drop-top IROC

Against my better judgement (and Lon's advice 2 years ago...) I finally got around to ordering my SFC's today for the 'vert from Kenny Brown. As I was talking to the guy on the phone, I kept stressing that these were for a convertible. He told me that the part was the same for both hardtops and convertibles, and that there were instructions on how to modify them for the convertible application.

My question is, since there already is an additional strengthening rail added to the convertibles, (which is why I was under the impression that the convertible application was a special one) can other types of SFC's be easily modified to fit convertibles? Not that it matters, I'm still going w/ the KB's, but does anyone know if the easy mod is inherent to the design of the KB SFC's, or can others be easily modified too? Don, do you have any input on this? Thanks guys! -Jerry.

Russ-So Cal

I think Lon had Alstons installed in his vert, and because the Alstons go down the center of the car instead of the perimiter, no mods were needed.

drop-top IROC

Alston's go down the center? hmm... wonder if I could run both! I thought about the Alstons (since KB's and Alston's are the only 2 choices for convertibles, to my knowledge) but have heard nothing but good things about the KB's, as well as the fact that they are more of a 3-point setup, rather than 2. Didn't feel like waiting for the Spohn's, and with my limited engineering knowledge I'm still trying to figure out how tubular SFC's (Spohn) are torsionally stiffer than the boxed type (almost everyone else).

MRZ28HO

Simplified Tubular vs. Boxed SCF:

Boxed = Drag Racing
They are stiffer than tubualr, can support lateral/vertical loads better.

Tubular = Road Racing
Although not as rigid as boxed/rectangular, they are more flexible for taking hard/agressive turns.

As an example, my SS has rectangular SFC. It is a drag racer (A4). My Z28 will have tubular SFC since it will be RR and Auto-X'ed (M5).

Guest

You could always get the Alstons and fab up some tubing to run from those to the factory SFC's.

Dyno Don

iTrader: (7)

Sorry, but I have seen the KB's and they will not fit a 'vert.
I doubt that they will work on a 'vert, even modded.
I have seen just about all of the ones out there that claim they fit a 'vert. None yet that do, EXCEPT the Alston's.


Don>>>

drop-top IROC

*** D**mit, I'm gonna be way pissed off if I just dropped close to 3 bills on SFC's and they don't fit or I have to hack them to pieces to make them fit.

Any insight as to what the problem with the KB's are, Don, and why they don't fit into the convertibles?

Guest

I dont know specifically, but like the SSM's, I'd be willing to bet the KB's are supposed to be welded along the stock coupe/t-top car rocker panel. Thats the piece just under the doors. On convertibles, there is a factory type SFC right there, moving the inner part of that rocker over about 3 inches. Thats where the problem would be if they did not address it, and I am thinking they didnt.

Dyno Don

iTrader: (7)

Any insight as to what the problem with the KB's are, Don, and why they don't fit into the convertibles? [/B][/QUOTE]

(On convertibles, there is a factory type SFC right there, moving the inner part of that rocker over about 3 inches. Thats where the problem would be if they did not address it, and I am thinking they didnt.)
Madmax

He is right on there!

Don>>>

Guest

I know cutting to fit on $300 parts is kinda silly, but you think it might be possible and relatively simple to use the KB's and just cut off the part of the SFC that runs next to the rockers, and make some adjustments if necessary to the other pieces?

drop-top IROC

I'm aware of the "factory" SFC's that were installed by ASC, and I'm thinking that KB's convertible 'solution' is to just chop a few inches off of the 'arm' that comes inward from the middle of the rail. Judging by the pictures, the outside rails look pretty straight, so it doesn't look like too big of a deal moving them in a few inches.

Nonetheless, I called today to see if I could get a copy of the instructions faxed to me so i could see exactly what their 'modifications' were to accomodate convertibles. The guy on the phone told me that he sells about 5 sets of these a day and has never had anyone complain that they don't fit right. I Never received the fax at work today.

When I got home, there was a message from the guy @ KB telling me that he would have to fax it tomorrow because they were revising the instructions for convertibles. Now I have become worried I hope that I have not gotten into a terrible mess that I will soon regret. More to follow...

Justins86bird

Any update on the SFCs fitment?

drop-top IROC

Still haven't heard back from them and instructions were never faxed. I think they (SFC's) might have arrived on Fri., as I received a delivery slip from UPS but was not at home to accept the delivery.

drop-top IROC

Ok, received the SFC's today, they don't look quite like the ones pictured on their website. These are tubular steel, not square like the ones they picture, and they are completely straight (the ones they picture on their website look as though they have slight inward bends. I'm not sure if they changed the design or if these are a different style for the convertible application. Also, they did not include the 'special convertible instructions' that the sales rep. mentioned over the phone. I'm going to call in the morning to see what the deal is. At first glance, they certainly look as though they would fit but I'm not an expert, as I have never installed these. They do look nice, however. Also received my Spohn LCA brackets on Sat., so Don, if you're reading this, I'll be calling you in the next couple of days to see about setting up an appointment for at least the LCA bracket install, but maybe you can give the SFC's a look and see what you think about the fitment issue and if I should just ship 'em back and start over. Updates to follow...