WHat to do when you cant wait for ZFDOC trans plates???

[oricale]

you make new ones!!!!!!

1/4 steel drilled to a tolerance of less than 1-10th of a milimeter, welded nuts(arm saver)

[scottfab]

This does not suck.
I like it.
I've never bought it that the plates did much except save time.
And even that with me didn't seem to be that hard but what you have
here is brilliant, resourceful and low on the effort-to-do scale.
Putting it on my to-do list.
Good JOB !=D>

[rkreigh]

good stuff. the beam plates really do help. not only do they make the install easier, they help the car track straighter when spinning by keeping the drivetrain/diff straight which is pretty amazing.

when you see the torq tube design on the C5 and up, you realize that anything we can do to stiffen the spine on the C4 is a very good thing

bill and I talked about "boxing in the C beam with a plate and series of small bolts. my bet is that it would help even more and be worth the weight

stiffening up the C4 chassis is sorely needed

[Corbusa]

Can you break this down in english for us newbies Whats it do ?

[PhillipsLT5]

As soon as I installed bills beam plates the car went straight upon hard acceleration, without them the rear end kicked out

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by Corbusa

Can you break this down in english for us newbies Whats it do ?

Here you go:

http://www.zfdoc.com/c4beamplate.htm

C4 Beam Plates (Fits all 1984 -1996 Corvette Drivelines)

Lifetime Warranted Retail price - $189.00 To Purchase call (602) 319-6575 or email www.billb@zfdoc.com
These multi-purpose driveline support reinforcement plates can be used on all 1984 through 1996 model year (C4 or 4th Generation) Corvettes. We have found that most C4 Corvettes inherently experience a slight amount of twisting at the fastening points of the support beam to the transmission and differential housing connection surfaces. Although fastened with high grade bolts, self-locking nuts and adhered with factory sealant, the driveline components of the C4 Corvette still experience some level of counterforce load-induced lateral deflection between the members while under heavy loading. This allowance of flex in the driveline beam fastening joints creates a condition where the chassis structure must additionally contend with. One common side effect of this phenomenon is where the rear of the vehicle tends to kick out to the right during aggressive high RPM gear shifting. Notice that the C5 or 1997 and newer Corvette was redesigned so that lateral deflection of the driveline is practically non existent. The C5 Corvette driveline consists of a drive shaft within a tube that has a bell housing fused to each end.
Customer Feedback: Hear what customer's have to say about this product.
Better Handling: The stainless steel TIG-weld constructed design provides high torsion load reinforcement of the only two flex prone areas of the driveline. By reinforcing these areas, the vehicle�s suspension system will experience less torsion load interference from the driveline system. The noticeable improvement in acceleration handling will provide for better directional tracking and predictability especially when at the edge of the performance envelope.
Simplifies Driveline Beam Service: These plates also simplify removal and installation of the driveline support beam by providing a topside wrench-free design that, when both bolts are started by a thread, allow the installer to use both hands below where the torque leverage is needed.
Specifications: Material - 30302 stainless steel, Construction - T.I.G. welded, Fasteners - New GM self-locking nuts, Weight - 1.65 lbs. (per vehicle set), Finish - Silicon bead blasted

Q) How does lateral deflection between the driveline members affect the vehicle handling?.
A) The immediate area of the driveline beam around the bolt and nut heads where the beam fastens to the transmission and differential are prone t flexing a finite amount. With the slightest amount of flex or deflection occurring at these joints, counter-force torsion energy is off-loaded to the chassis. This brief spike of counterforce energy causes unnecessary deviation of the suspension planes. A brief change in the drive wheel thrust angles is the root cause for the C4�s inherent response of the rear end kicking out to the right when aggressively shifting during heavy acceleration.
Q) How do the C4 Beam Plates improve the vehicle handling?
A) By installing the ZR51 Performance C4 Beam Plates, the driveline system becomes more rigid and less apt to affect the suspension system during extreme loading.
* �C4 Beam Plates� is a registered trademark of ZR51 Performance and is patent pending.

C4 Beam Plate Installation Instructions: (P/N 1052C4BP) (Now comes with 2 driveline clearance checking blocks.)

1. Raise vehicle and suitably support.
2. Remove partial or complete exhaust system if necessary to achieve clearance for removal of driveline support fasteners.
3. Support transmission and ready a secondary support device beneath the differential. NOTE: Removal and installation of the driveline support fastening bolts normally requires manipulating of the transmission and differential mount points. A second jack or lifting device is recommended.
4. Remove support beam fasteners, placing nuts and washers aside. (Do not re-use washers for they will not allow enough thread-depth penetration for the locking nuts to fasten securely).
5. Clean the upper and lower surface area where the C4 Beam Plates will be seated.
6. Carefully work the Driveline beam away from the Differential and extension housing enough to inspect the contact surfaces. Any surface irregularities must be removed.
7. Carefully restore Driveline beam to its original location (Included are 2 small sticks of metal that can be used in the next step as clearance "go no-go" gages for checking the support beam location/clearance within the tunnel.
8. Insert bolts through lower plates noting that the front lower plate has a relieved corner for speedometer bulkhead clearance. Position the plates (w/nuts) at their proper locations on top of Driveline beam. Insert bolts (w/lower plates) through the holes and hand start the threads by 1 turn into the top deflection plate.
9. ALIGN DRIVELINE COMPONENTS: Take the following measurements directly above and to the right of the Propeller shaft front yolk universal joint. To ensure proper alignment of the driveline, a clearance of 45 mm +/- 6mm (1.77 in. +/- 0.236 in.) must be maintained between the top of the support to the underbody and a clearance of 28 mm+/-6 mm (1.1 in. +/- 0.236 in.) from the right side (passenger side of vehicle) of the support to the side wall.
10. Tighten support bolts at carrier to 80 Nm (59 lb. ft.)
11. Tighten support bolts at transmission to 50 Nm (37 lb. ft.).
12. Remove transmission support(s), install exhaust (if removed), and lower vehicle.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by PhillipsLT5

As soon as I installed bills beam plates the car went straight upon hard acceleration, without them the rear end kicked out

I agree. I trust Bill's beam plates so much that I did a test burn out with the car 2 feet away from a wall. It tracks very straight now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsFHhP7kQIk

[Corbusa]

Interesting Thanks Bro

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by rkreigh

snip*
bill and I talked about "boxing in the C beam with a plate and series of small bolts. my bet is that it would help even more and be worth the weight

stiffening up the C4 chassis is sorely needed

Dave McLellan discussed the C-beam in his book, "Corvette From The Inside". I seem to recall there was an issue that cropped up when using a tube, and the C-beam was the compromise. (I'll see if I can dig it up.)

I have had them on two Vettes now, and love 'em. Seeing the bolt holes "ovaled out" on the diff end of the C-beam on the Z, along with the ridge of aluminum around the washers, told the story. It tracks straight now on wheel spin. And, even if all they did was speed installing and removing the C-beam, they'd be worth every dime!

P.

[typhoonracer]

Good info gents... I just purchased a C-4 and noticed the "twitch" in the rear end... I will be pulling mine apart soon...