I had DTE for dinner!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
I did. I'm going to do another "how to" on the differential. I'll add the brace in there but it will be a little different since I already had my cradle and diff out.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by Z06-JIM
Congrats! 
I just got mine installed yesterday! 
I just got mine installed yesterday!
Collections Hold
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 6
From: Fort Wayne Indiana
We already tested that well over a year ago with unfavorable results... The aluminum brackets fatique too soon, bow and often crack very early in the struts kit's life, not to mention the cost is much higher to manufacture.
Another thing....
We can't figure out why everyone is so "weight concious" about a~ let's face it...street car that is fully equipped with the bells & whistles the C5 Corvette does, other than it being "cool" for folks to discuss the topic as hardcore racers with *real* lightweight race cars do... Most folks we've seen at any track, anywhere, at any given time, have a street car-type Corvette that usually has heavy stereo equipment installed, bling parts installed all over the place and big heavy wheel/tire combo's with poor tires that are VERY heavy to begin with.
Why then doesn't everyone start asking themselves, "does the weight of these extra bling components affect my E.T.?" No...they just customize and install what they like for their car and take what the car will give them at the track. If folks want a lower E.T. further, they often add more power to cover it. Not to mention that everyone racing we've noticed usually has no real clue on how much fuel they had in their tank on a given run (or from run-to-run for that matter) which plays an important role in overall GVW of the car, weight transfer, etc.....
With that said, our product *only* weighs about the same as 3.5 gallons of gas which is NOTHING in the overall big picture of gross vehicle weight, especially compared to how folks commonly add weight to their car without a care because it "looks good" and until we see someone come to us with a gutted C5 Corvette that has no radio, CD, stereo equipment, no A/C, no interior, lightweight chassis, etc, etc, etc, (such as a full-tilt race-car like LGM's or something) we're not concerned about this issue. Afterall, the A4 kit *only* weighs 19 lbs. and the M6/M12 kit *only* weighs 21 lbs., so the benefits one receives with increased driveline durability using our product completely overshadows the argument of weight vs. strength by a longshot.....
I'm sure some folks will want to argue into infinity about this and theoryorize it to death, which is fine, but the reality of the issue still remains no matter how much someone accepts or denies it.
FWIW..
Best Regards,
DTE
Another thing....
We can't figure out why everyone is so "weight concious" about a~ let's face it...street car that is fully equipped with the bells & whistles the C5 Corvette does, other than it being "cool" for folks to discuss the topic as hardcore racers with *real* lightweight race cars do... Most folks we've seen at any track, anywhere, at any given time, have a street car-type Corvette that usually has heavy stereo equipment installed, bling parts installed all over the place and big heavy wheel/tire combo's with poor tires that are VERY heavy to begin with.
Why then doesn't everyone start asking themselves, "does the weight of these extra bling components affect my E.T.?" No...they just customize and install what they like for their car and take what the car will give them at the track. If folks want a lower E.T. further, they often add more power to cover it. Not to mention that everyone racing we've noticed usually has no real clue on how much fuel they had in their tank on a given run (or from run-to-run for that matter) which plays an important role in overall GVW of the car, weight transfer, etc.....
With that said, our product *only* weighs about the same as 3.5 gallons of gas which is NOTHING in the overall big picture of gross vehicle weight, especially compared to how folks commonly add weight to their car without a care because it "looks good" and until we see someone come to us with a gutted C5 Corvette that has no radio, CD, stereo equipment, no A/C, no interior, lightweight chassis, etc, etc, etc, (such as a full-tilt race-car like LGM's or something) we're not concerned about this issue. Afterall, the A4 kit *only* weighs 19 lbs. and the M6/M12 kit *only* weighs 21 lbs., so the benefits one receives with increased driveline durability using our product completely overshadows the argument of weight vs. strength by a longshot.....
I'm sure some folks will want to argue into infinity about this and theoryorize it to death, which is fine, but the reality of the issue still remains no matter how much someone accepts or denies it.
FWIW..
