I am boxing my torque arm and the control arms while the tranny is out. How much will this help with traction and wheel hop? Also,how much do re-location brackets usually run and which companies make the better ones?

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'91 RS, 375hp 350
New paint-solid black
ROH Snyper wheels-17x9 wrapped in 275/40/17
ASCD SS hood, High-rise Z-28 spoiler,shaved handles/antenna,
Hooker super comp 1 3/4" headers,dual 3" exhaust,two 1-chamber Flomasters,machined hi-perf GM heads,Holley double pumper 650 w/50cc pumps,Power Plus 360* high rise aluminum intake,Edelbrock Elite valve covers/14x4" open air cleaner,Mallory AFPR,Proform HI-perf HEI disributer with curve kit,Crane 292 cam,2500 stall converter,Eibach Sportline springs,KYB struts/shocks,completely rebuilt steering linkage,36/24mm sway bars,12.7 steering box,wonderbar,145 gauge cluster,Auto meter gauges,dual guage A-pillar pods,180* thermostat,dual push/pull cooling fans.
75-125 shot NOS system planned.

President-Austin 3rd Gen F-body c.c. - message board at
www.hpsmotorsports.net
See my car and others at www.ride4life.net

 

Boxing the torque arm? I've thought of that (I have a spare torque arm), but it didn't look like there was that much to box. Are you welding a steel plate completely to the one side?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

I can't answer to improved traction. It will be stronger and less subject to flexing or bending. Mine are SLP boxed pieces I got used. I have Spohn's LCA relocation brackets and am very happy with them. You can spend a lot more for Global West ones if you desire. The LCA relocation brackets did help with traction. I spun a lot more on the line before. But what can you expect, I'm still using street tires instead of drag radials. After all, it's just a 'vert. Good luck, Lon.

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90 RS Convertible
Owner: Top-Down Solutions
(626)369-0040

http://www.sc3gfb.org/members/lonsal.html
http://www.taskerinc.com/gs3/profiles/Lon_profile.htm

 

You might wana install polly bushings in the LCA and torque arm if you haven't done so allready it might help with your wheel hop problem, I used the energy suspension bushings and they were easy to install and helped big time with my handling but not to sure about traction because my tires were bald at the time.

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89 T-Top GTA 350 5-speed (soon to be 6-speed)
(Jet hot coated)1 3/4 SLP headers,flowmaster force 2,no cat's,SLP cold air,MSD 6al,march pulleys,ported plenum,air foil,B&M ripper shifter,180 stat,alston SFC,spohn LCA relocation brackets,ES LCA and Panhard bushings,free mods.

0-60 5.2s
Track Time
60' 2.049
E.T. 14.14@96.7MPH (2270 FT)
13.76@99.4MPH corrected

 

I can't see much much benefit to boxing the torque arm.. It would seem to me that the weakest part would be the little "tab" that goes into the tranny bushing, and there wouldn't be much you could do about that.

The LCAs however, look like a perfect candidate for strengthening. I was thinking about cutting down some steel plate to cover the open bottom of the LCAs, and welding it in securely. Has anyone done that, and noticed a difference in traction or anything?

 

Well,I only had a chance to box the torque arm.I had a friend weld a steel plate across the open side. Before I installed it,I had bad wheel hop.Now it's gone.I only expected the hop to cut down with the lca's,but much to my surprise,it completely vanished with the torque arm being boxed.The lca's will get boxed in the next couple days when I put my new rearend in.

------------------
'91 RS, 375hp 350
New paint-solid black
ROH Snyper wheels-17x9 wrapped in 275/40/17
ASCD SS hood, High-rise Z-28 spoiler,shaved handles/antenna,
Hooker super comp 1 3/4" headers,dual 3" exhaust,two 1-chamber Flomasters,machined hi-perf GM heads,Holley double pumper 650 w/50cc pumps,Power Plus 360* high rise aluminum intake,Edelbrock Elite valve covers/14x4" open air cleaner,Mallory AFPR,Proform HI-perf HEI disributer with curve kit,Crane 292 cam,2500 stall converter,Vette servo,boxed torque and control arms,polyurethane bushings and mounts,Eibach Sportline springs,KYB struts/shocks,completely rebuilt steering linkage,36/24mm sway bars,12.7 steering box,wonderbar,145 gauge cluster,Auto meter gauges,dual guage A-pillar pods,180* thermostat,dual push/pull cooling fans.
75-125 shot NOS system planned.

President-Austin 3rd Gen F-body c.c. - message board at
www.hpsmotorsports.net
See my car and others at www.ride4life.net