Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

when should you start thinking about SFCs?

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Old Jul 31, 2002 | 09:51 PM
  #1  
BikertrashDude's Avatar
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From: Hampton, VA
when should you start thinking about SFCs?

when should you start?
i just put in a 350 into a formerly 305 w/T-tops
i do plan on modding it, but not running it on the track (maybe just once to see what it can do)
should the SFCs be the first thing i get or should i do some other stuff first.
car is sound, no probs just stock.
ideas??
biker
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Old Jul 31, 2002 | 10:15 PM
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87IROC350's Avatar
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From: Land O Lakes, FL
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
All thirdgens could use subframes especially T-Tops & convertibles. Mine really stiffened up my ride and reduced body flex when going over bumps and acceleration.
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Old Aug 1, 2002 | 04:24 AM
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From: Where the chicks absolutely LOVE the V-8 rumble!
Car: 92 RS - Fully Restored w/Custom Int
Engine: LO3 with some mods
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Richmond
If you have the cash, get em ASAP. SFC's improve the both the ride and handling on these cars. Any squeaks and rattles from the body will be greatly reduced if not completely gone. SFC's when installed correctly also serve as jack points. (Being able to lift the car from almost any point along its side is a definite plus IMO)
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Old Aug 1, 2002 | 09:23 AM
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ede's Avatar
ede
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to me SFCs ar aboutthe firstthing you should do, but most people do the engien first. i'd either buy or make a set ,not hard to make if you can weld, or know soemone that can.
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Old Aug 1, 2002 | 10:53 AM
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i never had sfc's and i am on my third thirdgen!

maybe i should get them one of these days..
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Old Aug 1, 2002 | 11:28 AM
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formul8!!'s Avatar
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From: www.thirdgentech.com
Car: 2004 GTO
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T-56
The second you buy one!!

Get weld in SFC's....you won't regret it!
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Old Aug 1, 2002 | 04:12 PM
  #7  
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From: Hampton, VA
i know they are good
my big fear is that picture of a camaro on irocone.com (i think) that is jacked up and the car has a wheel off the ground that is not suposed to be off the ground because it chasis was twisted so bad. I just don't want my car to do the chuck berry "twist and shout"
biker
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Old Aug 1, 2002 | 07:26 PM
  #8  
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whats a well known place people got their sfc's welded??
how much money?

anyone have the kenny brown subframes?
any other good companies?
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Old Aug 1, 2002 | 10:52 PM
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From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Car: '88 Iroc, '91 RS, and a '70 RS
Engine: 5.7 TPI; 5.0 TBI; ZZ4/T56 on the ag
Transmission: A4, A4, slated to be a T56
when should you start thinking about SFCs?

As soon as Spohn starts making them again.


I know, I know .....

But they are next on my list!


Ed
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Old Aug 2, 2002 | 06:23 AM
  #10  
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From: Hampton, VA
Originally posted by ebmiller88

As soon as Spohn starts making them again.
I know, I know .....
But they are next on my list!
Ed
How much are Spohns?
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Old Aug 2, 2002 | 06:33 AM
  #11  
88GTAinRI's Avatar
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From: Ocean State, lil Rhody, the biggest littlest state in the union, Rhode Island
Car: 1988 GTA Black/Gray
Engine: Blown 355
Transmission: 700R4
When is Spohn gonna be back to maiking them?
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Old Aug 2, 2002 | 07:58 AM
  #12  
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From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
Q: "When sould you start thinking about SFCs?"
A: The moment you find out they are available for your car.

I hadn't heard anything about SFCs unitil I saw posts about them on ThirdGen.org. I had already been thinking up methods to reinforce the chassis on my 90 RS 'vert. I had them installed in less than a month. Lon
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Old Aug 2, 2002 | 03:23 PM
  #13  
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From: Christiansburg, VA
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 355
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73:1
The difference in handeling you get from subframes are unbeleiveable. I had no idea they would make so much of a difference. Do your self a favor and install some as soon as you can! If you have any kind of metal fabrication skills (and tools), they are very easy to make.
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Old Aug 2, 2002 | 10:04 PM
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From: Jersey
Car: 88 iroc x 2- 1 T-Top, 1 Vert
Engine: 350 tpi, 305 tpi
Transmission: 700R4-2800 stall, 700R4 stock
i have the alstons, they bolt or weld in, what an improvement!
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Old Aug 3, 2002 | 01:19 PM
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From: Ofallon, MO. USA
post a pic of SFC's?

