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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 08:44 AM
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Default VBP spreader bar

Just installed a spreader bar last night. My car is just a cruiser, and only installed cause as a convertible it rattles a little, feels a little squirmy on bumps and corners. So the result on the ride to work today was a tighter feel, and I was relieved to hear the rattles were down. My ride to work includes about a 4 mile windy country rode and could really tell a difference. So even if you're not building a racer, especially if it's a vert, you may want one.

Now the question, anybody with the shark bar have similar experiences for the rear of the car? Is it worth the price and more importantly worth the precious space in a vert if I'm not racing the car?
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 11:58 AM
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Someone had a thread raving about the stiffness and reduction in rattles that the shark bar made. Not sure if he had a Vert or not. Do a search for Shark Bar in thread titles and see what comes up. It was fairly recent so might not even be archeived.
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 11:59 AM
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I don't have my spreader bar installed yet but I would like to add that solid motor mounts also lend a lot to frame rigidity and I didn't feel much in the way of increased vibrations.
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by wiseman79
Just installed a spreader bar last night. My car is just a cruiser, and only installed cause as a convertible it rattles a little, feels a little squirmy on bumps and corners. So the result on the ride to work today was a tighter feel, and I was relieved to hear the rattles were down. My ride to work includes about a 4 mile windy country rode and could really tell a difference. So even if you're not building a racer, especially if it's a vert, you may want one.

Now the question, anybody with the shark bar have similar experiences for the rear of the car? Is it worth the price and more importantly worth the precious space in a vert if I'm not racing the car?
I installed a harness bar in my 02 Corvette and it did a great job increasing the torsional rigidity of the chassis - and that car has a much better frame than this one. I have little doubt a horizontal beam will help the bird cages of our C3s immensely.

Plus, when you get into autocross, you have a great place for a camera mount.
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 01:59 PM
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If you have lots of squeaks and rattles, check your body mounts. Mine were in terrible shape, and the whole body squeaked and shook if I drove over a piece of crumpled paper. Now, with poly body mounts installed it's nice and tight.
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by SuprJames
Someone had a thread raving about the stiffness and reduction in rattles that the shark bar made. Not sure if he had a Vert or not. Do a search for Shark Bar in thread titles and see what comes up. It was fairly recent so might not even be archeived.
That would have been me. I installed the VBP spreader bar and was real happy with the stiffness in the front. The Shark bar did the same for the body at the rear. I was amazed at high much tighter it feels with the Shark Bar. Yes mine is a convertible.
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 08:35 PM
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Would you guys feel like a poser with a shark bar in an otherwise stock car? I wouldn't want to go to shows and look like the kid with a wing on his honda.
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by wiseman79
Would you guys feel like a poser with a shark bar in an otherwise stock car? I wouldn't want to go to shows and look like the kid with a wing on his honda.

No. It is not all that visible and just tell them it is a stiffiner. They do not have to know.
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Old Apr 15, 2008 | 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Gordonm
No. It is not all that visible and just tell them it is a stiffiner. They do not have to know.
Just rode in Gordons vert this past weekend, I've got a 73 vert and they are basically the same car, his was definitely tighter and no squeaks with the shark bar installed, I ordered mine today from Dan, a great addition.........
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Old Apr 16, 2008 | 09:22 PM
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Default Didn't seem to make much difference in mine...

Can't really tell anything. What did make a noticable difference was welding the gaps in the stitch-welding, along the underside of the frame, between the wheels. When I had my engine out last, I welded between the stitch-welding on top in the engine compartment...and that wasn't very noticable. I just installed the bar this past winter, but it wasn't very noticable.
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