pasky

I've seen two types. One like spohn's where they weld to the skirts of the car and one where it just has a long bar that connects the back subframe to the front. Any advantages over the other? Also, which brand is better to get. I know spohn makes some damn good products but I heard thier SFC's are smaller compared to others. Thanks.

CaysE

I think you heard "smaller" in one recent post about exhaust clearance. They aren't small, I'll tell you that. On one side, they do get thinner to allow for some clearances, but this barely an issue.

From what I've seen through everyone's posts here and my own experiences, Spohn is hands-down the way to go on a street car. You may have your car setup for street/strip or street/auto-x or whatever, but if you're trying to stay within some kind of close-to-stock form, then go with Spohn. They're very strong, do not hinder ground clearance, and do not hinder stock exhaust routing or brake/fuel line routing. People argue back and forth whether it's "better" to directly connect the subframes like Alston or not, but this is really a moot point unless you're pushing a hell of a lot of hp and torque. At that far of a point, you're looking at some mean custom exhaust work and custom frame support (roll cage, etc) if you want it done right. I'm talking like 9 second cars and faster before this makes a difference.

FLYNLOW92rs

iTrader: (53)

I myself went with Spohn products, and the car's handling has increase 5 fold...

25THRSS

Alstons, TDS even has a group purchase going on right now.

Nate86

From what I heard, you can install Spohn and Alston SFCs without having them interfere with each other.

So if you can't decide which ones to get, just grab both and have the best of both worlds.

GTATransAM

My Spohns have absolutely no clearance problems, and the car feels more "together" when i go up driveways or hit a few bumps here and there. Plus the reassurance in your mind that you know that u have a nice full frame now is always good to have instead of that uni-body POS!

frogmanjohn

what are the pro's and cons of the alstons???

john

ebmiller88

iTrader: (7)

Pros: no stitch welding required along the side-easier install; have cups at each end to weld the frame rails onto; also bolt in.

Cons: No stitch welding along the sides- stronger IMO; cups may not fit right and you'll have to mod them to fit tighter.

I like the Spohn SFCs better but it's a "harder" install as there are more welds to be made. A few others and myself are having issues with the Alstons we bought:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=240731

Ed

CaysE

Two more cons: Loss of ground clearance and dual cat/aftermarket exhaust routing issues.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

I didnt notice much for ground clearance loss, nor did I have any problems with my aftermarket exhaust.

CaysE

Even 1/8th of an inch loss of clearance on these cars is a lot. It's just my opinion though and why I went with Spohn. I'm sure you could get the Alstons installed and then get custom exhaust routing done without a problem.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

This wasnt custom, it was off the shelf SLP headers, 3" cat, 3" edelbrock catback. The car was dropped and I had no problems.

SLP IROC-Z

iTrader: (1)

i have alstons and im not very happy with them.

No4NJunk

Kenny Browns. Nothing less.

Trans Am#5

I got thiese for a steal and love 'em:

Rembrandt

I have been curious about the Kenny Brown SFCs, how they fit and all.

Are they just like the picture here, at the top??:

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=6&pcid=36

If so they look extremely similar to the proven Spohns with the extra bars crossing in towards the center.

What seems to be better about them is the large cups cradling the rear lower control arm area.

Any installed pics? I'd like to see how they fit.

camaro05

iTrader: (1)

I am considering alstons. what are the reasons you don't like yours?

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

Do the Kenny Browns cause any clearance issues including with a 3" exhaust system? I really want to see a pic of them installed also because they look like the strongest or at least beefiest SFCs out there.

No4NJunk

Here are some pics. My car was a t-top car and it was rock solid. Anyone thats ridden in it will tell you the same. I had custom duals routed in the stock locale and the subframes still fit great.

No4NJunk

..

No4NJunk

last one.

Rembrandt

Wow thanks! As in the pictures, do they come in bare metal or powdercoat or what?

No4NJunk

They are bare metal when they come. I undercoated them and then undercoated the whole underside of the car. Those pictures were taken after we had snow a few years ago. The white stuff is sand and salt.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Screw those damn Alstons.

My issues are straight forward I just had to look past the $200 and a weekend spent under the car to see that the SFC's are GARBAGE! I've had my SFC's on my 91 Formula for about 4 years now. They were one of the very first modifications I performed on the car and the installation reflects the abilities I had at the time. The bottom line is that they DID NOT FIT CORRECTLY out of the box. Now I would say that my skills are improved enough that I could modify them to fit properly. However, I don't feel that for $150 for some tubing, sheet metal, and powder coating, I should be required to be a skilled metal worker. In my honest opinion I think they should fit right the first time, without any modification.

The result of the fitment problem is a nasty clunking from the STOCK dual cat exhaust hitting the SFC's. It varies from a constant clunk every time the engine turns over to an occasional clunk when going over dips/bumps in the road. Adjusting the cat hanger and y-pipe-manifold connections makes little difference.

I bolted the SFC's to the body, then had them fully welded. I noticed no change in performance, creaks, rattles, door closing, etc. This was in a hardtop car with stress cracks in the roof from body twist.

The ground clearance issue is the least of my complaints, but no modifications would have prevented this since its a design flaw. They bottom out on bumps in the road, access covers in gas station parking lots, misc garbage on the interstate, etc.

They might as well be bare metal since the powder coating got scratched up pretty quickly from normal use of the car.

BTW this is a nearly stock, stock ride height, 91 Formula...

camaro05

iTrader: (1)

I wish I would have seen this a few days agao. I just ordered them on friday.

25THRSS

nothing to worry about. I have them too and there are plenty of very happy alston customers.

Screamin'87GTA

I ordered mine from Summit. The instructions were straight forward, but for get the factory exhaust.. I Had to get true duals run along the outside of the connectors, there was no room for mufflers, so i have to order bullet mufflers... BTW dont let Race Related in Florida put on you sfc's. He doesnt work on F-bodys, he told me this after he did the installation..

camaro05

iTrader: (1)

I hope they stop all the squeaking. that is mainly what I bought them for and to help stop the body flex. it feels really crappy.

Screamin'87GTA

i think i am going to end up with a cage.. Everyone hates them, but its the only true answer..

frogmanjohn

any downside to the hotchkis sub connectors?

john

Trans Am#5

The fit perfectly and don't cause any clearence issues. I am always suprised by how few have them....I may be the only one around here.

BretD 88GTA

I'm surprised no one is using the Global West SFC's. IMHO, these are the best and my preferred choice. I got a good deal on the Alstons, so that's what I currently have waiting to go on the car.

However, if my Alston's give me problems during install, I'll pitch them and go with Global West.
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=6&pcid=36

Dr BBS

just receive my set of hotchkis today Can't wait to put them on... Maybe this weekend if I can find a little bit of time

Trans Am#5

Let me know how yours go.

jrg77

So do you get the SFCs and fit the exhaust around them, or get the exhaust and fit the SFCs?

Which ones literally connect the sub-frames, and where do they connect?

From looking underneath my car I would like a bar right by the rocker panel that angles forward to the front of the sub-frame, a bar that goes straight back from the rear of the front sub-frame, and a couple of diagonal bars from about the middle to the points closest to the wheel wells. I still haven't seen the rear subframe yet to understand where all of this stuff would connect.

What grade steel is used? Is it cold or hot rolled? How thick should it be?

My sub-frames look kind of beat-up from jacking up the car and appear to have holes stamped in them. Should I get some plate steel to firm them up? Should I seam weld the rocker panels?

Doesn't this have to be done on a jig so the car doesn't get a torsional pre-load?

Thanks,
Jason