ESPO poly cab mounts [Archive] - International Full Size Jeep Association

The Anti-Chrysler

11-17-2003, 12:36 AM

Hey all, I recently got a set of ESPO poly cab mounts, and now that I'm ready to install them, I noticed something troubling. All six mounts are exactly the same, in the style of the rear mounts. The problem is, is that the radiator (core) support mounts are much smaller diameter, and don't have the bottom cup. Here's my question. Did I get sent wrong parts, or has anyone else had this happen, and what did they do? I bought these over a month ago, so as it sits, I may have to use some original rubber mounts for the front. :rolleyes: :(

Cecil14

11-17-2003, 12:52 AM

Hmmm...you shouldn't say things like this, I'm about to get a set from them. I will let you know what I get.

Are the other ones big enough that they will get in the way of something if you use them in the front? Now that I think it the body lift blocks I'm using are all one size (cut down standard blocks to make enough)...

Anthony

The Anti-Chrysler

11-17-2003, 12:58 AM

Oh boy, you already ordered the set?? Maybe I will just call them, however I'm sure I'm past the time where I can try to send them back or anything. The fronts have to be small to fit around the core I think, and they also are a special height which I think isn't the same as the rear mounts. If you look at yours you will see that the front mounts sit on a tab on the front of the frame, and don't have room at the bottom for the lower pad.

Cecil14

11-17-2003, 01:13 AM

Yah, my set should be here today or tomorrow hopefully. This could be a problem that I was hoping to not run into. :( I suppose we shall see what's gonna happen.

Anthony

The Anti-Chrysler

11-17-2003, 01:24 AM

I just called them. The lady said that it was the right listing to send six of the same mounts. What she tells me is that the manufacturer sends them this way. She thought maybe my truck was special until I told her I've had about 6 of these rigs, and they're all the same. So, looks like I'm going to have to re-use the old front mounts. Anthony, you're going to have to as well, unless we can come up with something else to work....???

Cecil14

11-17-2003, 01:35 AM

Hmmm, I'm going to go out and work on my truck this afternoon and I will take a look and see if I can find the original mounts and see if maybe I can't figure something out. If they've been sending them that way maybe they will fit...??

Does V8 vs. L6 make a difference? I know the core support is different part will that make any difference in the fit for these?

Anthony

The Anti-Chrysler

11-17-2003, 01:42 AM

The frame I'm using on my swap is from an L-6. It's exactly the same, minus the old motor mount towers. I gurantee yours is exactly the same. I can't see how they would fit nicely. The rears are made to sit through a hole, with a bottom cup. The front sits ON TOP of a tab welded on the frame, and bolts right to the underside of the tab. There is so little room under the tab, that every one I've seen has a stack of washers on the top to make sure the bolt doesn't go too far past the tab and hit the frame on the bottom.

Surely someone else has run into this before myself and Anthony??????

Cecil14

11-17-2003, 01:47 AM

I meant the core suppose itself being different, knew the frames are the same, got one of each flavor here. :D This kinda sucks, ya know that. You just totally flooded out my parade. tongue.gif

Anthony

The Anti-Chrysler

11-17-2003, 01:49 AM

Nope, sorry, both cores mount exactly the same way. The bottom side where they meet the body mount is flat anyway. Sorry I flooded your parade, but maybe we can nip this thing in the butt with some chime ins from others before we do the job. I'm not to keen on the idea of re-using the old mounts, but so far it's looking like it'll be what I'm going to do.

The Anti-Chrysler

11-17-2003, 02:30 AM

Anyone else???

The Anti-Chrysler

11-17-2003, 07:48 AM

Bump....

ColeTrickle

11-17-2003, 08:46 AM

Jason, awhile back I measured the height of the core supports and they were different between the years. It's between the pre-'79
models that I'm refering to.

All that was changed was the height of the bracketry on the frame.

Hope that could be SOME help.

[ November 17, 2003, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: ColeTrickle ]

Elliott

11-17-2003, 10:14 AM

I've got a 3", what PA?, block kit and every one of the howevermany blocks are fat and fit up front just fine as anywherz else.

talntar

11-17-2003, 10:16 AM

i put them on mine all the same.on the gw there is a bolt inside the boxed section you access through a hole in the frame.i just took that out and jacked up the front to put in the new one.i think i had to modify the mount a bit but have had know problems so far

Cecil14

11-17-2003, 11:36 AM

Ok, I got my mounts today and you are correct, as they send them they will NOT work. And of course the lady at ESPO was a #@#$@ and would not even try to work with me so these are the last things I will be buying from them.

