Has anyone else seen the sneak peek from the Roadster Shop on their new Full bolt on chassis for the third gen, supposed to debut at sema this year.

 

THIS?


https://roadstershop.com/product/198...earing-options

 

Just 3 easy payments 😆

 

I love it. If I had a 3rd gen still, or if they made similar for a C4, I'd seriously consider it. I wonder what the net weight gain is?

 

Short from instagram posted this morning

 

How is it incorporated with the subframe? Although very cool, the fab work must be extensive.

 

It completely replaces the front subframe. If you pause at or around the time that the CC says, "of strength in this", you can see the OEM front sub frame is not there. Looks like you need to cut into the fender to make clearance for the upper arm/mount.

The rep incorrectly talks about integration with the sub frame "Sub rail"...he's actually talking about the unit body structure.

 

Yeah, I guess I should have been more clear in wondering how the middle section works, front and rear subframes makes sense. I guess I'll just have to watch the video later.

 

It looks like the middle section is like a perimeter subframe, much like 70's & '80's full sized GM cars like a Cadillac etc. The cross bracing either parallels/avoids interfacing with the Unit body structure....or requires clearancing it. I can't tell in the pix and that vid.

 

I don't see the need for this unless you're wanting to do some serious road course or autocross racing. Spending $25k-$30k for a chassis is not something I would ever do but I guess there's a demand for it or they wouldn't put the R&D into this.

 

This is a little pointless. Cool but I don't get it, it's not anywhere near bolt in. It requires massive amounts of fabrication. I feel like if someone has the skills to instal this, they have the skills to build something similar. If you're at the point of installing this you're modifying your wheel wells/floor/putting in a cage. Why not just do up a full tube frame at that point. It's super cool, I'm happy there's support for these cars. I've thought about doing a different suspension in my car. I just wouldn't go this way.

 

From the website :

 

The point if it is: to provide the benefits of a modern car driving experience (structural stiffness = ride quality and good feedbacks) combined with a track-ready suspension. An F-body can "do some serious road course or autocross racing"...with basic suspension bolt-ons....GOOD set up....and TIRES. But it'll still ride like ****, shudder over expansion joints, twist and creak going diagonally through gutters and so on. You can cage the car, punch holes in the fire wall and tube-frame it to the front and add a bunch of weight, hope your "engineering" meets the goal (stiffness) w/o wrecking the car as a daily....but that's another entire project, separate from the suspension upgrades to make it competitive on track.

This chassis....WITH complete suspension solves all of the problems, in one package (so they say). The idea is that you end up with a structure that drives/feels/etc. like a new CTS-V, Mustang, POL-sha....virtually any decent car designed in the last 10-15 years...but you still get the awesome looks, interior, and retain the rad vibe/uniqueness of an '80's F-bod...which is super cool.

That's the point, as I see it. If I could bolt a "rigid chassis" under my C4....I'd probably do it. The single biggest downer about that car, IS the frame stiffness or lack thereof.

 

Ooof...I missed that. That is a lot. I still might consider, however. Pocket, on here is doing that (and more). I'd have to ride/drive one first to see how far it advances the platform.

 

Yeah, I get the point of better suspension, that's obvious. But this isn't bolt in by even the slightest. With the fab required why not just do the work yourself of have the fabricator whose doing all the work do "all" the work. I don't get spending 21k (starting at 21k) and probably another 20k in fab work. This is minimally a 40k deal. So, just have the whole thing fabricated. That's why don't see the point. It's a massive amount of work. Again, I've actually considered (and still do) going this route. I would just have the fabricator I know do the whole thing.

 

Is it? The suspension is only part of the benefit (if they're being honest). The larger benefit is a rigid structure. As stated above; it ain't hard to get an F-bod to handle on a track...but it's still going to drive and ride like a flexy-flyer, beat-box.

There are a few variables, there....who's "doing it"? If *I* am doing that install, it's in no way, $40k. I'm doing it all, myself. I think this kit is aimed at "that person" -the one who doesn't hire a fabricator; they ARE the fabricator.

The second thing, re: "have the whole thing fabricated"....you can surely do that. Where is the engineering component of that? How do you know you're going to meet the goal of the project?

I'm not saying "this is the silver bullet for all F-Bod owners"....but I see the point of it. A similar product for my car would be transformative...I'd think long and hard about getting it.

 

I feel like the fabricators I know wouldn't use something like this. They would build a full tube chassis from scratch. That's what they do all
the time. And it's what we talked about w my car. I've never seen either of them use something like this. I kind of feel it's for the in between person who can do the sheet metal but not the rest. Also, once you start opening up the drop down menus for the upgraded parts the price doubles pretty quick. It's cool, just really niche in my mind.

 

I got interested enough from the video that I gave them a call yesterday so I could get some questions answered.

1. The link Tom you are referencing is a design from several years ago that indeed was a full cut out of the floor, etc... this is a new and different design just created
2. This design that is being shown in the instagram video and will be revealed in full at SEMA is very minor fab (everything relative but I view it as very minor) and largely a bolt in for something of this magnitude
3. Floor is fully retained and mounting points are largely points already on the existing structure, some do need to be added but for any of us thirdgen.org who work on our vehicles sounds pretty straightforward
4. It needs their own fuel tank as it is a true dual setup
5. Front suspension is double a arm with coilover, need to do some cutting of existing strut tower
6. back suspension is a 4 link with watts link
7. all sorts of mounting arrangements for engine / transmission options
8. There demo car came as a nice condition thirdgen and they were able to implement it into the car without the need for such fab that requires then full repaint, etc... ie it is not a lot of cutting and welding... 3d jigs come for where to attach new points, etc... seems like they are trying to make install straight forward
8. $9000 for deposit

So lot of money, but also seems to me lot of value in a design that likely produces consistent installation and predictable results... I am considering it after I ask some additional questions

 

I'd rather buy another 3rd gen(or two) than spend the money for this. It's cool but I just wouldn't pony up for it with the way I use my cars.

 

Sounds pretty great to me. Thanks for the info. If they made a kit like that for the C4...I'd seriously consider that; it would "fix" the biggest problem with that car.

 

New video.

 

Thats nicely done. Not nearly as much cutting as first thought.

 

Yeah, this makes more sense than cutting out the whole floor.

 

Looks pretty sweet. But with any new product never buy the first round of them, there's always something that gets "caught" after a few thousand have gone out the door and the fix comes shortly afterwards

 

This is super cool.

Did anyone catch a price?

 

their site starts it at $19k usd

 

Thanks. Whoa.

Guess there's a lot of work and R&D that goes into it.