Can anyone post a pic of these subframe connectors installed?
I am a bit confused as to what they are and how they connect that makes everyone rave about them.
Thanks
Chip
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Old Aug 3, 2002 | 02:27 PM
  #16  
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From: Hampton, VA
here is a pick of weild on ones
from what i understand they are really easy to install
what they do is stiffen the car up to improve handling
when your car goes up a drive way Bump at an angle don't you get a creak coming from the frame, that is the frame bending. this happens alot on T-top cars also t-top cars tend to bend when they have a high end (hp/tourqe) 350 in them because of the touqe. picture a icetray you get from your fridge. you can bend it side to side and in half right? that is what your car is doing. SFCs help to stop that. bolt on ones are ok, weild ons are better. bolt ons just have a normal bolt attaching the SFC to the body of the car, they work but after awhile the stress of the car on the bolt will cause it to wear on both sides of the SFC causing it to be loose. weild on ones weild on like 6"-8" inches of steel at each end to the car, better than that 1" bolt right?
there is a pic of a car on irocone.com i think of a car on a jack stand that you can see that the frame is twisted.
biker
Attached Thumbnails when should you start thinking about SFCs?-cee-3013_m.jpg  
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Old Aug 3, 2002 | 02:33 PM
  #17  
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From: Hampton, VA
Originally posted by BikertrashDude
....there is a pic of a car on irocone.com i think of a car on a jack stand that you can see that the frame is twisted....
ok my Bad the link to the car is right here
http://www.iroczone.com/newindex.htm
the frame of the car is not twisted. the frame is so tight because of the SFCs that this happened with only one jack on.
biker
Attached Thumbnails when should you start thinking about SFCs?-sfc1.jpg  

Last edited by BikertrashDude; Aug 3, 2002 at 02:36 PM.
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Old Aug 3, 2002 | 02:34 PM
  #18  
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From: Hampton, VA
and with two jack stands
Attached Thumbnails when should you start thinking about SFCs?-sfc2.jpg  
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Old Aug 3, 2002 | 03:04 PM
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From: Ofallon, MO. USA
wow... that is impressive

I just found the BMR sight as well and they have a few good pics up and it all makes sense now, that is pretty impressive though the way it stiffens the body up like that! I've gotta have some now!
Thanks biker!
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Old Aug 3, 2002 | 09:24 PM
  #20  
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I don't understand your big fear, Biker. That picture shows exactly what a good sports car should do. With a stiff frame and firm suspension, there is no way to jack up one side of the car without lifting two wheels off the ground. That's a good thing, nothing to fear. Well, I can understand having a fear of getting under that car, but that's why you use two jackstands (and not to lift the entire car off the ground like the second pic shows. That one should be using 4 jackstands, but I'm assuming it was done mearly as a show and tell. You know, see what I can do with my car.) I've seen vettes and one porsche do the same thing. My 88 Trans Am does that with just a strut tower brace installed, and it didn't do it before the brace was installed.
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Old Aug 4, 2002 | 09:10 AM
  #21  
BikertrashDude's Avatar
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From: Hampton, VA
No i have no fear, My first question was should i get them now or wait....
.....i was just showing those pics because someone asked what are they for (SFCs) and what they do. I'm sure those pics are just for show.
biker
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Old Aug 4, 2002 | 06:48 PM
  #22  
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From: Alberta, Canada
Car: 1987 IROC
Engine: Vortec 350 TPI
Transmission: 7004r
yea the pics you showed are GOOD examples of what SFC do for your car.
the frame is now very rigid that jacking at any point along the flank will race the entire side.
try doing that on a non SFC car. the twisting is horrible to watch (and listen to!)

I just put my homemade ones in, I didn't think I would notice much difference, but even the ride quality has improved. my car used to be a rattle box, now i hardly hear a squeek.
Body roll has reduced.

The next thirdgen I buy will get SFC's as it's first mod
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Old Aug 4, 2002 | 09:35 PM
  #23  
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my grandfather has a welder, so i am going to buy weld in ones, but how do i jack to the car up to get under there and weld them?
do u think a muffler place would weld in some sfc's?
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Old Aug 5, 2002 | 01:18 PM
  #24  
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From: www.thirdgentech.com
Car: 2004 GTO
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T-56
Spohn STILL doesn't have the thridgen SFC's available????

Good thing I went with the Kenny Browns....
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