Bill Boudreau C4 Beam Plates

[rkreigh]

work on all c4 corvettes, really help the car track straighter and plant the big HP

see

http://www.zr1netregistry.com/forum/...8005#post18005

[Peaven]

Hey Ron, I've still got the plates I got from you....they're sitting in my toolbox. I know, I need to get on it...been too busy. Maybe someone can give me a hand installing them in BG.

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by Peaven

Hey Ron, I've still got the plates I got from you....they're sitting in my toolbox. I know, I need to get on it...been too busy. Maybe someone can give me a hand installing them in BG.

Heheh, I'm the same way! I bought mine like a year ago from Ron. Should be getting them on this week though.

[tomtom72]

Just a FWIW. You guys are gonna love what they do for the launch....especially that you guys have some hp mods. On my stock Z they made the car twist less when I get on it from a standing start and a slow roll. No more feeling the chassis twist diagonally. Now I can feel the car stay level in the diagonal plane. The weight transfer is cleaner front to rear, no twist and no yawing to the side from the rear....just straight ahead go...

[Peaven]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

Heheh, I'm the same way! I bought mine like a year ago from Ron. Should be getting them on this week though.

Hey Bob, let me know how that works out for ya...I don't really want to pull the exhaust, but it sure would be nice to have 'em installed before BG.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by tomtom72

Just a FWIW. You guys are gonna love what they do for the launch....especially that you guys have some hp mods. On my stock Z they made the car twist less when I get on it from a standing start and a slow roll. No more feeling the chassis twist diagonally. Now I can feel the car stay level in the diagonal plane. The weight transfer is cleaner front to rear, no twist and no yawing to the side from the rear....just straight ahead go...

Yeah, I really need to get after it...trying to get my house ready for sale and all of the bs that goes with that plus work issues are really cutting into my Z time....

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by Peaven

Hey Bob, let me know how that works out for ya...I don't really want to pull the exhaust, but it sure would be nice to have 'em installed before BG.

I don't notice any big dramatic differences. I guess the 1-2 shift feels a little less jerky, but that might actually be because with headers (and the cool weather) the car can break 2nd loose pretty good. Before it was just a small chirp and slight sideways kick as they hooked up.

I bought 'em because everyone said they were great. Since I owned them anyway, and Marc was doing exhaust stuff, it was a no brainer to install them. But I don't know if I'd do it again. I wonder if the people who notice big differences just have loose c-beam bolts to begin with?

[cward]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

I don't notice any big dramatic differences. I guess the 1-2 shift feels a little less jerky, but that might actually be because with headers (and the cool weather) the car can break 2nd loose pretty good. Before it was just a small chirp and slight sideways kick as they hooked up.

I bought 'em because everyone said they were great. Since I owned them anyway, and Marc was doing exhaust stuff, it was a no brainer to install them. But I don't know if I'd do it again. I wonder if the people who notice big differences just have loose c-beam bolts to begin with?

I think that some Z's need them more than others. My car did need them and they helped a bunch. Obviously yours it made little difference. My car got beat on pretty hard and that might have made a difference.

Curtis

[95ZR1#418]

They made a huge difference in my car. Before, the left rear always fished into the centerline on 1st to 2nd shift, now it stays dead straight! I feel safe now, on these narrow back Montana roads.

[rkreigh]

they don't stop the car from spinning, they just make it track straighter because they limit the diff from twisting and putting a different load on the tires.

the harder you drive, the more you notice this. the first time I really HIT the LSV, the car went sideways so hard I hit my head on the glass. nearly knocked me out! after the beam plates, it would still spin like crazy, but tracked quite a bit straighter.

I've had "mixed reviews" but most notice a substantial improvement and when you look at the "fishmouth" design of the beam and how the bolts dig into the soft cast alum, the plates make alot of sense if for no other reason they make the beam installation WAY easier.

let me or bill know if you have any questions. take a look at what gm did with the design of the c5/c6 going to a "torq tube" to stiffen the car. anything we can do to help the chassis stiffness is a benefit.=D>

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by rkreigh

they don't stop the car from spinning, they just make it track straighter because they limit the diff from twisting and putting a different load on the tires.

Yeah, I wasn't trying to say I thought they'd do that. Rather just that at the same time the plates were put on, the car had a big power upgrade added too. Previously the car kicked a little when the tires hooked on the 1-2 shift. Now I feel like, at least in this colder weather, I have to let off the gas in 2nd as the engine overwhelms the tires, hence no kick out to the side. Or maybe it's the beam plates. I dunno. The car does feel slightly different on the 1-2 shift but not night and day or anything.

I'm certainly not trying to say it's a bad mod though. They aren't heavy or fragile or ugly or anything. Worst case it has little effect, best case your car feels a lot more stable.