Lon,

My car wobbles a lot. "Wobble" is the best word I can use to describe what it does and I'm pretty sure you know what I'm talking about. Going down the road it feels like I am getting a ton of cowl shake (I think that's what it is).

I've got one of your wonderbars installed... big difference before and after. Best mod yet on the car. Now I want to stiffen it up some more. I've been looking at the Edelbrock strut tower braces but am wondering if that is the next, best, bang for the buck stiffener. Obviously SFC's would be good too but I wonder what your thoughts are on this.

Thank you sir,

 

Will it help, sure. I have all 3 items you've mentioned on my 'vert. I hope you understand that it won't make you car as tight and free from cowl shake as a new car that was DESIGNED to be a convertible from scratch. I even took the extra step of welding braces to the front of the Edelbrock STB so it ties into the upper radiator support. Even with all these improvements I'm still dissapointed how much judder and shake there is over a road full of potholes. Stiff Eibach Prokit springs, poly bushings, Del-A-Lum bushings and Bilstein HD shocks/struts all combine to make it far from an enjoyable experience.

Some other steps I've taken: You can remove the interior trim such as the center console, door sill plates, etc. and install thin adhesive-backed foam between mating surfaces. Then install the screws with 3M trim adhesive on the threads. This will help to reduce some of the squeaks and rattles. Be careful on Camaros, since half of what appear to be screws holding on the center console are FAKE molded plastic.

I've already used some Dynamat in my doors, below the carpeting and trunk area. I have a lot more improvements I plan to do on my car (time permitting) including spray-in viscoelastic dampening material (such as Dynashield), filling the a-pillars with spray in expandable foam, a second set of perimiter-style SFC's and other bracing.

Lon

 

IMO, SFC's will be the single biggest improvement you can do to keep the chassis from flexing like a wet noodle while driving down the road. I hope to be adding a second set of 'perimeter style' SFC's in the near future myself...

 

Alot of interior mods are covered in Car Audio magazine, do those aid in (the above suggestions) the audio in-car as well?
What is the cost of the most prominent frame improvements? I'm considering these at some point but mechanics and body part repair is prominent first on my list, besides my top. I've never had the car detailed, for one thing. The interior is in poor shape from use and abuse and needs several cleanings! hehe
Bill

 

Good tires with a good balance. Made a world of difference on my car.

 

I'm due for that for sure.

 

I'm going to express this in plain 'dumb man' terms, as I'm no expert, but those silver bulges on the rims are weights to aid in balance? If they are outwardly visable, can they be reversed?. Some one commented on my GTA rim pics as they are outwardly visable.
Getting away from the subject, but some insight always welcome.
BILL

 

There are weights that can be stuck or glued onto the inside of the rim depending on the surface available. Seems to me that you could also put the standard weights used typically on the inside of the wheel too. I'm not 100% sure of that tho.

 

I got pics of those too (misplaced, but shot with old camera), I went to Tires Plus or at least the prior owner did as well...been some time since, but I'd look into that at the time I do some more tire work. My GTA rims need a polish real bad. I put that off since buying the car, but did buy the hardware to do it myself. A summer project upcoming
BILL

 

Tires/rims can be balanced with the weights all on the outside, all on the inside, or a combination of both.

The best results (and what your mechanic will tell you) are to have the weights on both the inside and outside as necessary. Although it may look better to have the weights out of view (inside) it may not balance out as well.

Wheel balancing may be the answer to your problem. My convertible rides rough, but does not have the shake and shimmy that some of you describe.

A few more weeks and it can come out of storage!

 

Well, I found a good deal on an Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace. I've heard varying things about the installation. Right after I bought the that brace and some sliver stars to totally anilihate my fun account, I see info on the SFC GP.



You know I'm good for a report back when the Strut Tower brace is installed.

 

I've looked at strut braces in the bone yard, there appears to be a few GM put out on FWD cars, for example, they seem as flimsy as anyone would want them, but at the same time, why have them on only certain models when they aid the car, and seem an important design element. Obviously motor access is needed, but that doesn't seem a car makers priority by a long shot! hehe
Bill