I'm not getting much of a response in the Convertible forum. Can
some of you guys help.

My Spohn subframe connector install didn't go very well today. I have pictures on the following thread.

Thanks bunches.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=349331

 

Did you try putting the other side in?

 

The tech said the other side did the same thing. I didn't see it for my self. I tried to not stay right under the guy while he was working/ trying to figure this out.

 

Hrmmm ok..

Another dumb question, on the SFC's themselves, is there a small 1/8th inch hole where the lca mount's somewhere?

 

Okay it took me reading your entire post 4 times in the 'vert board to fully understand the problem.

Basically, about halfway down the rocker panel area where the SFC goes, there are protruding rivet heads that are blocking installation.

Have you asked whether it looks like everyone else's rocker panel reinforcements on their convertibles? Has you car ever been in a collision and been repaired?

I'm sorry that I can't really help you. I'm sure Lon will chime in soon and add something to this thread.

 

Kat, The SFC's have a hole in the rear portion. It was bolted into the control arm mount.

Jade Grey, Thanks for taking the time to understand the problem.
None of the previous owners admitted to any collision damage. I can't detect any previous repairs. The car has 75,000 miles and is in excellent shape.

The condensed version of the problem is:

#1 The front of the SFC will not lie up against the existing brace. Looking at the pictures, the SFC needs to move to the left about 3 inches. (It also needs to move up about 2 inches to touch the floor pan. The instructions say to use a jack to persuade it.)
#2 If I figure out how to move the SFC to the left, will the rivets not allow the SFC to weld to the floorpan.

Thanks a lot,
Chris

 

Suprise - suprise, another Spohn fitment problem.

 

I didn't ask about the oval hole. lol I know that is there. When Steve makes the Vert SFC's there is a small hole (1/8th inch) drilled into that plate denoting that as a vert sfc. I'm just making sure that you got the right part first.

TransAm5

Last I checked the verts were hand made more or less, so it wouldn't surprise me one bit that every car is a lil bit different.

 

I called Spohn this afternoon and talked to Steve. We verified that my SFC's did have the small hole which indicates the proper vert part. Sorry I didn't answer your question properly.

Steve was very nice and will allow me to return the parts. He even made a very generous offer to make a pair according to my measurements.

I am very curious as to what the distance between my LCA mounts and the 'brace' are and compare it to the 'standard' distance.

Thanks again.

 

Chris,

Which side of the car is that having trouble on? Or is it both sides?

Your undercarriage pics look exactly like I remember the car, and it had never been hit when we had it. Remember, that driver's fender was repainted pre-delivery because of paint damage from shipping, but to be honest I cannot remember if they removed the fender for the repair or not.

Knowing what we know now about how ASC chopped these poor cars up, and the fact that car was built very late in the run (may or june), who is to say if one car ever matched another from the factory

Mike

 

Mike,

I saw for myself the issue with the drivers side. The tech said the passengers side was doing the same thing.

Here are a few pics I took tonight. I think if Steve makes a SFC that will lie up against the brace, I am still going to have problems welding it to the floorpan.
The rivets are 1/2 inch from the side of the brace and they hang down about 3/8 inch from the floor. This leaves a large gap between the SFC and the floor. I didn't measure it but it looked to be at least 1/4 inch.

 

SFC will not fit against the floorpan because of the rivets holding the vert brace.

 

Here is a shot of the distance between the LCA and the brace.
Its about 55 mm. Can anybody with a vert compare yours with mine.
Do you guys think the ASC workers knew the gravy train was about to end and got sloppy with their work or did the brace get wider when Chevy addressed the vert quality issues around '91-'92.

 

ASC put those rivets in. My 89 has them.

 

Here's a couple shots of my 89, I measured 2.30", your 55mm=~2.17" so its fairly close. 1/8" is nothing to write home about.

 

How about grinding the heads off of the revits and weld the holes shut as you go?? That should allow the sfc's to fit closer to the floor pan.

 

You can't go wrong with TDS...his parts fit and work right!

 

That might be the answer if you wanted to go that route. Get rid of the rivets, weld the ASC 'sfc' to the floor, and then you'd have some more space to deal with.

 

While i like Lon's stuff, but in Spohn's defense, everything I've purchased of his fits perfectly. and works as expected.

 

I agree. Just make sure you have the carpet pulled back(you should already have to weld the sfc in). - this plus a prybar/jack should get you there.

 

madmax,

thanks for the pics and measurements. I bet the 1/8 difference is the undercoating on my car. I noticed yours doesn't have as much as mine.

Here are some pics of what is on the other side of the rivets.

I wonder if this braceing would help stiffen up the coupes?

This picture was taken from the drivers side looking at the rear of the pass door.

 

More

 

There's another one up front by the kickpanels, similar design.

I'm sure it'd help a coupe. These bodies can use all the help they can get.