Best Regards,
DTE
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
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
DTE, you're absolutely right! I agree with you fully on that weight issue. It doesn't matter if there is 50 lbs. of chrome under the hood but you're product NEEDS to weight 12 lbs. less. Whatever. All I know is I got one and now I'm much better off when it comes to the driveline. Sometimes people just unfortunately need to learn the hard way and that sucks because it will shy people off from racing because of it. Well, on the other hand, sounds good to me. Less people in line at the track!
ICULUKN-C5, thanks! I'm putting the cradle back in right now. Had to take a break because that beotch is a heavy mo fo by yourself.
ICULUKN-C5, thanks! I'm putting the cradle back in right now. Had to take a break because that beotch is a heavy mo fo by yourself.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 0
From: New England
DTE,
Thanks for responding to my question. BTW, no bling here... nothing gets added to my car unless it makes the car faster and or more reliable.
The reason I asked the question was only partly because of weight concern. I have added many steel aftermarket parts over the years to a variety of vehicles and always end up with the same problem... chipping and rusting parts. The manufactures say how well their parts are primed, painted, or treated, but after a few years they all start rusting. I've learned if given the choice of aluminum or steel, I'll take the one that doesn't rust and weighs less.
I like the design of your product, I had just wondered if you had any intention on producing an aluminum version. Sorry I brought up what appears to be a touchy subject.
Thanks for responding to my question. BTW, no bling here... nothing gets added to my car unless it makes the car faster and or more reliable.
The reason I asked the question was only partly because of weight concern. I have added many steel aftermarket parts over the years to a variety of vehicles and always end up with the same problem... chipping and rusting parts. The manufactures say how well their parts are primed, painted, or treated, but after a few years they all start rusting. I've learned if given the choice of aluminum or steel, I'll take the one that doesn't rust and weighs less.
I like the design of your product, I had just wondered if you had any intention on producing an aluminum version. Sorry I brought up what appears to be a touchy subject.
Collections Hold
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 6
From: Fort Wayne Indiana
Thanks for the questions and it's not really a touchy subject, but rather an opportunity to present the obvious realities of the weight issue.
We are aware of your's (and some other's) concerns regarding product finishing with the HD paints we use, etc. As of 2-12-05, ALL of our differential strut models have been further improved for your benefit in that they now are powder-coated for increased finish durability and further strengthend by using tempered steel instead of cold-rolled steel~ all without adding to the overall weight of the product. Both designs are very strong and durable, but there is ALWAYS room for further product refinement as time wears on and we are dedicated to that pursuit with our driveline products, differentials and services.
Best Regards,
DTE
We are aware of your's (and some other's) concerns regarding product finishing with the HD paints we use, etc. As of 2-12-05, ALL of our differential strut models have been further improved for your benefit in that they now are powder-coated for increased finish durability and further strengthend by using tempered steel instead of cold-rolled steel~ all without adding to the overall weight of the product. Both designs are very strong and durable, but there is ALWAYS room for further product refinement as time wears on and we are dedicated to that pursuit with our driveline products, differentials and services.
Best Regards,
DTE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,885
Likes: 2
From: Corpus Christi TX
Originally Posted by SS930
DTE,
Sorry I brought up what appears to be a touchy subject.
Sorry I brought up what appears to be a touchy subject.
bottom line is, guys installing "chrome under the hood" or "high powered amps and subwoofers" are not the target market for any of the available braces on the market. These are the typical type owners that enjoy cruising the car and making an occasional blast down a 1/4 mile on street tires, most likely launching off idle.
IMO, the target market for these braces are the "hardcore" drag racers that intend on HIGH rpm launches on sticky tires. This type launch are the scenarios where breakage will most likely occur. These are also the type owners that do indeed want to watch the weight on the car. I certainly try and show up at the drag strip with 1/8 tank or less, preferably tripping the reserve light as I enter the facility.
Now I will add the fact that the additional weight is towards the back of the car, which is definitely a favorable place to add weight if one has to. But that still doesn't mean that core market drag racers aren't looking for the lightest components available that get the job done....because they most certainly are.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
Originally Posted by DynoTech Engineering
We already tested that well over a year ago with unfavorable results... The aluminum brackets fatique too soon, bow and often crack very early in the struts kit's life, not to mention the cost is much higher to manufacture.
