Drive Beam Support Plates
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,225
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Drive Beam Support Plates (The Bus)
First, I can't recall the exact link but I'm sure someone will chime in with where to obtain them. If not, run a search and you should find several topics discussing the support plates.
Second, I recently changed the rear on my '94 LT1 ... having the plates would have made reinstalling the drive beam support MUCH easier .... otherwise, I probably don't need them since the 94 is mostly stock. I've also recently acquired a ZR-1 and it would definitely benefit from the addition of the plates and I intend to add these in the future.
Second, I recently changed the rear on my '94 LT1 ... having the plates would have made reinstalling the drive beam support MUCH easier .... otherwise, I probably don't need them since the 94 is mostly stock. I've also recently acquired a ZR-1 and it would definitely benefit from the addition of the plates and I intend to add these in the future.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,136
Likes: 2,511
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Re: Drive Beam Support Plates (The Bus)
ron_kreigh@hotmail.com Ron is an East Coast distributor for the Beam plates and is a Forum Member. He has had them on his cars for years.
Look up RKreigh for member info here. :thumbs:
Look up RKreigh for member info here. :thumbs:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
First decide if you even need them or not before droppin the $ on them. I for one don't since my car goes straight as an arrow when the rear is breaking free. I'm still trying to figure out how they benefit over a properly installed torque beam. Someone once mentioned that they're good for cars with over 300rwhp. Well I'm at 322 currently and so far ok.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Re: Drive Beam Support Plates (The Bus)
I purchased a set because I'm lazy and I wanted to make reinstalling the beam as easy and solid as possible. I need all the help I can get. I saved over $700 by doing most of my gear switch to 4.10's myself, spent $150 of the savings to make sure I did it right, I was still up $550. :cheers:
Eric
Eric
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,763
Likes: 1
From: Connectivette
Re: Drive Beam Support Plates (silver & red CE)
I have these on my convertible. Any chasis improvements I have made have had a positive effect.
Beam plates
Camber Brace
New Bilstiens
I don't know if these would be as noticable on a coupe since coupes are more structually sound than convertibles.
I paid $150 for my beem plates. Kinda pricey for actually plates. Not a bad $ for the results of the mod. however.
This of coarse is my opinion on my convertible
Beam plates
Camber Brace
New Bilstiens
I don't know if these would be as noticable on a coupe since coupes are more structually sound than convertibles.
I paid $150 for my beem plates. Kinda pricey for actually plates. Not a bad $ for the results of the mod. however.
This of coarse is my opinion on my convertible
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,946
Likes: 63
From: Marianna FL
Re: (scorp508)
First decide if you even need them or not before droppin the $ on them. I for one don't since my car goes straight as an arrow when the rear is breaking free. I'm still trying to figure out how they benefit over a properly installed torque beam. Someone once mentioned that they're good for cars with over 300rwhp. Well I'm at 322 currently and so far ok.
I was asked to try the plates to evaluate them on my car and give my honest opinion. My car tracked straight as an arrow during hard shifts before the beam plates and after. Some nice guy said I must not be driving it very hard when he read my statement in a previous thread. All I can say to that is the car would spin from 0-70 mph before adding the NITTO's with my "easy driving style". After the NITTO's the rear tires still break loose for a good bit on 2-3 and 3-4 shifts. But I don't drive my car very hard. :rolleyes:
On the other hand...I've heard of plenty of folks with the problem of their car kicking out to the side. And all that have tried the plates were happy with the results. Bill (ZFDoc) is very helpful and will stand by his product. I would deal directly with him if you are interested in the plates. :cheers:
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
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 10,230
Likes: 885
From: Alexandria, Virginia, USA VA
Re: (Mr Dave)
the beam plates work really well. I have them on 3 ZR1s and have been very impressed. they better distribute the clamping force to stiffen the beam mounting points, and keep the bolt heads from diggin into the beam and losing torque. on my LPE 368 ZR1 (536 FWHP) the rear of the beam losened up so bad the shifter was moving up and down over an inch!! the beam plates help stiffen up the car, and make mounting the beam much easier by way of captured nuts. space is a bit tight up there to get the lose nuts lined up and held in place. with the beams, just glue it in place with silicone, and the bolts go in really EZ!!!! saves quite a bit of time and aggravation and most importantly, helps the c4 chassis spine better plant the available torque.
we need all the help we can get with the c4 stiffness. even with my 90 DRM with a roll bar I noticed the difference and the car plants the tires better.
let me know if you have any questions
see http://www.lt5registry.net store button, for pics and info. cya!!!
we need all the help we can get with the c4 stiffness. even with my 90 DRM with a roll bar I noticed the difference and the car plants the tires better.
let me know if you have any questions
see http://www.lt5registry.net store button, for pics and info. cya!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 983
Likes: 1
From: Bergen County NJ
Re: (Rkreigh)
The beam plates do provide benefits - they simplify the C-beam installation and they stiffen up the driveline. Are they worth the $150? For those that have the skills and access to the tools required to fabricate their own - the beam plates wouldn't cost more than a few bucks to fabricate. For those who can't make their own or have better things to do with their time, you gotta pay what they ask.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Re: Drive Beam Support Plates (The Bus)
:iagree: What Scorp said
That said, I have them on both cars and they really make removal & reinstallation a lot easier. If you're going there more than once or twice, they're worth it. I found them at EM.
That said, I have them on both cars and they really make removal & reinstallation a lot easier. If you're going there more than once or twice, they're worth it. I found them at EM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,010
Likes: 1
From: Sweden/Stockholm
Re: Drive Beam Support Plates (NavyVet)
First how do you install a c-beam wrong??
Second, you can make your own "plates" for $10, just look at them, flat iron pices with holes in them. :skep:
Second, you can make your own "plates" for $10, just look at them, flat iron pices with holes in them. :skep:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
After having R&Red the trannys in both the 86 and the 90 in back to back weekends, If I ever have to do this again I am going to either get the plates or make my own. Those nuts on the tailshaft are a real pain in the ...
After tightening the snot out of the ones on the 90, the shifter still climbs a bit on a launch.
Dale
After tightening the snot out of the ones on the 90, the shifter still climbs a bit on a launch.
Dale
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 42,935
Likes: 20
From: Sydney, Australia
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17, '22
Re: Drive Beam Support Plates (devilfish)
First how do you install a c-beam wrong??
Second, you can make your own "plates" for $10, just look at them, flat iron pices with holes in them. :skep:
Second, you can make your own "plates" for $10, just look at them, flat iron pices with holes in them. :skep:
BTW I have a set of these but STILL haven't put them on my car. :rolleyes:
