I plan on getting a set of Alston and Spohn SFC's for my T-Top car, and I know they can be run at the same time with no ill effects. My big question though is is there any work I should do prior to installing SFC's?

I need new shocks, and subsequently, springs. Should I do this before getting SFC's?

My doors need new hinge pins. I've read that you need to do those before getting SFC's, but some people say that's rubbish. Definitive answer?

I should get my car frame checked before hand, right? To make sure it's completely straight?

Also, my doors rattle going down rough roads. I read that these are signs of a loose frame. Is it too late for my car?

Thank you for all the help, and I've been searching, but looking for SFC's mostly just returns people asking "Which ones" or "How much" not much on work prior to SFC's.

 

Hinge pins don't affect SFCs, and aren't affected by them. Adjustment of the hinges however, might be; especially if the car isn't STRAIGHT now, but it is after putting the SFCs on.

Same for shocks and springs. SFCs brace THE CHASSIS; they have nothing whatsoever to do with shocks and springs. Do them in whatever order you like.

I'd suggest taking the car to a frame shop and having them check it; and pull it out as straight as they can get it. And then get them to install the SFCs while the car is there, because they're the PERFECT kind of place to get that done. Having it done that way takes the suspension completely out of the picture as affecting the SFCs, because they'll chain it down to their jig, and weld up the SFCs while the frame is held perfectly STRAIGHT; unlike people who shadetree them on in their backyard, who have no way to measure straightness, but instead have to settle for all of this "loaded suspension" drivel. That's a pretty poor substitute for doing it RIGHT, the way a frame shop can do it.

The Alstons, it hardly matters what the car is like; they don't brace the WHOLE car in all dimensions like some of the others, like the Spohns for example. The car needs to be SQUARE for them, but that's about it; they don't require that it be LEVEL, where ones like the Spohn that go all down the sides and all that, DO require that the chassis be both square and level.

Doors rattling can be signs of loose hinge pins, or loose latch hardware. SFCs will help but don't expect miracles.

Frames don't get "loose". I wouldn't worry too much about that.

 

Thank you very much. That cleared up everything I needed to know.