I made some today and am very happy with the results.

Noises behind the dash have gone away almost completly. Steering response, Turn in, breaking and over all control have all imporoved noticeably. The front end of the car feels even more planted.

I have noticed a fair amount of flexing in the rear of the chassis now, which in turn is causing a bit more over steer than I would like. But I have only 1 small improvised strut brace back there, so that will be adressed shortly.

Not beautiful to look at, but they get the job done well and they dont weigh very much, (5.5lbs each side) also didnt want to fork out 250$ for a set.


Current Suspension/Chassis mods are:
-KTS coil-overs with 8/6k springs
-Circuit sport front strut bar
-DYI temp Rear strut bar
-Fender braces

Next up is foam insulating hollow areas in the cabbin/rocker panals rear strutbar and subframe brace.

 

Awesome!
I'm slowly doing the same thing to my 300zx. Spot welding the chassis and frame bracing where is seems flimsy/needed.
A tip on the foam though, don't foam where you need to weld later... it is NOT fun. lol

 

Thanks. Im focusing on Suspension/steering during the summer. Its getting a complete $2k overhaul.

 

Longfellow,
I applaud your efforts in making your own parts. There are some people on here who might choose to hate and criticise you for saving $250,
instead of spending for the high dollar setup, but I am not one of those people.

Almost every week I myself, am fabricating something for someone, pretty often something that cannot be bought from an aftermarlet company.....
so bro, if you want to post up some pics, that may help out other people
and maybe provoke people's minds to find creative solutions to
car problems....-Bob

 

I wouldn't have thought that, that part of the chassis would flex that much.
The noise part I would believe, but the actual flexing part, I just don't get...

 

never mind, I thought about it some more and I see how it would improve the firmness...

 

Believe it! Honda's flex.

I have a micro switch installed in my driver's side
door. When I make a sweeping right hander, the warning buzzer tells me the micro switch is opening....I suspect due to the car flexing, since it will stop buzzing once I get the car going straight again.-Bob

Oh, and by the way, folks.....the foam that is sprayed into the subframe as a stiffener, is NOT the stuff in the spray cans from Home depot or Lowes. If you are going to foam the subframe, get the foam from the dealer.

 

Grainger sells it. Its expensive.

Ive yet to jack the car up but thats the tell tale sign of how much the front end flexes under load.

 

so um what kinda foam are you all using? not great stuff i hope? 3m makes great automotive foam products, for reducing noise vibration and harshness, and well as some types of rigid structual foam. i can get the product numbers if anyone likes, just send me a pm.

Also im not sure if u drive that car as a daily, or if you know that while you are improving the handling and limiting the flex of the unibody structure, you are also greatly reducing the collision absorbing properties of the upper front rails, just something to think about if its a daily, or you drive around any family or friends. With those braces the energy will be directed into the passenger compartment instead of around it.

but if not driven on the street please disreguard - mike

 

Its my only car. Those are also the only braces of that type that will be used on the car. If anything Im betting it will shear the bolts off at the doors, since thats what the back brackets are bolted to. It would take a serious head on impact to have that bracket affect anything that far back, and with that kind of impact I would be in trouble regardless. Passenger side also still has the airbag.

I might end up putting in a 6 point cage as well.

Foam is a 2 part expanding foam with a 5:1 expansion rate. Its similar to what infinity uses in their cars. Can you send me info on the 3m stuff?