I'm finally getting around to snagging an 89 IROC Convertible for my play car. It's in great shape but has a few miles. First thing is I want to stiffen it up. I heard Detroit Speed stuff is really good but expensive. Their SLC's are not cheap and they require a lot of cutting, fitting, and welding, but I'm thinking they are some of the best out there overall. Was wondering if anyone has tried them.

http://www.detroitspeed.com/1982-199...Body-body.html

 

Subbing. I love all their products. Plan to buy a few but had already bought some BMR outer SFCs when I learned about theirs and didn't want to bother selling and re buying stuff.

I read the instructions, yes there is a lot of cutting/welding, but they do seem like the most comprehensive SFC out there.

Good luck

 

Thanks. I think their method creates a "sheer panel" made up of the entire underside of the car. Imagine a sheer wall in house construction. Two vertical studs and a piece of plywood over them. You can't push the studs sideways since the plywood keeps everything square. Same as with these DS SFCs. They weld all along the floor pan, connecting both sides of the car as if they were the two vertical studs.

 

WOW i just checked out the install. Looks like a ton of work but DAMN are they nice

http://www.detroitspeed.com/images/i...connectors.pdf

 

Exactly Tootie.

Welding all those panels to other panels seems like a great way to add strength.

Just want to ensure a real good seal is provided against rust forming between the sheets of metal. Not hard to do, just something the instructions don't touch on.

 

Would not hurt to coat everything in this before welding

 

Take a look under the convertible behind the GFX. You will see a formed boxed piece of sheet metal that ASC installed which is in the way of the under-car pieces that the detroit speed SFC use. You are indeed talking about a LOT of fabrication, removing the boxed piece before you can even begin installing these.

Lon

 

Great advice and points. I need to call Detroit Speed. I suspect that they are for a non-convertible.

 

Just talked to DS. They are aware of the box reinforcement and said that notching would be required and additional welding.

 

Nice. Thanks for the info.

midias: That is the stuff I have been using on my weld locations. Seems to bake off when I weld though so not sure if it is doing anything.

I use it anyways for places I can't get back to with normal coatings.

 

I have noticed some bake off too but does not catch fire like other primers.

 

More info: Just found this

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/afte...onnectors.html

 

Alston inner subframe connectors are pretty darn effective. Personally, I'm not willing to do that much surgery on my car for the Detroit Speed pieces.

 

Just got my car. Pretty sure its OEM at 115,000 miles. But man it needs new suspension and brakes. Rattle city. Good SFC's seem important.

 

As well made as those SFCs are they sure require a lot of cutting. The bonus is they integrate into the floor however for similar results you can also build some yourself and weld them to the pinch and floor. I did this. Mine are x framed and about as stiff as it gets in axial distortion.

 

Oooh. I like the sound of that. Pics?

 

 

Curious what method you used to weld them to the frame.
Convertibles are a little different for welding, If I recall you can weld them to the floor on one side and then only the rivited in stock SFC on the other side. I'm going to have to make some reinforcement plates to better weld mine to the floorpan.

 

What do you mean what method? The sfc's have tabs for more weld area and load distribution so a hollow piece doesb't poke into the thin stock sheet metal subframes

 

What welding method, Stick, Flux-core, MIG or TIG? You have undercoating on the car so was wondering if you just burned through it with stick or cleaned it all off and used MIG.

 

Mig. It's bedliner that I flap wheeled off to clean metal. Same for the powdercoating. Then it was primed and sealed with sealer abd redone with bedliner.