Anyway I have modified them so that they will work and I will have pics here in just a sec. It only took about 15 minutes with a small band and went pretty easy, it just kinda made me mad that "she had been selling these kits for 10 years and has never had a problem" but I got mine and another guy today called and they were the wrong ones. Something maybe not add up here??? :mad:

Let me throw the pics together real quick and I'll post again in a minute.
Anthony

[ November 17, 2003, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: Cecil14 ]

Cecil14

11-17-2003, 12:54 PM

Ok, here is a page detailing what I did to make the mounts fit. I haven't put the body on yet but I checked everything and it looked like it was all going to work alright.

Body Mounts (http://www.geocities.com/cecil_odo/83/bodymounts/bm.html)

I'm gonna be doing a 1.5" body lift at the same time and I'm thinking the BL blocks will have to go between the frame and the body mount instead of the body and the mount like the other ones.

Anthony

ColeTrickle

11-17-2003, 01:26 PM

Hey Anthony, nice work! ;)
Thanks for the added write up and pics...

The Anti-Chrysler

11-18-2003, 01:51 AM

Originally posted by Cecil14:
Ok, I got my mounts today and you are correct, as they send them they will NOT work. And of course the lady at ESPO was a #@#$@ and would not even try to work with me so these are the last things I will be buying from them.

Anyway I have modified them so that they will work and I will have pics here in just a sec. It only took about 15 minutes with a small band and went pretty easy, it just kinda made me mad that "she had been selling these kits for 10 years and has never had a problem" but I got mine and another guy today called and they were the wrong ones. Something maybe not add up here??? :mad:

Let me throw the pics together real quick and I'll post again in a minute.
AnthonyGee, I wonder who that other guy who called was??? :D Now everyone can see what I'm talking about. Thanks for posting the pics! I see that you used a bandsaw to cut the bottom portion of the mount off. Did you also use that to reduce the diameter?? What about the metal sleeve? Did you just leave the bottom of it cut from the bandsaw? I guess as long as the sleeve doesn't run all the way to the top.

I'm pretty disappointed with ESPO. Obviously there's NO WAY that Anthony and I are the only ones who have had this problem in "10 years". I don't think it would be that difficult for that lady to inform the manufacturer. I offered to send pics and she wasn't interested. :( :rolleyes:

The Anti-Chrysler

11-18-2003, 01:55 AM

I hope I can make these mods with a sawzall. Unfortunately I don't have access to a bandsaw.

Cecil14

11-18-2003, 03:38 AM

A sawzall should work, if nothing else a good sharp utility knife. If you've got a vice of some kind it would be a lot easier.

I used the bandsaw for everything, the large top portion is already the right height so I left that part of it alone. All I did to the bottom tapered portion was cut the taper off, without that part it's the same thickness as the stock one.

For the top part I had to cut it in quarters kinda to keep from stalling the saw blade. If your core support is in good shape you'll need to enlarge the opening but it shouldn't need too much. The new sleeve is just a little bigger than the stock one.

Let me know if you've got any other q's,
Anthony

[ November 18, 2003, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: Cecil14 ]

The Anti-Chrysler

11-18-2003, 06:29 AM

I'll give your mod a try. At least I know now there's a glimmer of hope in using the new mounts. Hopefully I can make the cuts, if not I will have to find someone with a band saw. Thanks for going through the process and sharing your solution.

over2land

11-18-2003, 06:37 AM

Is this the ESPO you guys ordered from?

Just so I'll know who to avoid.

TIA

The Anti-Chrysler

11-18-2003, 06:39 AM

Yes, I've heard good things about their springs, but it looks like it would be better to avoid their body mount kits. There's no excuse for this. They're all built the way Anthony's and mine are, least from the late 70's and up...

That said, for springs and parts of that nature, I think you are more than fine shopping with them.

Cecil14

11-18-2003, 07:27 AM

I believe she is selling the same generic universal truck body mount kit for all the trucks (chevy/dodge/ford) and assuming that ours are the same. THEY ARE NOT. Ours didn't change from ~74 when they changed the frames on up to '87 when they stopped making them.

