Speed Direct spreader bar,no fit?
10-19-2018, 09:12 AM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Speed Direct spreader bar,no fit?
I'm wanting to put a spreader bar on my orig owner 78' L82 auto. It seems with A/C on the pass side a-arm rr most stud there is no room to load the SD spreader bar brkt,left alone install the lock-nut. There is shield/guard that mnts off the btm of the a/c bolt that is maybe 3/16's away from this rr stud. No help from speed direct,they are asking"what"? Anybody do this install on a 77' or up A/C L82? There is a similar belt shield on the alt belt driv side for ref. Thanx guys. Hdal
10-19-2018, 09:54 AM
#2
Le Mans Master
I have a speedirect bar on my 78 L-82 AC car and it will fit. If it does not on your car, something must be off. I did have to jack up the front end to get the bar and brackets into place. It is a tight snug fit with the bar between the control arm brackets....which will be worse depending on how much engine cradle sag your car is experiencing. All C3's suffer from engine cradle sag and the reason why a spreader bar is so vital and important to improve the steering response, handling, ride and general overall chassis tightness.
Last edited by jb78L-82; 10-19-2018 at 09:54 AM.
10-19-2018, 10:03 AM
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
Hey thanx. I'm really wanting to do this. So,you DO HAVE the factory the a/c belt shield still in place? I dodn't mind taking R&R'g it for install but it does it's job @ hi-rpm because it has shinny wear marks on it. Hdal
10-19-2018, 11:49 AM
#4
Advanced
heal,
ive got a 79 l82 and am running the factory belt guard with the speed direct spreader. It’s close but doesn’t touch. One thing was that I removed the AIR pump and the pulley otherwise it was a little close to the pulley but sure the bar could be slid forward.
ive got a 79 l82 and am running the factory belt guard with the speed direct spreader. It’s close but doesn’t touch. One thing was that I removed the AIR pump and the pulley otherwise it was a little close to the pulley but sure the bar could be slid forward.
10-19-2018, 02:01 PM
#6
Instructor
Thread Starter
Ahhh,great pic,thanx. The stud in ques is behind the guard,did you rem/bend guard to install brkt & nut? Yup all smog stuff is off. Where are you located in the Det area? Hdal
10-19-2018, 02:08 PM
#7
Advanced
No modification to the bracket but I did have it off when I installed the bar since I was doing some engine work at the same time and had all the engine accessories off. I’m in Trenton.
10-19-2018, 02:28 PM
#8
Instructor
Thread Starter
MBB,so you likey bar? Did you shoot for a set spreader dimension or just adj for 1st friction/stopping point? I'm originally from St.Cl.Shores,now live up north,love it...........Hdal
10-19-2018, 02:44 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Feb 2001
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I wish my '72 had that belt guard. I had to wrap a tin can around my lower rad hose to keep the belt from gouging it.
10-19-2018, 03:33 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Mine fit but I had to jack up the front end.i don't have a smog pump but the factory A/C is there.i did Dremel a small hole just big enough to get a socket through the shroud on the passenger side front control arm bolt.the alignment guy said damn that was genius. It really makes things easy .
10-20-2018, 09:12 AM
#11
Advanced
Small world, I work right outside St Clair shores. I redid my entire suspension with new bushings and added it during that so I don’t have a direct a to b comparison with/without it but no complaints. I didn’t set it for a certain distance I had already checked the dimension between the a arm mounting brackets before and mine was dead on the factory dimension and I just installed the bar and adjusted to snug then gave as much preload as I could by hand (no tools) and called it good.
