C3 Frame reinforcement?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 698
Likes: 8
From: Stockholm Sweden
When i had my engine out i reinforced parts of my frame (front end) without lifting the body off.
Off course there are places witch you can not reach without lifting or cut out the body, but the job is in my opinion well spent.
My reinforcements was made to make the frame more rigid when cornering.
There are some pictures of the job I did here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/gara...RickyBerg.html
//Ricky.
Last edited by RickyBerg; Apr 23, 2012 at 04:25 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
At a minimum, install a spreader bar between the front towers and for pre-batwing years a solid diff x-member locating kit (3 point). Then, go by "the book" when you do lift the body. FWIW, I have some related bits in the works, but can't afford to complete development at this time.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf
Ooops, just now realized this is an old thread. Still, the advice stands.
Hey, Batman. Where you been?
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf
Ooops, just now realized this is an old thread. Still, the advice stands.
Hey, Batman. Where you been?
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Apr 23, 2012 at 07:04 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 961
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
At a minimum, install a spreader bar between the front towers and for pre-batwing years a solid diff x-member locating kit (3 point). Then, go by "the book" when you do lift the body. FWIW, I have some related bits in the works, but can't afford to complete development at this time.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf
Ooops, just now realized this is an old thread. Still, the advice stands.
Hey, Batman. Where you been?
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf
Ooops, just now realized this is an old thread. Still, the advice stands.
Hey, Batman. Where you been?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,713
Likes: 550
From: Seattle Washington
Promoted by the race engineers at Chevrolet. 
The information on the torsional strength of the C2/3, C4 and C5 chassis setups in Dave McLellan's book Corvette From the Inside is quite interesting. He should know what he's talking about, having spent quite a while as chief engineer of the Corvette division.
On top of that, I just cut some parts off of a low-mileage, stock, very rust-free California '75 that my parts guy had in his shop. The car was declared to be unrepairable when it was discovered that the upper control arm mounts had torn almost completely free of the frame.
Don't need 400+ HP, either. I prefer the Hydroboost over the stock vacuum booster for several reasons:
1) you can remove it from the engine bay, rather than having to strip the dash apart.
2) it's a lot smaller, and a whole lot easier to work around.
3) it provides better braking power.
There's a reservoir in the system that gives you a few safety stops if the system loses pressure, along with it being a "fail-on" setup. If you lose pressure, eventually the brakes will just lock up and you won't go anywhere. If the system is still pressurized but the pump isn't turning, the only likely result would be an increase in braking force, I don't think it would completely fail.
The information on the torsional strength of the C2/3, C4 and C5 chassis setups in Dave McLellan's book Corvette From the Inside is quite interesting. He should know what he's talking about, having spent quite a while as chief engineer of the Corvette division.
On top of that, I just cut some parts off of a low-mileage, stock, very rust-free California '75 that my parts guy had in his shop. The car was declared to be unrepairable when it was discovered that the upper control arm mounts had torn almost completely free of the frame.
Don't need 400+ HP, either. I prefer the Hydroboost over the stock vacuum booster for several reasons:
1) you can remove it from the engine bay, rather than having to strip the dash apart.
2) it's a lot smaller, and a whole lot easier to work around.
3) it provides better braking power.
There's a reservoir in the system that gives you a few safety stops if the system loses pressure, along with it being a "fail-on" setup. If you lose pressure, eventually the brakes will just lock up and you won't go anywhere. If the system is still pressurized but the pump isn't turning, the only likely result would be an increase in braking force, I don't think it would completely fail.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,013
Likes: 2,253
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
The brakes will not lockup when you lose pressure. You just lose assist..it will stop and steer..just takes a little more effort.
JIM
JIM
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 50
From: Jersey Shore
Don't need 400+ HP, either. I prefer the Hydroboost over the stock vacuum booster for several reasons:
1) you can remove it from the engine bay, rather than having to strip the dash apart.
2) it's a lot smaller, and a whole lot easier to work around.
3) it provides better braking power.
1) you can remove it from the engine bay, rather than having to strip the dash apart.
2) it's a lot smaller, and a whole lot easier to work around.
3) it provides better braking power.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Hid out and did other things for a while. Car is almost done, just running down the remaining gremlins and re-upholsering some Recaros for it.
My Hydroboost locks the brakes when it loses pressure. I had a problem with the return line fittings popping apart until I broke down and installed a dual-return P/S pump. Don't know why it does it, but it does. Left me motionless a few times until I got the lines reconnected and some fluid in the system.
It feels better to me than the worn-out, spongy vacuum system, is easier to service, and leaves a lot more room to work on everything else. Seems like a winner from here. YMMV.
It feels better to me than the worn-out, spongy vacuum system, is easier to service, and leaves a lot more room to work on everything else. Seems like a winner from here. YMMV.
Last edited by I'm Batman; Apr 24, 2012 at 12:23 AM.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,013
Likes: 2,253
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
My Hydroboost locks the brakes when it loses pressure. I had a problem with the return line fittings popping apart until I broke down and installed a dual-return P/S pump. Don't know why it does it, but it does. Left me motionless a few times until I got the lines reconnected and some fluid in the system.
JIM
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Well..something is seriously wrong with it. Hydroboost is just a brake assist..just like a vaccum booster is. It allows you to apply more pressure to a master cylinder. Taking pressure away from it is just like not having the engine running with a vacuum assist system. As long as your foot isn't on the pedal there is nothing to apply the brakes. Sounds like something is wrong with the accumulator system somehow that is applying pressure when you lose hyd pressure. When you crank it the accumulator is supposed to get *filled* by hyd pressure and held in reserve if you lose pressure...but even then it shouldn't apply anything to the master cylinder unless you press the pedal. I'd sure hate to be cruising down the road and lose a PS belt on that thing. I'd surely do some diagnosis before something bad happens.
JIM
JIM
Last edited by I'm Batman; Apr 24, 2012 at 03:39 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
It discussed engine mods for the small block and big block, and chassis upgrades to the Corvette C3 chassis for racing.