Another thing....
We can't figure out why everyone is so "weight concious" about a~ let's face it...street <A TITLE="Click for more information about car" STYLE="text-decoration: none; border-bottom: medium solid green;" HREF="http://search.targetwords.com/u.search?x=5977|1||||cars|AA1VDw">car</A> that is fully equipped with the bells & whistles the C5 Corvette does, other than it being "cool" for folks to discuss the topic as hardcore racers with *real* lightweight race cars do... Most folks we've seen at any track, anywhere, at any given time, have a street car-type Corvette that usually has heavy stereo equipment installed, bling parts installed all over the place and big heavy wheel/tire combo's with poor tires that are VERY heavy to begin with.
Why then doesn't everyone start asking themselves, "does the weight of these extra bling components affect my E.T.?" No...they just customize and install what they like for their car and take what the car will give them at the track. If folks want a lower E.T. further, they often add more power to cover it. Not to mention that everyone racing we've noticed usually has no real clue on how much fuel they had in their tank on a given run (or from run-to-run for that matter) which plays an important role in overall GVW of the car, weight transfer, etc.....
With that said, our product *only* weighs about the same as 3.5 gallons of gas which is NOTHING in the overall big picture of gross vehicle weight, especially compared to how folks commonly add weight to their car without a care because it "looks good" and until we see someone come to us with a gutted C5 Corvette that has no radio, CD, stereo equipment, no A/C, no interior, lightweight chassis, etc, etc, etc, (such as a full-tilt race-car like LGM's or something) we're not concerned about this issue. Afterall, the A4 kit *only* weighs 19 lbs. and the M6/M12 kit *only* weighs 21 lbs., so the benefits one receives with increased driveline durability using our product completely overshadows the argument of weight vs. strength by a longshot.....
I'm sure some folks will want to argue into infinity about this and theoryorize it to death, which is fine, but the reality of the issue still remains no matter how much someone accepts or denies it.
FWIW..
Best Regards,
DTE
Another thing....
We can't figure out why everyone is so "weight concious" about a~ let's face it...street <A TITLE="Click for more information about car" STYLE="text-decoration: none; border-bottom: medium solid green;" HREF="http://search.targetwords.com/u.search?x=5977|1||||cars|AA1VDw">car</A> that is fully equipped with the bells & whistles the C5 Corvette does, other than it being "cool" for folks to discuss the topic as hardcore racers with *real* lightweight race cars do... Most folks we've seen at any track, anywhere, at any given time, have a street car-type Corvette that usually has heavy stereo equipment installed, bling parts installed all over the place and big heavy wheel/tire combo's with poor tires that are VERY heavy to begin with.
Why then doesn't everyone start asking themselves, "does the weight of these extra bling components affect my E.T.?" No...they just customize and install what they like for their car and take what the car will give them at the track. If folks want a lower E.T. further, they often add more power to cover it. Not to mention that everyone racing we've noticed usually has no real clue on how much fuel they had in their tank on a given run (or from run-to-run for that matter) which plays an important role in overall GVW of the car, weight transfer, etc.....
With that said, our product *only* weighs about the same as 3.5 gallons of gas which is NOTHING in the overall big picture of gross vehicle weight, especially compared to how folks commonly add weight to their car without a care because it "looks good" and until we see someone come to us with a gutted C5 Corvette that has no radio, CD, stereo equipment, no A/C, no interior, lightweight chassis, etc, etc, etc, (such as a full-tilt race-car like LGM's or something) we're not concerned about this issue. Afterall, the A4 kit *only* weighs 19 lbs. and the M6/M12 kit *only* weighs 21 lbs., so the benefits one receives with increased driveline durability using our product completely overshadows the argument of weight vs. strength by a longshot.....
I'm sure some folks will want to argue into infinity about this and theoryorize it to death, which is fine, but the reality of the issue still remains no matter how much someone accepts or denies it.
FWIW..
Best Regards,
DTE
Well said on the weight issue. It's funny - you'd think some of us would be dieting like crazy, pulling carpets, passenger seats, etc. for weight savings with some of these comments. These are NICE sports cars - the total package 
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: houston texas
Originally Posted by DynoTech Engineering
We already tested that well over a year ago with unfavorable results... The aluminum brackets fatique too soon, bow and often crack very early in the struts kit's life, not to mention the cost is much higher to manufacture.
