i recently got my wonderbar from UMI performance, and i went to install it, thinking it would be as easy or easier than my previous trans am, but im looking at it, and on the drivers side, the lower radiator hose wont clear the wonderbar? should i just bend and push it up out of the way, or would that be a stupid idea with the old brittle hose and possibly cause a leak? any ideas? anyone else had this issue??

 

It will hit because of the way the V6 hoses are routed but it shouldnt cause any real problem. i have had my Wonderbar on for 4 months or so and i have not had any problems.

 

not to be a pain in the @zz but could you take a pic of how your hose is routed around your wonderbar just so i can see? thanks...i just dont want to cause an issue, installing a 50 dollar brace....

 

i had to use a v8 stock wonder bar to clear the v6 lower hose.
i modified the stock bar though to make it stronger,i cut out the bar(tubing in the middle) and only reused the brackets and inplace of the thin walled tubing i welded in some round 3/4 tool steel bar stock.the hose rubbed ever so slightly.
what u can do is get 1/4 to 1/2 inch longer endlinks for the front swaybar,and then u can make spacers to move the wonder bar away from the hose the same amount,though u would need to get longer bolts

 

I bought the TDS wonderbar (GREAT product btw) but a day after the install, the fan started hitting the fan shroud, I ended up cutting up the fan shroud (made the indent in the shroud for the hose a bit larger by cutting more of the plastic out so that the hose can be pushed up more with out distorting the fan shroud.)

 

I've got a Global West wonderbar on mine. I just left the hose in the stock position. It only compresses the hose a little, not enough to make a differance in the flow through the hose, just changes the shape of the hose from round to oblong. I've had it on there for about 1 year now and no problems.

 

i pulled out my radiator support, hgacked off that guide and reinstalled. hose barley touches the wonderbar now (TDS BTW).

 

I was able to just bend the lower radiator hose support a little bit in my 3.1 and able to fit the wonder bar in there no problem. See attached picture!

 

Here is another picture, whoops... should have attached it with the other post...

 

yeah my car is different than the setup in the pics, i actually had to run the hose over the sway bar, then between the sway bar and the wonderbar (under the wonderbar) and then back up and through to the radiator, it is indeed distorting/pinching the hose, but its not kinking it. the hose is like an oval where its getting pinched, ive driven the car about 50 miles now, no issues, seems to run MAYBE 10-15 degrees warmer, but the cooling fan kicks it right back down if and when it gets above 220, maybe ill grab a 180tstat....

 

you should REALY fix that. decreased flow can casue hot spots inside the engine which in extreme cases could lead to a cracked or warped block. i realy don't think it will be an ussue, but if nothing else get a hose from a 1986 2.8LMPFI since it will be bent better and do it a little better.

this is just my opinion, i am by no means a mechanic or expert. just my .02.

 

i agree with you, what a PITA, i dont think im going to bother with it unless something abnornal occurs, just give me a reason to get a 350, haha....thanks

 

totally off topic here, but 1988CamaroSC, did you upgrade your gears from stock? ive always wondered if going to the next step up (3.23 to 3.42 or 3.42 to 3.73) made a noticable difference. sorry to change the subject. IM me if you dont wanna post it in here.

 

nope car came like that when i bought it, dunno if its stock or mod, changed the rear seal and fluid and noticed it...couldnt really tell ya the difference, but id like to get some 3.73's so maybe then i could.

 

I have a TDS VR1, which is a exact replica of GM's. Fits just fine and have had it on for 3+ years.

 

if you got it like that and its an auto, then its more than likely an upgrade. stock autos came w/ 3.23s. manuals came w/ 3.42s. just wondering, thanks.

 

so the TDS wonderbar has no radiator hose clearance issues in a V-6 car?

 

The hose lays right on top of it. It may have pushed it up 1/4" or an inch or so. Nothing to worry about. Its been on 3 years with zero issues.

 

i have the TDS V2 wonderbar. when it was on my V6 i had to cut the lower radiator hose "cup" off of my lower rad support. then the bar applied slight pressure to the hose. pushed it in about a quarter inch. i never noticed any increase in temperature, so i never worried about it. flow should not have been affected. when i got my GTA i put it on ther with no issues. its a v8 car of course.

i don't see why the hose curves down in the first place. if my 8 cyl car does not need a funny dip in it's rad hose i don't know why my v6 one does. they both have the same stuff around that area. if i could find one i would get a hose without a bend just out of spite.

for the uninformed:
the stock bar and the TDS V1 bar are exactly the same. the V2 bar adds another bolt point, but the bars placement remains the same. as for these other brands i do not know if the bar sits in the "stock"* loaction or not.
*= stock on irocs with 16s after a certain year. i think it started in 1989 but don't quote me.

 

the tech data section here for an 88 sc claims the car came with 3.42s stock as an auto, check it out......