Ok, last summer I rebuilt the front end, changed the bushings etc, and put in new springs and KYBs. WoW! all of a sudden my car was shaking and shivering like it was going to have a nervous breakdown. Bracing was already in the budget but time wasn't, so I waited a little longer than I wanted to install everything. Since I just got the T/A back from the shop after having the SFCs welded on I figured I would share how the car feels now that it is still fresh in my mind.

First I installed an Edelbrock STB for a carbed car. IMHO these are a pain to install, I don't know if they fit better in Camaros but they are the only one out there for carb/tbi cars to my limited knowledge.
The difference however, was immediate, the car tracked differently across bumps, and the steering had a more precise powerful feeling to it. One of my buddies (who had no idea I had installed anything) mentioned that the car for some reason felt more "solid". Before the car would follow cracks and grooves in the road with a sometimes alarming abruptness, that was replaced with a slight pull to whichever side the groove or crack was orientated. Also the dash pad which did a little jiggle after every bump was now almost jiggle free.

Well, now that the front was done I noticed the rear a little more. After every medium bump the suspension would unload and the car would "shiver", that is about the only way to explain it. I ordered up the Jegster SFCs(bolt-on,weld-on) from Jegs and called a few shops to see if they could weld them on. After a lot of "huh" and "whats" I had a small brainwave and called the local performance shop to see if they knew a good welder. They hooked me right up with Matt Wirt Race Fab of Chesapeake. He quoted me 100$ (A price I deemed reasonable for someone who knew what they were doing) and set to work, he even repainted where he ground off powdercoat to weld. The SFCs tucked right behind the rocker panels and are not visible unless you look under the car. A lesson learned is that without asking some performance guys I would of gone to Joe Blo who may or may not of installed them properly!

Well back to driving, with the SFCs installed the car sure rattled less! It also had a corresponding improvement in feel, it tracked straighter, and that godawful shiver was gone!

For lack of a better comparison my 19 year old car was acting like one big shock absorber it just took some stiff suspension parts to show me how much. Lets not forget the beloved stress cracks that so many of us have, hopefully these will put a stop to that. Since these SFCs connect in a relatively simple two points I would say that some of the more extensive connectors (ie Spohn)work even better! For me it is a matter of price to performance, I don't plan for serious abuse I just wanted to stiffen. I have no brand loyalty I just pick what works for me.

I know some of you guys with SFCs already are saying "well duh!" But for those of you who don't I figured this story would enforce that sometimes the things you can't see on a car make the biggest difference!

eight firing and two burning
Julian

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82 T/A
305 torquer heads,
isky cam, edelbrock intake,edelbrock headers,SLP catback-700r4.
Polygraphite bushings/Edelbrock STB/Jegster SFCs
Baer brakes front w/rear disc conversion,
245/50zr16GSCsin place. 98,000 miles.

 

Thanks for the report!

I have a Hotckis STB and BMR LCA/PHR ready to go in to my '89 Formula 350. SFC's are next after I rebuild the trans and the front end.

I cannot wait to feel the difference! I always thought my 4th gen Z28 was MUCH more solid and preferred to drive it more than the '89.

Now that the 4th gen is gone, I will now get to see....

Good luck with you car, Julian!

 

I cant wait either! Just ordered my Sphoon SFC's today! Doug

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Central Indiana Camaro Club member since Oct. 2000
1991 Z28 - 51,000 miles.
All power options leather. 350 TPI:
K&N; Airfoil; Custom 'Ram-Air'; SLP Headers; Slp Runners;Poweraid TB spacer;
Fastchip;
Borla Catback 50% open; Dual factory Cats;
March underdrive pulleys;
Accel Extreme 9000 wires, Accel coil; Hypertech rotor & cap; NGK platinum plugs;
manual fan switch;
TB coolant bypass; smog pump delete
Pirelli P7000 Z245/50/R16 all season tires;
Energy suspention motor mounts
S Cobra Radar Detector; Z28 SS Floormats;
Technalon IV car cover (now on my dad'a 2000 Berger SS).

 

My Sphon SFC's I've had since Christmas are going on once this semester ends! Glad to hear that these SFC's have been fixing everything I want them to.

[This message has been edited by MikeDwhoROCZImports (edited April 17, 2001).]

 

Hey, thanks for the info. I was wondering how much difference everything would make. You gave a good explanation. I have to release my credit card now hahah.

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91 Z28 Camaro
305 TPI
700R4 with 2000 Stall and shift kit

 

Thanks for the replies, glad to give some input. I'll be at sea for six months soon, I am planning to create a website with some good before and after (lessons learned)info based on my amateur installation attempts, baer brakes, polygraphite etc. The biggest thing is I will document when I get back will be my engine install,the big question is ZZ4 conversion or Ram Jet I can't make up my mind!

Julian

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82 T/A
305 torquer heads,
isky cam, edelbrock intake,edelbrock headers,SLP catback-700r4.
Polygraphite bushings/Edelbrock STB/Jegster SFCs
Baer brakes front w/rear disc conversion,
245/50zr16GSCsin place. 98,000 miles.