You guys lie about sfcs.
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 1
From: Michigan (Macomb or Lansing)
seems pretty much a waste to get them just to use as jacking points, especially when you can already jack up the car just as easily without them.
There has been plenty of heated discussion on here on the value of SFCs. I don't think any one is a liar for saying they can tell a difference......but.....I (and many others) feel they are not necessary or the end all be all some think.
Feeling a diff doesn't mean much. It definatley doesn't proove them worthwhile or (the ever popular) "BETTER".
There was a thread on here discussing the dredded 1/4 dimples. A guy suggested they are caused by crush zones over the axle. Personally I think he is correct. Besides SFCs tie into the floor, well ahead of were the 1/4 dimples form.
People expect way too much of SFCs. At best they tie into 6 pieces of sheet metal (welded or bolted). They cannot cure all the shakes and torsional stifness. I suppose it could improove it some...but it would be tough to measure.
Bottom line....what people may or may not FEEL doesn't mean much 2 me.
What I can tell you for sure if you add SFCs:
1-Your car will be heavier.
2-Your wallet will be lighter.
Beyond that, if it feels "better" and make you happy---GREAT.
I personally took mine off and sold them. I sincerely hope the new owner is happy with them.
Feeling a diff doesn't mean much. It definatley doesn't proove them worthwhile or (the ever popular) "BETTER".
There was a thread on here discussing the dredded 1/4 dimples. A guy suggested they are caused by crush zones over the axle. Personally I think he is correct. Besides SFCs tie into the floor, well ahead of were the 1/4 dimples form.
People expect way too much of SFCs. At best they tie into 6 pieces of sheet metal (welded or bolted). They cannot cure all the shakes and torsional stifness. I suppose it could improove it some...but it would be tough to measure.
Bottom line....what people may or may not FEEL doesn't mean much 2 me.
What I can tell you for sure if you add SFCs:
1-Your car will be heavier.
2-Your wallet will be lighter.
Beyond that, if it feels "better" and make you happy---GREAT.
I personally took mine off and sold them. I sincerely hope the new owner is happy with them.
SFC are a great addition to any F body but they simply do nothing to reinforce the rear of our cars. The connect the front and rear unitized long members. The rear long member or unitized frame rail is a two piece rail with a "very" weak point "crush zone" just behind the rear seat or cabin erea. This acts as a hinge and allows the rear of the body to flex just enough that we get the dimples in the quarter panels. The quarter panels are a structural component on our cars and they do get a lot of torsional stress applied to them. I also have seen countless stock unmodified cars with the dimples and I feel it has far more to do with the rough roads or driving habbits than the torque output of the engine tweaking them. I have cut these cars appart and pieced them back together enough times that I know the inner structure of them like the back of my hand. The only thing that will add structural support to the rear of the car is a roll cage. My Mecham had a Wolf 6 point installed when it was brand new and its never shown any signes of this problem. My last few Fourth gen F bodys had the dimples long before I did any mods to them. I would also think removing weight from the rear of the car like the spare tire ect. might help slightly to relieve the problem.
The next time you jack your car up take a look at the rear rails right above the rear axle with a flash light you will see the weak erea im talking about.
The next time you jack your car up take a look at the rear rails right above the rear axle with a flash light you will see the weak erea im talking about.
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I added my Kenny Brown DD's first. They were one of the first mods I did. Long before any power mods. I noticed a difference right away in cornering and bumps. I've since replaces all factory parts except for the SLP pro rate springs. The car handles tight. Very tight.
Recently had an off road incident. The SFC's saved the car from a total. With all the money and time and effort I had into my car I wasnt looking for an underpayed insurance check. If I look at it from that stand point alone they were worth the money but its the performance in the beginning that made them stand out. They've been on the car so long I forgot to put them in the sig
Recently had an off road incident. The SFC's saved the car from a total. With all the money and time and effort I had into my car I wasnt looking for an underpayed insurance check. If I look at it from that stand point alone they were worth the money but its the performance in the beginning that made them stand out. They've been on the car so long I forgot to put them in the sig
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Apollo Beach, FL
The first year I had my car back in late '01, I had problems with the front end alignment. My tires would have abnormal wear, I would get the front end aligned, then the problem would com back. I had a pair of Hotchiks SFC welded on about a year and a half later and never had a problem with tire wear since. I don't know if it's just coincidence or if that solved the problem. Either way, my car did feel "tighter" when I launched it after getting them installed
I'm not confident that SFC's matter so much on a hard or even T-top car nearly as much as on the verts when it comes to the street. I never would have needed or wanted SFCs on my T-top car. However the squeaks and rattles in the vert placed KBDDs in the first round of mods. They cleaned up almost everything and gives a much tighter feel. I agree that they may make for a harsher ride. Overall I was very pleased with them though.
That was coincidence. They don't even hook anywhere near the front suspension. Your last alignment was just better, or didn't slip (and both bad alignments and slipping bolts are common).
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Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
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www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
Does anybody have any pics of these dimples in the rear quarters? I went 100K miles without SFCs. After I put them on, I felt no diffrence. I think they are a hold-over from the time when sub frames used to be mounted to the body with rubber body mounts. Or am I just hitting the crack pipe again?
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: S. JerZ
Good read... looks like I learned one more new thing not to buy right away. Thanks everyone for your honesty about the SFC's. It's threads like these that really help some of the new guys out when making their decisions on which mods to do and which mods not to do.
12 Second Club
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi
I noticed a difference on mine, when I launch front left end used to go up higher then right side. with sfc front end lifts even, not to say from rear it not but, I have t-tops and I believe it stiffens the chassis. on other hand I dont think sfc would be needed on non t-top bodies. just my opinion. I happy, cant see to drive my car with out them. doesn't rattle as much.....
fuerzaws6
fuerzaws6
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Rockland County, NY
My 98 had sfc on it when purchased. I noticed a slight difference over the 97 i had. But the best thing above the sfc? Two weeks after i bought the car i got hit on the rr quarter panel. When i took it to the body shop, the guy said "all that bracing under there" probably helped keep the frame from getting tweaked. Idk if that's bs or not, but it sounds like pretty cheap insurance to me.