Homemade Spreader Bar
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Orange Ca
Homemade Spreader Bar
I got a wild hair today and decided to add a spreader bar. I went to the local hardware store and purchased the tubing, rod ends, tubing inserts for the rod ends, bolts, nuts and washers. I drilled a .5 inch hole on the vertical support for the upper control arm. Welded the inserts to the tubing, painted and mounted. I will drive it tomorrow to see if it makes any difference. Total cost $59.63.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,444
Likes: 970
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
I am all for home made pieces if you have the skill, tools, and the time to make the piece-your piece looks nice-BTW!
I bought mine from speed direct for my OEM clutch fan on the L-82 about 2 years ago and the only regret I have is that I did not put a spreader bar on years ago-it made a very noticeable difference in how the front end rides, eliminate the shakes over bumps, tightened up steering response, and improved the handling by eliminating front end flex on my suspension which is the OEM design but completely upgraded. Adding a spreader bar should be a top 5 suspension upgrade to any C3! I bought mine from Speed direct for $100.
http://cmc.speeddirect.com/AMAZING/i...%2DWEB&eq=&Tp=
I have spreader bars/shock tower/ strut tower braces also for years on my 2001 pontiac grand prix (front and rear), 1994 Mustang GT convertible (rear shocks tower, front has upper and lower triangle brace from Ford, and subframe connectors that I welded in), and recently a mopar strut tower brace in the front of my Chrysler 300) and everyone one of them derived a benefit from the the braces. The spreader bar/ shock/strut braces are a very inexpensive way to tighten up the chassis of a C3 and they work!
I bought mine from speed direct for my OEM clutch fan on the L-82 about 2 years ago and the only regret I have is that I did not put a spreader bar on years ago-it made a very noticeable difference in how the front end rides, eliminate the shakes over bumps, tightened up steering response, and improved the handling by eliminating front end flex on my suspension which is the OEM design but completely upgraded. Adding a spreader bar should be a top 5 suspension upgrade to any C3! I bought mine from Speed direct for $100.
http://cmc.speeddirect.com/AMAZING/i...%2DWEB&eq=&Tp=
I have spreader bars/shock tower/ strut tower braces also for years on my 2001 pontiac grand prix (front and rear), 1994 Mustang GT convertible (rear shocks tower, front has upper and lower triangle brace from Ford, and subframe connectors that I welded in), and recently a mopar strut tower brace in the front of my Chrysler 300) and everyone one of them derived a benefit from the the braces. The spreader bar/ shock/strut braces are a very inexpensive way to tighten up the chassis of a C3 and they work!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Orange Ca
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Orange Ca
I got a wild hair today and decided to add a spreader bar. I went to the local hardware store and purchased the tubing, rod ends, tubing inserts for the rod ends, bolts, nuts and washers. I drilled a .5 inch hole on the vertical support for the upper control arm. Welded the inserts to the tubing, painted and mounted. I will drive it tomorrow to see if it makes any difference. Total cost $59.63.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,444
Likes: 970
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
The bar does not make the car handle better but it does prevent the frame from flexing and since the the suspension components are attached to the frame, allows the suspension to react quicker and more precisely since it helps eliminate suspension slop when it is working. This is why the suspension feels stiffer.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
Just curious, but why did you put it so far forward? Seems like centered on the tower would be prevent any CA twisting. It looks like you have room to the rear. The workmanship looks good though.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Orange Ca
The nose of the water pump pulley would not allow me to put the bar back further. I called March Performance to ask if they had a more "shallow" pump. They did not but said I could remove the front water pump cover which I tried. I still needed another .5 inch in order to mount the bar up higher and back. It's a compromise I guess.
Last edited by 68thumper; Sep 27, 2012 at 01:03 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,167
Likes: 1,667
From: Long Island
I test drove the car today to see if the spreader bar made a difference. A friend stopped by just before the drive and asked to go. He has been in the car several times before. I did not tell him I installed the bar. Within about 2 miles he asked me if I stiffened the suspension. I noticed on rough roads or bumps there is less shake in the steering column and fenders. The car has been upgraded to coil over shocks, van steel control arms and rack and pinion so it already handles good. I am not sure I see any difference in handling but that may take a few more days... If the bar does not make the car handle better it does look nice and "racy".
any updates on the ride?
thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 343
From: Allenton Wisconsin
Picked up the parts at a local speed shop for under $45. Aluminum sleeve , r&l hiems and jam nuts. At a swap meet picked up some gussets to weld onto the frame for $5 [adding a 3rd belt, serpentine at that] and needed the extra clearance. Paint $5 for a total cost of $55. T
