R & D CrossFrame
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 149
From: North Carolina
R & D CrossFrame
I'm interested in R&Ds CrossFrame to stiffen up the CE, particularly with the top out. I read some older posts that they experience scraping. A couple of questions:
1) Anymore anecdotal comments on the part's effectiveness in stiffening up the frame?
2) Since my car is not lowered, should I really have to worry about the scraping issue over every speed bump?
Also, I'm wondering if R&D might be offering a Christmas special coming up?!?
Thanks,
Bion
1) Anymore anecdotal comments on the part's effectiveness in stiffening up the frame?
2) Since my car is not lowered, should I really have to worry about the scraping issue over every speed bump?
Also, I'm wondering if R&D might be offering a Christmas special coming up?!?
Thanks,
Bion
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 2
From: Champaign, IL
St. Jude Donor '05
I had heard that bolting on the stock GM convertible cross brace would help stiffen up a non convertible (the brace that mounts underneath) - is there any truth to this? I'm trying to stiffen up my car for autocross and I'm planning to buy a lot of the r-d stuff ie: cross brace, camber brace, harness bar ... ... I imagine all this stuff adds a good deal of weight too. ... not to mention expensive.. .. .. 
Pro
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
From: Venetia,Pa,USA
I and all my Vette autox friends use the camber brace and harness bar. You will not believe how much stiffer the car is. Mine would flex like Jello crossing railroad tracks. You'll think you are in a different car!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 149
From: North Carolina
Thanks for the input. I guess another question that needs to be asked is which gives the most improvement for the buck; the CrossFrame or the CrossBar? Also, does the CrossBar limit how far back the seats can recline (I'm tall)? It is hard to tell from the pictures on the R&D website if you lose some reclining ability. BTW, I already have the camber brace.
Thanks again,
Bion
Thanks again,
Bion
Last edited by CrvtBB; Oct 15, 2004 at 10:37 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,801
Likes: 2
From: Amarillo TX
Originally Posted by CrvtBB
Thanks for the input. I guess another question that needs to be asked is which gives the most improvement for the buck; the CrossFrame or the CrossBar? Also, does the CrossBar limit how far back the seats can recline (I'm tall)? It is hard to tell from the pictures on the R&D website if you lose some reclining ability. BTW, I already have the camber brace.
Thanks again,
Bion
Thanks again,
Bion
The Cross-bar does not limit your rearward seat movement. We have a lot of 6'+ customers that love the Cross-bar. As far as which item will give you the most improvement will depend on what you do with your car. The Cross-frame will greatly improve the rigidness of the car and allow you to remove the Targa-top without the famous cowl shake. The Cross-bar will give you a place to anchor harness belts to and mount a camera if you race your car.
I'm sure will get several responses on the Forum about both products. The members that have them love them and the members that don't, well they have an opinion also.
Feel free to call me anytime if I can answer any questions for you.
Thanks,
Dave
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
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From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Originally Posted by Teenangel
Personally, I can't see a crossframe unit fron R&D doing that much to stiffen your C4. 
I took a chance and bought one when they first came out... I had my previous 96 for about 5 years at the time and only had the targa top off two times for maybe half a mile total... I couldn't stand the cowl shake with the top off...
After I installed the cross frame, I took the targa off and almost never put it back on (weekend only car)... I traded that 96 in on an LT4 car in January but I pulled the Cross Frame off before I traded so that I can install it on my current Vette...
Now while the ride isn't quite as good as with the targa on, it's about as close as you're going to get without some major changes like a full roll cage...
I've been lazy lately and haven't gotten around to installing the CF on this Vette, so the targa hasn't been taken off at all...
One of these days I'll get off my azz and order another set of nut-serts from Dave and get this thing on!!!
Oh, you do lose about 1.5" of clearance under the car, but nothing good comes without a price... It scrapes on speed bumps but no big deal, it doesn't affect it's functionality...
