Beam Plates...$189....Please Explain????
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Beam Plates...$189....Please Explain????
Since the rear main seal is leaking like crazy on my '95 and needs to be replaced, I have been gathering info and this lead me to these beam plates.
They seem to be a good idea...but $189 for the set!!!!....can someone explain to me how these could cost this much???
They seem to be a good idea...but $189 for the set!!!!....can someone explain to me how these could cost this much???
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
I understand sole source, limited demand, material cost, time/labor....but when I first saw these I thought the "1" was a typo...and they were $89...which still seems steep to me for what they are.
And I do not want to affend ZF Doc in any way....just trying to make sure I am not missing something here.
I will probably pass on these as I hope to only have to be taking this apart one time only.
And I do not want to affend ZF Doc in any way....just trying to make sure I am not missing something here.
I will probably pass on these as I hope to only have to be taking this apart one time only.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 100
From: Pendleton IN
I manufacture several items for 53-55's. Some C4 items as well.
What people don't understand is that it takes a lot of $$$, time and effort to manufacture and market a product. No one seems to want to pay for that expertise.
IF IT WAS EASY, EVERYONE WOULD MAKE THINGS THEMSELVES.
What people don't understand is that it takes a lot of $$$, time and effort to manufacture and market a product. No one seems to want to pay for that expertise.
IF IT WAS EASY, EVERYONE WOULD MAKE THINGS THEMSELVES.
Last edited by Vette Daddy; Dec 1, 2011 at 04:11 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
www.zfdoc.com Is your reference..
Why? I dunno
The company is
American owned, The product is Amercan made, The product has a Lifetime warrenty, The business is a Home business, Quality stainless steel is used that is tig welded for safety, its a mod that works and lastly Because you didnt have to make it.
These above reasons would be my best guess?
Choose one
Why? I dunno
The company is
American owned, The product is Amercan made, The product has a Lifetime warrenty, The business is a Home business, Quality stainless steel is used that is tig welded for safety, its a mod that works and lastly Because you didnt have to make it.
These above reasons would be my best guess?
Choose one
Last edited by Goldcylon; Dec 1, 2011 at 06:25 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
If they did nothing but ease removal and reinstallation of the beam plates, they're worth the $150 I paid for them 6 years ago. I have not so skinny hands and fingers, and those plates make fussing with that C-beam a piece o' cake!
Later, when I traded for my ZR-1, I noticed the rear would kick out and squirm a bit at WOT. First time I removed the C-beam, I noticed the bolt holes over the differential were oval. Obviously, the diff was hammering the C-beam pretty good! The beam plates took care of that.
Stainless is easy to weld, IMO. If you're handy with tools and such, I suppose you could fab up your own. But, Bill B is a good guy and has helped me out a couple times. So, I didn't mind paying his price. I felt the relationship was worth it. Sometimes we have to support those that support us, I recon!
P.
Later, when I traded for my ZR-1, I noticed the rear would kick out and squirm a bit at WOT. First time I removed the C-beam, I noticed the bolt holes over the differential were oval. Obviously, the diff was hammering the C-beam pretty good! The beam plates took care of that.
Stainless is easy to weld, IMO. If you're handy with tools and such, I suppose you could fab up your own. But, Bill B is a good guy and has helped me out a couple times. So, I didn't mind paying his price. I felt the relationship was worth it. Sometimes we have to support those that support us, I recon!
P.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
I thought I answered this before, but oh well, Bill B. has designed a great part for the C4 C-Beam. Look at it closely and you will see why it works so well. They say it strengthens the connection between the differential and the C-beam and the transmission. But the best advantage of these plates is the ease of installation of the C-beam. Why didn't GM design the connections better? Probably because the drive train was assembled before the body went on and acess to the bolts and nuts was not a problem. Worth the money? Absolutely.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I manufacture several items for 53-55's. Some C4 items as well.
What people don't understand is that it takes a lot of $$$, time and effort to manufacture and market a product. No one seems to want to pay for that expertise.
IF IT WAS EASY, EVERYONE WOULD MAKE THINGS THEMSELVES.
What people don't understand is that it takes a lot of $$$, time and effort to manufacture and market a product. No one seems to want to pay for that expertise.
IF IT WAS EASY, EVERYONE WOULD MAKE THINGS THEMSELVES.
They make the dissassembly and assembly extremely easy.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 48
From: San Marcos CA
I had my ZF done by the zfdoc himself and paid somewhat less than $180 for those beam plates, but maybe it was because I already had a trans job on the plate and there was no shipping involved.
They are kind of overbuilt- way nicer than the mass produced parts from GM no doubt. I was happy to install them on my low mile 91 before the beam got loose and hogged out the holes and wore against the trans and diff flanges.
They are kind of overbuilt- way nicer than the mass produced parts from GM no doubt. I was happy to install them on my low mile 91 before the beam got loose and hogged out the holes and wore against the trans and diff flanges.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
I understand that the beam plates are an upgrade and can improve the rigidness (is that a word) of the connections. And for sure an great improvement with regards to ease of assembly and dis-assembly.
I expect (and hope) to only have to do this job once, although I am still debating whether to get these or not.
Thanks to everyone for their responses....really good reading and information.
I especially like the response, "...guess most of my car could be considered a beam plate..." got a good laugh out of that one....
I expect (and hope) to only have to do this job once, although I am still debating whether to get these or not.
Thanks to everyone for their responses....really good reading and information.
I especially like the response, "...guess most of my car could be considered a beam plate..." got a good laugh out of that one....
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Exactly!Try removing and torquing those nuts without the plates.
Just one day of fighting pays for plates.
We had a GP a few years ago and the price was favorable.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,946
Likes: 63
From: Marianna FL
I have removed the c beam in both of my cars multiple times. I tried the plates on my GS and saw no difference performance wise. It might save 5 minutes taking things apart or putting things together, but they are not worth the price to me.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,957
Likes: 706
From: WI
I don't know, I don't have trouble with R&R of it. One of those forum things I just don't get. As to it helping make it more rigid, no, unless some of the parts are worn out from being loose to long.
Since my car isn't the holy grail, I cut access holes in the body. Super easy to get a wrench on there now. For those with carpet, you could probably make a nice cut flap and do the same.
Since my car isn't the holy grail, I cut access holes in the body. Super easy to get a wrench on there now. For those with carpet, you could probably make a nice cut flap and do the same.