Started the install last sunday and finished it up today. Altogether it took me a good 8 hours, this is definitely NOT an easy job working on your back under the car. Working on those top two bars on your back are a serious pita. If I had access to a lift it would have probably taken me half the time and would have been a whole lot easier. They recommend dropping the rear cradle down an inch to gain more access. That of course requires you to jack it up by the frame in the rear. It appears to be a very high quality product, looks like it will seriously strenghten the trans/rear after adjusting the tension on the four support bars and locking them down, it seems very solid now.

I have been wanting to take the car to the strip but have been holding off until I installed this part. The instructions they include were very detailed along with good photos of each step in the process. I got it direct from DTE for $330 delivered, they had a 15% off deal, very good price I thought. All in all it is pretty tricky install, I would allow yourself two days to complete it. Spending 8 hours on your back working on this in one day would be brutal imo. For comparison, I could install a new clutch and change a set of plugs in my old LT1 Camaro faster than this job, plus those two tasks together are easier than this one, lol, this was pretty brutal. Halfway through I started to think it may have just been worth it to just drop the whole torque tube/trans/rear to install this thing, it would be a heck of a lot easier installing this with it on the ground and out of the car. Anyway, Im glad I put it on, I'll feel much better launching it at the strip now

 

Glad you were able to get it installed.
That is a good price that you picked it up for .

I put my ECS brace on several years ago.
I waited to put it on until I had a reason to drop the rear cradle, which at that time made the actual brace install allot easier.

With that brace you installed, it will help eliminate some of the twisting of the trans & differential under hard launches........the twisting some times causing the cases to crack or break.

 

Yeah waiting until you have a reason to drop the rear cradle would be the perfect time to install the brace. It would be a piece of cake with it out of the car. I know this brace won't make the trans/rear unbreakable or anything, I just feel much better racing it now with it installed.

 

MY03C5Z,

Smart move!

 

Rougly when do you really need to worry about using the DTE brace? I really like them but I dont think I would ever put a super sticky tire on it. Drag Radial at most.

Looking at an 01 Z with Headers and exhaust and it has:

Blackwing air intake, LT headers -B&B Bullet over-axle, -LS7 clutch -C6 shifter -Comp Cams roller rockers/springs/push rods -GMPP wires On the car there is a ceramic coated tunnel plate, C6Z06 shocks, new slave and master clutch cylinders with remote bleeder, drilled/slotted brake rotors, new couplers and bearings on the propshaft, upgraded output shafts, kevlar differential clutches and upgraded springs, and also metal end links on the swaybars.

Planning a cam swap this winter...

 

If you're not going to run it at the drag strip I'd say its not as important. I only plan to run on drag radials and I wanted it for added insurance. A lot of people have broke the trans/diff at stock levels the first time at the strip.

 

I'm glad that I had mine installed when I was having my tranny rebuilt.

 

Very good idea, looks like a simple job installing it with the trans out, in fact the installation pics show them installing it out of the car. They pretty much have to though because you can't see half of it when it's installed on the car, lol...

 

I know this is an old post but I am looking to do this mod as well, would you still recommend the DTE or another brand? and down sides to bolting this on?

 

Hi
We (Hoosier PE) purchased Dyno Tech which had purchased DTE several years ago, and we are still making the DTE Strut and have all 3 kits in stock for $398.00 plus shipping. The C5 automatic, C5 Manual, and the C6 manual.
Thank You,
Scott Lewis
Hoosier Performance Engineering
Phone: 260-693-2692
info@hoosierpe.com
Website: HoosierPE.com

 

Any discounts or coupons?

 

there is 2 types of braces, both serve different purpose. dte makes one and pfadt. most install both.

 

I want the one that is going to offer protection for the differential.

 

The ECS brace has thick aluminum plates/bars instead of steel. It's quite a bit lighter, I would imagine, and protects as well, IMO. Either one is a good idea.

 

We offer a brace similar to the Pfadt, and it controls the drivetrain torque reaction which helps plant the tires and reduce/stop wheel hop which is hard on the case, axles, and can cause other driveline problems. We also have the DTE differential business.

The strut brace puts the differential case in tension and helps keep it from breaking. The pinion is on the back of the differential and the separation force between the ring and pinion try's to push the pinion out the back causing the case to crack.

We offer $50.00 off (25.00 each) when both the strut and mount are purchased together.
Thank you,
Scott

 

Can you please send me links or info on these 2 items?

 

Here is a link to the shopping cart on our website.

http://shop.hoosierpe.com/C5-Differe...Mounts_c10.htm

 

Thank you, just to clarify, our has aluminum rods and steel plates. On sale this week for $379 shipped.

The Phadt diff mount technically is for road racing use, used to keep the rear from flying side to side on hard turns, which the C6 took care of by using two mounts on either side of the diff instead of one in the center.

 

I ordered one from you guys today, you had the best price and came highly recommended from a lot of members.

 

I couldn't imagine installing in the car!I istalled mine when I did clutch,trans rebuild.