Another thing....
We can't figure out why everyone is so "weight concious" about a~ let's face it...street car that is fully equipped with the bells & whistles the C5 Corvette does, other than it being "cool" for folks to discuss the topic as hardcore racers with *real* lightweight race cars do... Most folks we've seen at any track, anywhere, at any given time, have a street car-type Corvette that usually has heavy stereo equipment installed, bling parts installed all over the place and big heavy wheel/tire combo's with poor tires that are VERY heavy to begin with.
Why then doesn't everyone start asking themselves, "does the weight of these extra bling components affect my E.T.?" No...they just customize and install what they like for their car and take what the car will give them at the track. If folks want a lower E.T. further, they often add more power to cover it. Not to mention that everyone racing we've noticed usually has no real clue on how much fuel they had in their tank on a given run (or from run-to-run for that matter) which plays an important role in overall GVW of the car, weight transfer, etc.....
With that said, our product *only* weighs about the same as 3.5 gallons of gas which is NOTHING in the overall big picture of gross vehicle weight, especially compared to how folks commonly add weight to their car without a care because it "looks good" and until we see someone come to us with a gutted C5 Corvette that has no radio, CD, stereo equipment, no A/C, no interior, lightweight chassis, etc, etc, etc, (such as a full-tilt race-car like LGM's or something) we're not concerned about this issue. Afterall, the A4 kit *only* weighs 19 lbs. and the M6/M12 kit *only* weighs 21 lbs., so the benefits one receives with increased driveline durability using our product completely overshadows the argument of weight vs. strength by a longshot.....
I'm sure some folks will want to argue into infinity about this and theoryorize it to death, which is fine, but the reality of the issue still remains no matter how much someone accepts or denies it.
FWIW..
Best Regards,
DTE
Another thing....
We can't figure out why everyone is so "weight concious" about a~ let's face it...street car that is fully equipped with the bells & whistles the C5 Corvette does, other than it being "cool" for folks to discuss the topic as hardcore racers with *real* lightweight race cars do... Most folks we've seen at any track, anywhere, at any given time, have a street car-type Corvette that usually has heavy stereo equipment installed, bling parts installed all over the place and big heavy wheel/tire combo's with poor tires that are VERY heavy to begin with.
Why then doesn't everyone start asking themselves, "does the weight of these extra bling components affect my E.T.?" No...they just customize and install what they like for their car and take what the car will give them at the track. If folks want a lower E.T. further, they often add more power to cover it. Not to mention that everyone racing we've noticed usually has no real clue on how much fuel they had in their tank on a given run (or from run-to-run for that matter) which plays an important role in overall GVW of the car, weight transfer, etc.....
With that said, our product *only* weighs about the same as 3.5 gallons of gas which is NOTHING in the overall big picture of gross vehicle weight, especially compared to how folks commonly add weight to their car without a care because it "looks good" and until we see someone come to us with a gutted C5 Corvette that has no radio, CD, stereo equipment, no A/C, no interior, lightweight chassis, etc, etc, etc, (such as a full-tilt race-car like LGM's or something) we're not concerned about this issue. Afterall, the A4 kit *only* weighs 19 lbs. and the M6/M12 kit *only* weighs 21 lbs., so the benefits one receives with increased driveline durability using our product completely overshadows the argument of weight vs. strength by a longshot.....
I'm sure some folks will want to argue into infinity about this and theoryorize it to death, which is fine, but the reality of the issue still remains no matter how much someone accepts or denies it.
FWIW..
Best Regards,
DTE
DTE,
I'll be calling this week. I'm in need of a 4.10 diff and the brace for my 01 m6 coupe. I'm not concerned about the weight of the brace, if I was I'd just lose a few pounds myself.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 6
From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by 99 The Hard Way
What's involved in the install? Can't wait to see pics. Does this cure wheel hop, or just lessen it? I know the main objective is added strength, but I need to cure my wheel hop issues!
SCOTT
SCOTT