How Much Difference Does The Backbone Brace Make??
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
How Much Difference Does The Backbone Brace Make??
I am thinking about purchasing one of the Stainless Steel backbone tunnel braces. My question is, how much difference does it make? If I drove three identical cars and one had a backbone tunnel brace, would I be able to pick out the car that had the brace?
My car is a daily driver (02 ZO6) and not used at the track.
Question #2 Is it "REALLY" worth getting the thermal coating?
Any comments on how this product effects the "normal" everyday driveability and seat of the pants feel will be welcome!
Thanks in advance.
Bill Curlee
My car is a daily driver (02 ZO6) and not used at the track.
Question #2 Is it "REALLY" worth getting the thermal coating?
Any comments on how this product effects the "normal" everyday driveability and seat of the pants feel will be welcome!
Thanks in advance.
Bill Curlee
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield WI
Hi Bill,
There was a thread on this a week or so. You might want to see if you can find it - seveal positive opinions stated there.
I recently had the tunnel support brace from Elite Engineering installed on my 2004 Coupe. A few weeks prior I had the Z06 stabilizer bars installed (I have the F55 suspension). In my opinion the tunnel support brace did as much for handling going in a straight line as the Z06 stabilizer bars did for cornering. The tunnel brace also made turn-in feel faster. Even with the stiffer full Z06 suspension I would think that you would still notice an improvement.
Best of all there was no negative impact on daily driveability. Makes you wonder why they didn't come out of the factory with this. HTH.
Chip
There was a thread on this a week or so. You might want to see if you can find it - seveal positive opinions stated there.
I recently had the tunnel support brace from Elite Engineering installed on my 2004 Coupe. A few weeks prior I had the Z06 stabilizer bars installed (I have the F55 suspension). In my opinion the tunnel support brace did as much for handling going in a straight line as the Z06 stabilizer bars did for cornering. The tunnel brace also made turn-in feel faster. Even with the stiffer full Z06 suspension I would think that you would still notice an improvement.
Best of all there was no negative impact on daily driveability. Makes you wonder why they didn't come out of the factory with this. HTH.
Chip
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
Originally Posted by ChipN
Hi Bill,
Best of all there was no negative impact on daily driveability. Makes you wonder why they didn't come out of the factory with this. HTH.
Chip
Best of all there was no negative impact on daily driveability. Makes you wonder why they didn't come out of the factory with this. HTH.
Chip
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Mine is on order from VNM. I wanted the thermal coating because I am also installing a set of QTP headers at the same time. Based on all the positive feedback on this modification (LAPD's, VNM's or Elites) it seemed like a good mod to the car. Some have complained about the price, but how many modifications have we all installed that cost a lot more and had negligable impact. I am looking forward to this installation. I don't track my car either.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I was wondering if the thermal coating makes that much difference?
GM more than likley didnt make the pan more heaiver because of $$$ and weight.
Thanks guys for the responses. This just seems like one of those mods that you cant pass up!
Bill C
GM more than likley didnt make the pan more heaiver because of $$$ and weight.
Thanks guys for the responses. This just seems like one of those mods that you cant pass up!
Bill C
