I like how easily the bar can be bolted down, pure genius whoever came up with that 
spreader bar 68 vert
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 86
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From: Sunnyvale Texas
spreader bar 68 vert
i have a 68 vert and there is a lot of flexing in the body. i am curious if installing a spreader bar would help stop some of this? if someone has installed one of these in there car could you send pictures of it so that i can see where and how it is installed on the frame. also the pro and cons of adding one.
thanks, all replies apprciated.
joe
thanks, all replies apprciated.
joe
Last edited by omc; Aug 18, 2008 at 02:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
One of the best additions I put on. Make an unbelievable difference - really stiffens things up. Might not be possible to use with the stock fan (I have dual Spals) - but I believe I read where someone was able to fit one of the "you weld it" versions in - but I wouldn't want to do it. Mounts between the A-Arm shaft bolts. No pics handy, sorry - but there are some around the forum - they all look the same!
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 86
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From: Sunnyvale Texas
yes, a cracker box but i would think that i would need a better one for this type of welding. by the way i have removed the fan & cluch assy. and shroud and now have a dewitt/spal fan radiator. so i should have plenty of room to do the work. would still like to have pictures, they are worth 1000 words.
thanks, joe
thanks, joe
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,338
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
I have a spreader bar bought from Guldstrand. The front of the car seems a lot stiffer than I remember. However, I do have the 550 pound front springs. The front end doesn't have much springing motion, it's really a big thump to go over a road bump.
The 550 pound springs is one of the motivators for the spreader bar. Road bump forces impact the front spring towers a lot more with those strong springs. I wanted the spreader bar to keep road forces from bending the spring towers inward (i.e. creating a sag in the front engine crossmember).
I have a GMPP Serpentine kit (SB) and electric fans, so there was room for the spreader bar.
The 550 pound springs is one of the motivators for the spreader bar. Road bump forces impact the front spring towers a lot more with those strong springs. I wanted the spreader bar to keep road forces from bending the spring towers inward (i.e. creating a sag in the front engine crossmember).
I have a GMPP Serpentine kit (SB) and electric fans, so there was room for the spreader bar.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
I used the prewelded VB&P strut tower brace. Works great in my 68 vert. I have tons of pics of my Mark 8 fan installation but none that shows the spreader bar. If you have the spals just get the prewelded kit. If you have the engine driven fan then get the kit you weld yourself, pretty easy to figure out the install. Just make sure you have plenty of room from that fan due to engine flex...especially if you're still running rubber engine mounts.
I can grab some pics of the strut bar tonight and post for you. I'm surprised I don't have any in my photobucket account already.
Definitely a good worthy investment for the strength and stability of your car.
I can grab some pics of the strut bar tonight and post for you. I'm surprised I don't have any in my photobucket account already.
Definitely a good worthy investment for the strength and stability of your car.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Nice job with the angle iron. I like that. First time I remember seeing the detailed pics of it set up like that. Kudos!!!
Here is my install of the VBP Spreader Bar.
Here is my install of the VBP Spreader Bar.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I also installed the spreader bar and it really stiffened up the front. I still had a lot of body shake, Vert also here. I installed a Shark Bar for running a shoulder harness. I have to say this did more for stiffening up the body than anything else. I was amazed at the first ride with the Shark Bar. No more body rattle when going over a bump. The windows don't rattle either. I did not install it for this but this was a side bonus tha tI never epected. It ties the body together at the point where the top mounts and to the rear shoulder harness point. Between the spreader bar and the Shark bar it really tightened up the car.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 736
Likes: 1
From: Chester VA
I also installed the spreader bar and it really stiffened up the front. I still had a lot of body shake, Vert also here. I installed a Shark Bar for running a shoulder harness. I have to say this did more for stiffening up the body than anything else. I was amazed at the first ride with the Shark Bar. No more body rattle when going over a bump. The windows don't rattle either. I did not install it for this but this was a side bonus tha tI never epected. It ties the body together at the point where the top mounts and to the rear shoulder harness point. Between the spreader bar and the Shark bar it really tightened up the car.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 86
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From: Sunnyvale Texas
i really appreciate all of your replies, you have put me on the right track on what to do and how to do it. the pictures and step by step on how to install one was great.
again to all of you, thanks so much.
joe
again to all of you, thanks so much.
joe
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
Tried posting these last night but the forum has been incredibly slow lately.
I used the prewelded VBP spreader bar.
I also am running the Shark Bar like Gordonm and can attest to how tight the body and car is. Unfortunately I didn't spend much time in the car prior to my frame off to give you a before and after comparison, but with both its very tight, no rattles.
If you plan on doing a weld-it-yourself spreader bar, design the L brackets like VTwin in the pics above, much easier to adjust the upper A-arm bolts when doing an alignment and whatnot.
I used the prewelded VBP spreader bar.
I also am running the Shark Bar like Gordonm and can attest to how tight the body and car is. Unfortunately I didn't spend much time in the car prior to my frame off to give you a before and after comparison, but with both its very tight, no rattles.
If you plan on doing a weld-it-yourself spreader bar, design the L brackets like VTwin in the pics above, much easier to adjust the upper A-arm bolts when doing an alignment and whatnot.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 86
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From: Sunnyvale Texas
no, i do plan on using the prewelded set up and hopefully get it orded this week. have another question for you, what is the "shark bar" ? by the way i am somewhat new at all of this. interested in this other bar also.
thanks joe
thanks joe
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
Shark Bar is more or less a seatbelt harness bar that allows you to use a 4 point or 5 point "racing" harness.
BUT it mounts to the rear birdcage frame that climes up the wall of your car right near the drivers left shoulder / passengers right shoulder.
This ties both sides of the cars body together, the car body mounts to the frame via body bushings. So it stiffens up the body, especially important and noticeable for convertibles.
It is not a rollcage nor will it stiffen the entire frame of the car when compared to a legitimate rollcage that is mounted to the frame.
But on a convertible you can really feel the difference.
Here's a link, its not cheap.
http://www.vetteworksonline.com/
Here's pics of mine installed. I took advantage and mounted my halon extinguishers to it just in case. Better to have a not need then to need and not have.
BUT it mounts to the rear birdcage frame that climes up the wall of your car right near the drivers left shoulder / passengers right shoulder.
This ties both sides of the cars body together, the car body mounts to the frame via body bushings. So it stiffens up the body, especially important and noticeable for convertibles.
It is not a rollcage nor will it stiffen the entire frame of the car when compared to a legitimate rollcage that is mounted to the frame.
But on a convertible you can really feel the difference.
Here's a link, its not cheap.
http://www.vetteworksonline.com/
Here's pics of mine installed. I took advantage and mounted my halon extinguishers to it just in case. Better to have a not need then to need and not have.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 4
From: Regina Saskatchewan
I've been interested in a spreader bar myself. So once its installed you just preload it. Since its called a spreader bar , I'm guessing you preload it in a spreading direction? Am I right?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 655
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From: Sarasota Fl
