

Unfortunately, yes. I am in the middle of assembling all of the pieces for a complete suspension re-do. The only time I will give on price is when there is a clear advantage in the product, but in this case, I think the modified mounts will be just as good if not better.

I have been rebuilding mine piece by piece.
upper control arms
front struts
rack and pinion
tie rod ends
sway bar links
strut rod bushings
I can't wait to get rid of the shock noise in the back.

I've got everything but the TIME! :D

Could someone include pictures? I've changed shocks/struts before on other cars, but not the set on the back of the Mark VIII. What tends to be the problem with them?

I've got everything but the TIME! :D
I know how you feel...and with the rain we have had here lately, it's even worse.

Could someone include pictures? I've changed shocks/struts before on other cars, but not the set on the back of the Mark VIII. What tends to be the problem with them?
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=20192

Could someone include pictures? I've changed shocks/struts before on other cars, but not the set on the back of the Mark VIII. What tends to be the problem with them?
the stock mounts fail and the clunking begins,you can replace the stock mount but it will fail again eventually.

Why does the Mark VIII rubber fail, but the T-bird mounts don't? Is it because the shocks on the Mark VIII are supposed to respond to driving styles?

Why does the Mark VIII rubber fail, but the T-bird mounts don't? Is it because the shocks on the Mark VIII are supposed to respond to driving styles?
it's the way it's designed, the bushing is molded to the mount. it starts to crack and eventually it separates.

Why does the Mark VIII rubber fail, but the T-bird mounts don't? Is it because the shocks on the Mark VIII are supposed to respond to driving styles?





What driving styles you are talking about, you mean the more your car sit the longer you rubber bushing last right.

What driving styles you are talking about, you mean the more your car sit the longer you rubber bushing last right.

I thought that, at least the early Mark VIIIs, had a valve that controlled the rebound of the reaer shock in response to your driving (sport, comfort), when equiped with the right kind of valved shock.

Why does the Mark VIII rubber fail, but the T-bird mounts don't? Is it because the shocks on the Mark VIII are supposed to respond to driving styles?
Tbird doesn't have a mount, just a hole in the body. The shock shaft goes through it with a bushing and washer on each side, a nut on top. The solid mounts mentioned basically make a big hole into a small hole.

Ok...I still haven't gotten around to doing this job...between the constant rain, and other things going on in my life, I never have time for my car. One more question. After I burn the rubber off the old mounts and go to install them in the car, should I completely install the bushings,top and bottom then put the shock in, or put the bottom washer and bushing on, put the shock in place, THEN put the top bushing on? It's hard to tell looking at the pics if it will fit through the hole with the top bushing on.
I know...I tend to over think things instead of just doing them...
Thanks everyone for your input.