Prothane is who supplies their kits and they don't even list a J-truck for ANY of their stuff.

Anthony

FSJeeper

11-18-2003, 08:47 AM

I ordered a set for my choptop project with an M715 front core support. All 6 were the same. They fit perfect and I had zero issues installing them.

Cecil14

11-18-2003, 08:50 AM

What frame are you using? I know they changed the frames and body mounts somewhere in the early 70s I think...can't remember exactly when. All the ones I've looked at in the mid-late 70's and up are the style I've got though, not what I was sent.

Anthony

FSJeeper

11-18-2003, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by Cecil14:
What frame are you using? I know they changed the frames and body mounts somewhere in the early 70s I think...can't remember exactly when. All the ones I've looked at in the mid-late 70's and up are the style I've got though, not what I was sent.

Anthony83 Cherokee WT frame, 81 Wagoneer body (chopped), and a 1967 M715 front clip. All bolted up perfect zero issues except I had to enlarge the M715 core support body mount hole to fit.

Cecil14

11-18-2003, 11:02 AM

Which kit did you get? One for the wag/chero or for a truck? I should have asked her what came in the wag/chero kits. Oh well.

Anthony

The Anti-Chrysler

11-19-2003, 12:29 AM

Originally posted by Cecil14:
Which kit did you get? One for the wag/chero or for a truck? I should have asked her what came in the wag/chero kits. Oh well.

AnthonyI already tried that. She said that kit was the same also, just with more mounts for the back of the body. Every truck I have seen and had from the mid 70's and up has also been the same as what I have described and what Anthony has. I agree ESPO is selling a universal kit, and probably keeping their fingers crossed that people aren't going to go through the hassle of calling and complaining.. :rolleyes: :(

talntar

11-19-2003, 12:33 AM

Originally posted by FSJeeper:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Cecil14:
What frame are you using? I know they changed the frames and body mounts somewhere in the early 70s I think...can't remember exactly when. All the ones I've looked at in the mid-late 70's and up are the style I've got though, not what I was sent.

Anthony83 Cherokee WT frame, 81 Wagoneer body (chopped), and a 1967 M715 front clip. All bolted up perfect zero issues except I had to enlarge the M715 core support body mount hole to fit.</font>[/QUOTE]only thing i had to do as well

The Anti-Chrysler

11-19-2003, 05:24 AM

But wasn't your original front mount much smaller in diameter??

talntar

11-19-2003, 05:50 AM

yeah but i only cared about the thickness.

The Anti-Chrysler

11-19-2003, 06:18 AM

I'll have to take a better look at yours next time there's a gathering... I think I'm going to be cutting mine like Anthony did...

talntar

11-19-2003, 06:24 AM

i look at it this way,what ever gets you the results you are after.
and i think i still only have one of them in right now.i got a lot to do next spring

Cecil14

11-19-2003, 07:07 AM

Originally posted by talntar:
i look at it this way,what ever gets you the results you are after.
and i think i still only have one of them in right now.i got a lot to do next springI agree, I pretty much plan on having to "make do" with what I can get. I'm used to that after owning one of these rigs. :D It's not that that made me angry, it's the fact that the lady at ESPO was downright rude to me and basically telling me that [i]I[/i[ was the one that wrong and what she was selling was absolutely correct.

All she had to do was work with me a bit, I'm a real easy guy to get along with, far more understanding that I probably should be sometimes. But I'm not gonna give any when it's my money hanging out there.

Anthony

FSJeeper

11-19-2003, 07:19 AM

I got the kit for the wagoneer. I have always had excellent service from ESPO. The bolt holes are smaller on the M715 core support, all I had to do was drill them out bigger to fit the steel bushing on the espo mounts. Once again, I had zero issues, bolted right in. Good quality.

Cecil14

11-19-2003, 12:29 PM

I'm gonna have to go out to my buddy's place and take a look at his wags/cheros...

Anthony

The Anti-Chrysler

11-20-2003, 12:23 AM

I'm going to make due, but I was still disappointed, since there weren't even any instructions that said I might have to do modifications. When someone sells a product listed for an exact application, there isn't any excuse in my book for this type of ordeal. I might order from ESPO again, but I'd be sure to check my application again before plunking down my cash.