Well, I would have thown in a couple of coconuts but they were out of season at the time...

 

:iagree: xs650, I couldn't have said it better. As an M.E. with 20 years experience designing one-of-a-kind widgets, I wholeheartedly agree with your statements. I believe that there's an underappreciation for the amount of effort that goes into bringing even a simple device to the market.


[Modified by sraft, 7:41 PM 2/5/2004]

 

A simple design is often the best. Sure, my '88 brace is straight forward, but others have twists and bends that would be tough to fab at home.

Installing mine was a snap, but I do have a question about the design:

Why do the tabs only go to the first control arm bolt? Wouldn't using both(with a gusset) be even stonger?

Can't wait to see how the car handles. Too much snow right now. Summers only 4 months away...

 

There isn't room to pickup the rear bolt in a way that wold be worthwhile.

It's too bad Chevy didn't design the front cross member to do a better job of picking up the upper a-arm loads. Then we wouldn't even be having this thread.

Dick

 

You went to the a-arms instead of the a-arm mounts. :confused:
How do you align the car? :confused:

 

Regarding the product cost, most strut tower braces for late model F-bodies and Mustangs cost $150-200. The design for those cars is surely more simple considering they go right over the engine, vs. sneaking through the engine bay on a C4.

So the camber brace price is pretty good.

 

Good point.

First you align the car, thge you make the brace fit. (0$ remember)

IF the car needs realignining I will modify the brace to fit again . No biggie. 1/2 hour maybe.

I could have (and still can) put a threaded piece in the middle, but it would have compromised the rigidity, and it is not meant to go to market so it doesnt need to be a universal fit.

The original post wanted something cheap remember. This is cheap and cheerful. It works.

 

This is a fascinating thread and I, for one, have learned a lot. My father taught me as a young man, "... don't ever be afraid to try something different or new. If you try something and it works, you not only save money but you learn as well. If you try something and it doesn't work, you can always pay someone else for what you need. And you still learned a lesson."
I have nothing but respect for anyone who says they can build a better "mousetrap" and then go out and try to do just that. I don't know anything about the copany that makes and markets these nice quality bolt-on parts. But I'll bet they started with a man who had an idea and was willing to invest some time making his idea a reality. Same goes for Mr. Ered95. Saw a way to make the "mousetrap" a little less expensive and did it.
Then he was kind enough to share his concept with the rest of us. If you prefer to buy the ready-made part that's your perogative. If you want to try to make one on your own, Mr. ered95 has demonstrated that it may be feasible.
Hats off to both these gentlemen.
Glen

 

that looks real funky, and i'll bet the round tube will bend, flex, twist more than a nice square tubing, but whatever floats your boat!

 

britvette gets the credit for the home made bar, not me :cheers:

 

Thanks for the great products Dave. Its great to see sooh many respones from everybody that have installed your Camber Brace and other products on their cars. I've got the Cross Frame and Camber Brace and get more stuff soon. R-DRacing is great at working with you. Thanks... :auto: :hurray:

 

I beg both of your pardons Mr. Britvette and Mr. ered95. I guess I just got a little confused with all the people commenting on this thread.
Glen

 

My R-D Racing's Camber-Brace and S/T Frame Support are two of my favorite mods.