So I was told that the middle of a gn does not flex that much

[gnfanatic]

Hey guys. I really want to reinforce my chassis big time without a cage. I called up a shop (I have seen his work and looks wonderful) and spoke to him about the rear part of the frame and the U channel in the middle. He said the U channel doesnt flex that much, it is the back. I wanted to weld a bar going across the frame right where there rear crossmember is (think of a wolf bar setup) and I also wanted to reinforce the U channel (and also the lower and upper ca mounts). he says it wont do much at all and i was suprised by this. . I really do not want to get a cage. I have heard some of you guys doing some modifications to your U channel. I believe SGRIM used some tubing??? I would appreciate any comments or pics.

thanks!
Ralph

 

[gnfanatic]

so 86 people viewed this but no comments?

 

[bigmac_ns]

I'm curious as well...

 

[SS_Sean]

I would have to agree with your fabricator. What's the point? Stiffen the chassis? Unless you're racing and need it to certify to certain times/speeds then it's really a waste of money in my opinion. It's either a street car or a race car.

 

[TurboDave]

You'd be money ahead just replacing all the body bushings with less compliant, poly units.

 

[Christophah]

There are plenty of braces that you can buy that will stiffen you up quite a bit. I think poston's stocks them all. There are braces for the front of the chassis at the front clip, there are braces that go behink the back seat, then of course you could replace all of your bushings with poly including the missing ones.

 

[ChavoLC2]

Chassis

Your Chassis guy is right on and honest. Do what others members mentioned body bushings, rear seat braces etc,etc. Spend your hard earned money else where.

 

[gnfanatic]

hey guys, I have all those braces. I ehard the poly body mounts give a bad ride?? all my body bushings are mint and all are there (14 locations?) I would have to agree with your fabricator. What's the point? How about less rattle, squeaks, better handling and no more stress cracks? I feel thats a good point. Street cars must flex alot? I dont want a race car.

 

[turbo nasty]

Which braces do you have?

 

[TurboDave]

I ehard the poly body mounts give a bad ride?? .

Didn't on mine.

 

[gnfanatic]

I know a guy who put them in his regal and hated them so much he took them out. I know they were polys . for some reason he said the car road like ****??m I need to look more into it, I know quite a few people on here did it and never heard a complaint? I have the trunk brace , front triangle brace and inner fender braces. I am also getting a new front triangle brace thats much stronger then the fac ones. Turbodave, you felt a big diff going from rubber to poly?? I have all the locations with rubber so i am not sure if i would feel that much of a diff???

 

[TurboDave]

I know a guy who put them in his regal and hated them so much he took them out. I know they were polys . for some reason he said the car road like ****??m I need to look more into it, I know quite a few people on here did it and never heard a complaint? I have the trunk brace , front triangle brace and inner fender braces. I am also getting a new front triangle brace thats much stronger then the fac ones. Turbodave, you felt a big diff going from rubber to poly?? I have all the locations with rubber so i am not sure if i would feel that much of a diff???

Seemed to stiffen things up a bit, less flex, etc. less like a buick ride. Not rough mind you, just different. Better responsiveness, etc.

 

[KevinB]

I put the poly body bushings in my old car. Would do it again.

My new T already had the poly's installed. No problems out of this one either.

 

[ChavoLC2]

gnfanatic

If you want the car like Dave's which I like the description of the changes he made with less compliant poly bushings

" Seemed to stiffen things up a bit but not overly stiff/non compliant, with less flex(i.e.body roll?)etc. Less like that Buick ride,some them old big Buicks moved and felt like a Batteship. " This Buick needed a platform to make it amble and quick like a light weight Destroyer

"Like he said not rough mind you just different,i.e Better RESPONSIVENESS.


Nice description of the overall feel of Turdo Dave's ride

 

[tb3]

it is kind of spooky when you let the frame down onto the jacks right there behind the front wheels, and see how much the front end flexes down. (even with all the bolt on braces)
I would think that some sort of well designed "weld in" braces under the car would do wonders for helping prevent body and frame twist that our cars undergo even in "street" driving conditions.
Do all these guys that have converted their gbodys into convertables done anything to stiffen up the underneath?

 

[gnfanatic]

I remmeber when I had a flat in the rear drivers side. I popped my hood to do something while i was waiting for someone. Amazingly I couldnt close the damn hoodf until the flat was fixed and the car was leveled!

 

[chopped39]

A couple of months ago I think it was turbo lou. he had some crazy looking bracing under his car. these frames are weak. I have the body off mine right now. with two people picking up frame . one holding front and one holding rear. you can twist frame about an inch or two. I was thinking about making a brace that goes from shock to shock at top where they bolt to frame in the rear.

 

[gnfanatic]

who is turbo Lou?? I would like to get some idea's. I was thinking about the same brace in the back but was told it would do minimal

 

[scot w.]

I personally think that ANY brace welded to the frame would HELP the flex of any frame! it's just common sense that more bracing = more ridgid! FIRST- The body bushings are a must! All other Buyable braces are a must! to see where it's at, then from there if your still not satisfiyed, have your fabricator weld up a "Bolt-in" brace of some sort. Keep all the measurements so we can buy one too! Keep in mind it's your car and if you want a brace, get a brace!

PS: I would at least try the body bushings first.

Scot w.

 

[Gary Wells]

who is turbo Lou?? I would like to get some idea's. I was thinking about the same brace in the back but was told it would do minimal

---------------------------------
Lou has been involved with repairing. building, & racing Buicks for lots of years. He can be reached at the following:

Lou's Auto