Looking at replacing my el cheapo sfc with something that is a weld in. My current ones hang below the exhaust and are notched out so the exhaust can flow. Anyone used Spohns SFC with much luck. I will be having a 3.5 exhaust along with their crossmember torque arm.
Thanks

 

I've heard the UMI set is pretty nice. Thats what I have, but haven't gotten around to installing it yet, or even mocking it up, so I couldn't say what the fit is like.

If you have a bolt in set now, why not just weld it up?

 

check this out!! https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/grou...-purchase.html

I'm going to do it.

 

Ive owned both bars, one essentially the same vehicle with the same set up. I first installed Spohns on my 87. Welding them on was a bit of a pain. I didnt like how the front of the bars ended. They just sort of...ended. I welded them up, and also stitch welded them along both the pinch weld and the floor boards. Let me tell you...they made a VERY drastic change.

On my 86, set up exactly like the 87, I went with UMI. Why? Because I liked their attachment points better. I also new that welding the square tubing would be much easier. And I was right. Install was a piece of cake. Fitment as perfect. However, they dont lend themselves to welding to the floor or pinch seams as easily.

So..taht said, the UMIs allow a LOT more flex between the two cars. And before you say its the unibody difference, the 86 had only 30,000 miles. Its the tightest thirdgen Ive been in. What I plan to do is weld the SFCs more. I have to use filler pieces along both the seams and the floors....but I think that will go a long way in making them tighten up some. Dont get me wrong, adding UMI SFCs WILL improve things a good bit. Just not as much as the Spohn bars in my opinion.

Just another case in point... With my car on jack stands, or when jacking it up at the corners, the 87 with Spohn bars still retained easy door opening/closing. The 86 seemed to twist enough that you could notice the door glass hitting the t-top drip seals, and just closing funny. Put the car down, and they go back to smooth operation.

I recommend either set. You cant go wrong in my opinion. Both fit great...just the install varies a bit.

Just something to think about... If you are having the UMI's welded on or doing it yourself, make sure you tie into the pinch seam and floor in a few places. Spohn openly recommends this. UMI told me it wasnt necessary. If I had to buy again...Ide go with UMI again.

J.

 

i have a new set from BMR for custom duals and they work great

 

I run the Spohn's on my car and I like them a lot. They have good clearance and made big difference in overall feel of the car. But as stated above you really can't go wrong with any of them.

 

im happy with my UMI's

 

I installed the tube type SFC's from Spohn when they first came out. They went in with no problems with my SLP headers & 3" exhaust. My 87 IROC-Z is tighter now then when it was brand new and I am the orginal owner. The installation is completly hidden with no clearance issues.

 

I'm perfectly happy with my Global West connectors. They hug the outer lip and don't impact the exhaust at all (and I have dual cats w/3" pipes).

 

That's a very informative post. I rarely see anyone comment who has experience with more than one brand of SFC.

 

Why don't the UMIs lend themselves to being stitched to the floors as well? Can it be done for both the UMIs and Sphons? I am thinking of getting sfcs soon...I'm starting ot get bothered by the creaking and twisting when going over bumping and in/out of driveways. Oh, also, does installing the sfcs interfere with installing an exhaust later on?

 

The Spohn bars tuck very tight up against the floor and over towards the pinch seam. The only issue with them, is they are round. I found it slightly more difficult to weld due to the round bar...but all in all not too bad.

The UMI bars are designed to only be welded at the front and rear of the bars. So the middle areas just sort of "float". Dont get me wrong, they tuck up nice as well. But you'll have to use bigger filler pieces to weld it to the floor and pinch seam. So while its not the worst scenario, its just more of a pain.

I sitch welded my Spohn bars along the pinch seam every 6 inches with 2" long welds. And I used some 3/8" round bar as filler pieces to weld onto the floor in a few spots. They flat out worked. The car was very stiff and very quiet. The UMI bars definetly made a difference. However I can still notice some creaks and twists here and there. If I lower my window slightly, and stick my fingers through..sort of making contact with the t-top, b-pillar, and window, and mash the gas, I can feel a LOT of movement. And this is on a tighter lower mile car. So obviously there is some difference in the way they are installed.

Just my .02 on em.

As for interfering with exhaust... Ide say the exhaust will interfere more with the SFC install than the SFC will interfere with a new exhaust install. Does that make sense? Unless the exhaust is off during SFC install, you have to work around it. Unless your exhaust goes down the middle like mine.

J.