So I've heard people talking about the "ultimate dogbone" for a while now...what the heck is it? And what are the advantages over the stock one?

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Its a engine dogbone that has poly instead of the rubber bushings. You can buy just the poly for a stock dogbone and have the same them. Or get an adjustable one from Rodney Dickaman so it can be used with many motor swaps.

THAT'S IT!?


Jeeze, glad I didn't buy the one I was looking at then! lol

uses polyurethane, and tubular steel construction.



looks nicer than stock, and has stronger/stiffer bushings in it. There is also a manufacturer from Germany that is making a similar version to the Fiero store product above but they use different colors, and theirs' look a little different.

I just installed the one from the Fiero Store in my car. I haven't gotten to drive it yet since then, though, as the inspection was rejected, and I have to either get one tire fixed, or buy two new front tires. I've also got a full poly kit, cradle mount poly, ST springs, and new KYB shocks/struts, sitting in my floor, waiting to go on the car.

The poly bushings will tend to give you noticeable engine vibration. I installed one and didn't care for it so I replaced my worn out one with OEM.

The poly ones are nice. But I went total extreme. I had this on the 88GT V6 but moved it to the V8.

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85GT 5spd ,93 Eldorado 4.9 Dual O2 Custom Chip, Archie Clutch. Custom Exhaust. MSD Everything 245/50/16's Not Your Average 4.9 Capt Fiero Com --- My Over View Cadero Pics Yellow 88GT 5spd Stock.

I have had a poly dog bone on both a 1988 V-6 automatic and a 1988 V-6 5 speed Getrag. When I had it on my 1988 V-6 automatic you could feel it when you had it in gear and you were at a complete stop. Once you let off the brake and began to move the vibrations went away. I have an 88 Mera and I liked that vibration feeling. It was there but not objectionable. I later converted my Mera to a Getrag 5 speed. Once I did that I no longer felt and engine vibration. I even made one end of the dog bone out of solid aluminum bushings and it did not change it any. I wanted the vibrations back but could not get them with a manual transmission. You get the vibrations because you are dragging a torque converter with an automatic when you are stopped and in gear. With a manual trans you do not really feel much difference between the poly and rubber dog bone. Your shift feel will be firmer as the engine will not rock back and forth like it does with the rubber dog bone. Now with the 4 cylinders I have heard you do feel a large increase in vibrations because they have such a rough idle and not as smooth of engine feel like the V-6's. So in my opinion you will not see much of any vibration difference with a V-6 manual car. There may be some but not much. You only really feel it with the automatics and 4 cylinders.

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Rodney Dickman

Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page:
www.rodneydickman.com
Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories
7604 Treeview Drive
Caledonia, WI 53108
Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575