Spreader bar benefits?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 1
From: Freeport FL
Spreader bar benefits?
Thanks to all who have helped get things to this point. I finally got the engine in the car and am bolting things up (unfortunately my return to college is interfering with this, calculus, ugh).
In any event, I've considered the possibility and have been recommended to get a spreader bar, and VBP's sales ends in a few more days.
What is the benefit here?
I am running solid motor mounts so I dont see anything moving around much, but Im far from an expert here.
Car is a 1976 w/ supercharged 383.
PS, it appears that it bolts into the upper A- arm cross bar bolts?
In any event, I've considered the possibility and have been recommended to get a spreader bar, and VBP's sales ends in a few more days.
What is the benefit here?
I am running solid motor mounts so I dont see anything moving around much, but Im far from an expert here.
Car is a 1976 w/ supercharged 383.
PS, it appears that it bolts into the upper A- arm cross bar bolts?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I C Panama City Beach.....nice spot....party ON.....
as for the spreader bar, it's a great addition.....improves stability on the front end a goodly bit, especially in a corner...it's worth the change....but here is the problem....most of the time it will not fit with a mechanical fan in place, so if you are running with electric fans, you are fine, if not...it MAY still fit, but I hear of guys saying it's hit and miss....
as for the spreader bar, it's a great addition.....improves stability on the front end a goodly bit, especially in a corner...it's worth the change....but here is the problem....most of the time it will not fit with a mechanical fan in place, so if you are running with electric fans, you are fine, if not...it MAY still fit, but I hear of guys saying it's hit and miss....
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Gene is correct it helps alot. You can get one that will fit the engine driven fan. What you do is locate the bar with the supplied brackets, take everything off and weld the brackets up.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 1
From: Freeport FL
Yes, I am saw that and had already planned to dump the ugly clutch fan and shroud for the Taurus setup for aesthetic reasons. You're right though in that it still looks like a tight fit.
Thanks, I love PCB, "The worlds most beautiful beaches" is not just a marketing slogan.
Well, thats 2 votes for it and $100 is not much at this point. I'll call VPB monday.
I hope I dont have to go the welding route, how in the world would you get it back out afterwards?
Thanks, I love PCB, "The worlds most beautiful beaches" is not just a marketing slogan.
Well, thats 2 votes for it and $100 is not much at this point. I'll call VPB monday.
I hope I dont have to go the welding route, how in the world would you get it back out afterwards?
Last edited by Droshki; Jan 11, 2009 at 10:25 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
In the early 90's I installed one of VB&P's spreader bars on my '73 Corvette I was autocrossing at the time. It seemed like a reasonable thing to do, even though I had no hard evidence that it was doing anything. After all the front suspension mounts seemed pretty substantial, and it's not like there was a long moment arm for the upper mounts to twist the frame.
Then one day I jacked the car up by the center cross member and happened to grab the spreader bar in the engine compartment. It was very difficult to twist and was clearly under a lot of tension. I lowered the car and grabbed the bar again. It twisted easily on the Heim joints just as it had when I installed it. It was very apparent that the weight of the car and movement of the suspension was more than enough to flex the frame and I became a true believer in the spreader bar's worth to maintain suspension settings for more precise handling.
I was very pleased with the quality and cost of product that VB&P sold me, however there are a number of folks that have built their own spreader bars and I'm sure some will post pictures and their cost.
Good luck... GUSTO
Then one day I jacked the car up by the center cross member and happened to grab the spreader bar in the engine compartment. It was very difficult to twist and was clearly under a lot of tension. I lowered the car and grabbed the bar again. It twisted easily on the Heim joints just as it had when I installed it. It was very apparent that the weight of the car and movement of the suspension was more than enough to flex the frame and I became a true believer in the spreader bar's worth to maintain suspension settings for more precise handling.
I was very pleased with the quality and cost of product that VB&P sold me, however there are a number of folks that have built their own spreader bars and I'm sure some will post pictures and their cost.
Good luck... GUSTO
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 1
From: Freeport FL
Well yes, I forgot to mention that I wont be auto-crossing or anything, just a street car, but- well...ermm, OK, let's not get into how I drive my cars on the street 
Dont want this thread to be used against me in court some day 
Dont want this thread to be used against me in court some day
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
IMHO a spreader bar is one of most "bang for the buck" things you can install on your car. I put one on the 65 a couple years ago. It really made a difference. The front end is much tighter and solid. Hard to explain until you drive a car without a bar then one with.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
You have to offset the mounts to lower the bar enough to clear the wp pulley. You kinda have to fit it to the car. Please excuse the water. I just rinsed the car off.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Anyone have a pic of the VB&P bar in a C3 showing where it goes across ?
Last edited by MotorHead; Jan 11, 2009 at 04:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
There are actually 2 different ones from VB. The one I have is pre welded. They also sell one that you weld up to the brackets and I think that is the one pictured above. 73jst4fun had one that he welded up and it looked similar to that one.
Last edited by Gordonm; Jan 11, 2009 at 05:12 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have had mine in my car for a while now and am very happy with it.
Here is a thread I did a few years ago with pics of my install.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=252&TopicID=3
Here is a thread I did a few years ago with pics of my install.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=252&TopicID=3
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 1
From: Freeport FL
Thanks everyone for the input. CF is a great place, I hope I put in 1/10th of what I get out of it!
It'll just have to sit while I get all the other loose ends tied up on this project, but my cat needs some new car parts to look at since her pile is slowly moving out to the garage and being installed.