I'm working with John Parker to have a batch of Delrin Idler arm bushings CNC'd out of Delrin for 1800s and 122s. If there is enough interest they should go for around $20.00. If you're interested please email me and let me know how many you'd want. kgc@microshaft.org

Heck, count me in. I just got a kit from IPD but haven't replaced the idler arm bush yet. I like the plastic units as they are much easier to install than the sleeved rubber units!

--
Mike!

Which kind?

122 and 1800 models use an 'early' style up to 1965 and a 'later' style 1966 onward.

If this is what you're considering making, then 1) Kyle is out of luck.

If you're looking into the later style, it's the same part as the 140 series use. So - Kyle: you might be in luck!
Microshaft: if it's the later style, why not promote it to the 140 crowd as well as the 122/1800 folks in hopes of increasing your market?

Best,

Cameron
Rose City

Cameron, I've heard that early 1800s used a brass sleve but that the rubber is the correct replacement -- IPD :) - lists the same part# for the 122, 1800 and 140 - all years.

Is this incorrect?

I didn't catch that the 140's shared the part.

Just looking in the current IPD vintage catalog... they list an idler arm bushing for '66-onwards 122 and 1800, same part number as all years of 140. No listing I can see for '65-earlier.

544 uses a bronze bushing... did the earlier 122 and 1800 as well?

Great idea John and Microshaft.

My early style idler bushings were shot and the shaft was worn too. Luckily(?) I found a complete kit the the local import auto parts store that I got for a song.

My bushings were split steel backed bronze. The ugly part is the bushings compressed under the shaft diameter (seems like it was about .005" under) plus the bushings didn't push in-line and they required reaming. The new shaft diameter miked out to some stupid number that I didn't have a reamer for. I had to make a custom reamer to line ream the damn things? Ugly job!!! I assume a snug push fit assembled dry is a good tolerance. Works nicely so far.

I would think an early unit could be retrofitted to a delrin bushing arrangement by desperate man with the equipment. I will file that away for future use. There is a company doing this for retrofitting delrin kingpin bushings in "I" beam axles for rods.

Now that I think about it, my question is kind of moot. The later style idler arm is easily retrofitted to an early style car - so the delrin component, if made for the later style, would easily adapt to an older car. As long as the installer had the proper idler arm in which to fit the delrin.

I guess that'd be the thing to mention to anyone buying one. And I really can't imagine that there'd be a market for delrin replacements for the brass internals in the early arms... hmmm...

The earlier idler arms that I'm familiar with (122; I'd think that 1800 and maybe '62 and later PV would be the same) have lots more parts inside. Two bushings, two spacer-washer-doodads, two rubber seals.

They're easily identified - if the idler arm assembly has a grease fitting, it's the early kind. If not, it's the later kind.

Cool idea, this.

Best,

Cameron
Bridgetown

Before this gets out of hand:
The reason for doing a bushing other than the rubber sleeved bushing that is available from IPD and others, is that that bushing seems to be sloppy on the shaft and leaves too much play in the idler arm. Thus we made up a few bushings to use on the racecars. Its only based on requests that I said I would consider making more for street cars. I haven't looked at the early arms, but the same bushing is listed for most of the 122s/1800s/140s. What I would prefer is to find a decent replacement bushing, but if none are available I can eventually have some made.
Won't be real soon though. Also looking to make up more of the delrin upper A arm bushings that IPD used to offer. These really aren't the best thing for street cars as they wear comparatively quickly in street cars, poly bushings are better for the street, but the delrin are stiffer/better for a competition car. We could find the same thing on the idler arm bushing. Only time and trying it will tell.

John
V-performance.com

Good points.

I remember (from days at ipd) receiving idler arm bushings from time to time that weren't good enough to install. When I was still there, we started inspecting them much more carefully; but once in a while we'd get a few with an outside diameter that was too small - allowing for the idler arm to move up and down; thus adding a little slop to the steering input on the right side of the car; and 'hogging out' the cylindrical opening into which the bushing was installed. Not ideal.

For whatever reason, I've noticed that on my own cars, replacement parts don't have nearly the lifespan that the original parts did. The original bushings came out at over 200K and looked better than replacements after only 50K. Some of this can likely be attributed to the different use the cars now see, but I have a hard time believing that more aggressive use and suspension mods would so drastically reduce their lifespan.

Whatever the case, I think delrin idler arm bushings would be a good thing to try.

Best,

Cameron
City of Roses

As for longevity, I got a regular idler arm bushing from some import car parts store for $6 in 1983 (they had it in stock, no less), it's still in our Amazon some 300,000 miles later, and it still has no slop at all.

AFAIK, the one in our 1800S is original, now 38 years old, and has no slop (but that's only ~170,000 miles).

If quality replacement are NLA, I can certainly see Delrin as a good substitute. I'm curious about John's comment that it wears faster than urethane, though -- I thought the stuff was supposed to last just about forever. ???

I'd be interested in one for a 140... :-\
--
Kyle - VP of OVT Membership - www.OVTuners.org Portland/Corvallis, OR - 1968 142 - current setup: 71b20b SUs, m40, bigger list available upon request... ;)

Kyle - these would only fit a 1800 or a 122 but you could have one made for a 140. You might want to get a hold of John Parker at v-performance.com to see if he'll one off one for a 140 for you.