Well I finally got around to installing my Wonderbar from TDS. It wasn't a direct bolt for some reason however I little bit of modification and it bolted up no problem.

After installation I just had to take my car out for a spin and MAN!! does it ever hug when cornering. Everything that was stated on th site is correct...the car feels like a different car when you come flying around a corner. Definately an improvement.

Now I need to get my SFC's and STB installed and see where that takes me as far as handling goes.

 

Any pic's???

 

I was amazed at the difference the TDS wonderbar made.

No joke, it helped more than my Edelbrock 3-point TBI strut tower brace.

I'll be ordering subframe connectors soon (probably the S&Ws, and have them welded as well).

 

no pics sorry. I never seem to have my camera around when I do installs. You can sorta see the reflective sticker from the top of the car when you look down in the engine bay.

 

lol the sticker is supposed to be facing down


maybe thats why it didn't quite line up

 

mine went directly in, no mods needed. very nice piece.

 

Haha, I know mine faces down. You might wanna go change that soon.

 

uh-oh

i also got a wonder bar from lon tds. the biggest thing i noticed is that it made the car feel much more solid going around corners. it also was a direct bolt on for me

 

What do you mean the sticker should be facing down. The sticker goes all the way around the bar. There isn't reallyan up or a down.

 

The TDS sticker did not go all the way around my Wonderbar. And it IS suposed to face down. It says so in the directions IIRC

 

Well it fit better this way or some reason. I am sure we tried to hook it up the other way and it didn't line up. Actually it didn't line up either way as the bar wasn't long enough...so we cut the bolt hole to be a bit larger to reach the bolt location.

It works nicely though.

 

The formed lip on the bar and the TDS logo label should both be facing down. Some people are having trouble with the outer two bolt holes being a little short and requiring a slight elongation of the holes. This was corrected for the next batch of braces which are in process. I hope this clarifies the installation.

Thanks,

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

Is this TDS Wonderbar a worthwhile upgrade over the stock piece? I found one at a local yard for $5, so I took it. After bolting it on and a spirited drive, I noticed no difference.

 

I installed/have the very first TDS wonder bar that is direct replica of the stock piece.

I instantly noticed a difference on strait roads, and curvey roads.

I belive the new TDS version 2 wonder bar is larger diameter and designed for the bolt holes of the 82/83 models which would make it better then the stock piece.

Mine the label and lips are facing down.

 

I too have the TDS wonderbar on my 82 Z-28, and combined with the strut tower brace, the sfc's and lowering the car 2 inches, my t-topped car is good and stiff now. Now when I jack the car up I'm not afraid of the car doing the twist thing. As for the driving, well let's just say there's a huge difference in the way my car handles and performs. I can take turns that would leave the average car out in the fields trying the same thing. These 3rd gen cars are will handle great with just a few add ons to stiffen things up. These parts are worth the money.

 

Yea, I got a spohn wonderbar and its beefier if not as beefy as the TDS wonderbar and noticed no difference whatsoever, then again, I have a hard top vehicle so I probably just can't notice the seat o pants difference as the verts and t-top guys.

 

I didn't notice a difference at all either so I took it off for better weight distribution.

 

Eh...Im just leaving it on so my steering box frame don't crack.

 

I noticed slightly less understeer. I bought it more to secure the steering box though, as well.

 

I had purchased a stock one off ebay over the winter and I just got around to putting it on the car. I have driven the car since then and didn't notice a difference driving it normally. I'll have to try some agressive cornering to see if I notice anything. Even if I don't, it's piece of mind knowing that it's on the car and it's a good part to have.

 

That's why I got mine. I figured GMs reasoning for putting it on was to prevent the cracks, which are more prone with larger and sticker tires. With hard compound tires on 15" wheels it may not have been necessary. But I've added 17x9" wheels with 275/40r17 up front. So better safe than sorry. I expected a handling difference with it, especially after hearing all the claims from this site. But I was disappointed.

 

I have an 89 Iroc and it has the stock wonder bar on it.

So an aftermarket piece wont make much of a difference in handling and steering "feel" so to speak?

I was thinking of getting one to possibly help with the steering. It feels somewhat loose, has alot of give to it- kinda sensitive and snappy when going fast with stiff suspension. It makes high speed touring/cornering scary at times.

Have any of you noticed any change in steering feel or if it does tighten up the suspension a bit?

 

Your steering feel problems are probably your Tie rods and center link not the wonderbar. Especially since you already have one.

phil

 

Stock wonderbar: .75" diameter
TDS Wonderbar: 1.00" diameter
Spohn Wonderbar: 1.25" diameter

Is the bigger bar necessary? Who knows...*shrug*....But it sure as hell takes a load off my mind knowing I got the largest diameter available .