Frame Savers Why did I wait?
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8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8
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From: So Cal ca
Frame Savers Why did I wait?
I should have done this a long time ago. Both my front bars and my rocker panels were taking quite a beating. Last month I intstalled Andy's combo (A&A Corvette Specialties) including the rocker rails and Frame Savers. What a difference. Where I used to hammer my front end , I feel no more than a solid bump and just let the front end roll instead of scrape. The rocker rails have saved me a couple of times also. I drove off a curb the other day. You know, missed the driveway out of a gas station and slammed the rocker panel into thr curb. Ouch! Checked it later ( was too embarassed to stop ) and just a gouge in the aluminum rail. No damage to the fiberglass!. Kudos to Andy and his inventions. Highly recommended! :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,018
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From: The Usual Suspects Yorba Linda Chapter
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (Dale RED 98)
They saved my butt yesterday when I pulled in to far and ran the nose up on one of those cement slabs (the ones you see in parking lots). Well, it just rolled up on the frame savers. Thank you Andy!!!!!!!!
Man it is tough to know where the front end of this car is.
Man it is tough to know where the front end of this car is.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,737
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (vettenuts)
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 365
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From: Petaluma CA
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (ddawson)
I just ordered a set of Frame Savers and Rocker Rails yesterday. To those of you who installed it, do you have to drill holes in the body/frame for the rails? (I know you have to drill holes for the Frame Savers).
Also, my skid plates are thrashed (thanks to the previous owner), how does one replace those?
Thanks,
Crash
Also, my skid plates are thrashed (thanks to the previous owner), how does one replace those?
Thanks,
Crash
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 575
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From: Redwood City CA
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (dumbkid)
Any help on the front are dam? I rarely have any trouble with the front frame rails, but my driveway is just steep enough to scrap the plastic dam every time. Really annoying.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: The Usual Suspects Yorba Linda Chapter
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (2000^C5)
Crash99
You will be drilling 4 -3/16" holes into the frame for each side. The rocker rails fit quite nicely. There are indentions in the rocker rails to fit over a couple of bolts. Alignment is very easy. I recommend a very good drill bit and it will work out nicely.
[Modified by RDVT4ME, 2:41 PM 3/18/2002]
You will be drilling 4 -3/16" holes into the frame for each side. The rocker rails fit quite nicely. There are indentions in the rocker rails to fit over a couple of bolts. Alignment is very easy. I recommend a very good drill bit and it will work out nicely.
[Modified by RDVT4ME, 2:41 PM 3/18/2002]
Race Director
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From: Dallas TX
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Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (dumbkid)
I should have done this a long time ago. Both my front bars and my rocker panels were taking quite a beating. Last month I intstalled Andy's combo (A&A Corvette Specialties) including the rocker rails and Frame Savers. What a difference. Where I used to hammer my front end , I feel no more than a solid bump and just let the front end roll instead of scrape. The rocker rails have saved me a couple of times also. I drove off a curb the other day. You know, missed the driveway out of a gas station and slammed the rocker panel into thr curb. Ouch! Checked it later ( was too embarassed to stop ) and just a gouge in the aluminum rail. No damage to the fiberglass!. Kudos to Andy and his inventions. Highly recommended! :cheers:
RG
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,729
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From: VENTURA Ca
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (RG in Dallas)
RG : Thanks for the good words.
Crash 99: Those bars support the radiator and AC Condenser among other things. It's quite a job to replace them. And , as I recall, the part is about $175 I have welded some that were completely worn through. Actually most of the cars I have installed Frame savers on needed some repair of the bars. I would think a muffler shop could repair them a lot cheaper than replacing them. I think a muffler shop is best because they usually have a drive on lift or a pit and a welder handy. I would investigate that first.
Crash 99: Those bars support the radiator and AC Condenser among other things. It's quite a job to replace them. And , as I recall, the part is about $175 I have welded some that were completely worn through. Actually most of the cars I have installed Frame savers on needed some repair of the bars. I would think a muffler shop could repair them a lot cheaper than replacing them. I think a muffler shop is best because they usually have a drive on lift or a pit and a welder handy. I would investigate that first.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 21
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From: CA
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (Andy@AandACorvette)
When I first saw these I thought they were sort of a silly idea. I've seen them called"training wheels" etc. But you what? Should have been the first mod I did. Certainly the best one. Just everyday driving is a lot less hassle. I'l bet The wheels come into play almost every day. The rails maybe not as often but the damage they prevent is even more expensive. Good stuff. :smash:
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: VENTURA Ca
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (Andy@AandACorvette)
A question I get a lot is "Do I have to drill into the Rocker panels?" No. The only drilling is into the frame itself. The rails mount just inboard of the fiberglass rocker panels with 4 stainless screws . They hang just about 1/8" below the rockers ,therefore they hit before the fiberglass. The aluminum rail just slides over the speed bump or whatever. Sure beats that awful sound of grinding fiberglass! Look at the underside of your rocker panels and your front skid bars. If they are not damaged yet- they will be.
Race Director
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From: Westport, MA. www.tbyrnemotorsports.com - 1-877-4-TBYRNE
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (dumbkid)
I'll be giving Andy a call too. I've um.... rubbed the rails a few times on parking stones :( I always get out, act like nothing happened and then take a look when I get back.
Tom
Tom
Racer
Joined: May 2000
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From: Bloomington, IN USA
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (tbyrne)
When I scrape a parking stop, I noticed that the front bumper barely clears the concrete then the skid bars scrape. If I were to lower any, I don't think anything will help as I would get a direct hit on the nose of the bumper. So my question is how much lower than the skid bars do the rollers hang and, if this is considerable, wouldn't a direct hit be worst than barely scraping? Would it be true that if a car is lowered, the rollers probably wouldn't be much of any help since the nose will be the part that hits? I can see benefits on steep inclines and speed bumps but it is the parking stops that I have problems with - I'm getting better but who know if someone else is driving the car.
JohnS
JohnS
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: VENTURA Ca
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (JohnS)
Although they are really made for inclines etc. They can help with the curbs too. Although not in all situations. The brackets do not protrude below the bars at all. The bottom of the wheel only sticks below the bar by about 7/16 ". You cant hit the wheel or bracket straight on. It always touches on the lower part of the wheel. Obviously if the curb is too high it will hit the nose first. You still have to be careful of that. But on 99.9% of the inclines, going in or out, and most of the parking curbs they will save you. On a lowered car( like mine for instance) you'd be amazed at how steep a driveway I can negotiate without scraping. Not only do they stop the bars from hitting at all. But that 7/16" extra actually can lift the nose just enough to stop the nose itself from scraping in extreme situations. Ask those who have them. They all love 'em! ANDY
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 404
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From: Kirkland Wa.
Re: Frame Savers Why did I wait? (dumbkid)
You guys are a great influence on my soon to be car but a really bad influence
on my checkbook! I just ordered the frame saver/rocker rail package from Andy. I think it's a small price to pay for the amount of protection these
2 items serve.
on my checkbook! I just ordered the frame saver/rocker rail package from Andy. I think it's a small price to pay for the amount of protection these
2 items serve.