LS1TECH - Camaro and Firebird Forum Discussion

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-   -   2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's (https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/84014-2-pt-vs-3-pt-sfcs.html)

brandon4321 07-01-2003 06:44 PM

2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 
Has anyone used both? How do the 3-pt SFC's (SLP, Kenny Brown) compare to the others (BMR, G2, etc.)? Does all that extra metal (and $$) make any real difference?

trackbird 07-01-2003 07:37 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 
The 3 point style triangulate the chassis much better. The third point helps resist "twisting" loads....those that subframe connectors are asked to correct. A subframe connectors main strength is in vertical loading (adding weight to the car and not letting it bend until the floor touches the ground. The "secondary" strength is to act as a torsen bar or a sway bar if you will to keep the front and back of the chassis from twisting in opposite directions. So, to get enough torsional strength, you have to overbuild the connectors. This can either be by using thicker materials (heavier tubing, or larger box section) or adding some type of daigonal bracing. The diagonal bracing helps resist twisting loads. Now, if you build a set of connectors out of fairly strong material and then add diagonal bracing you wind up with SLP connectors or the set made by LG Motorsports (which is an excellent design). My personal opinion of Kenny Brown stuff is not a good one and others on this board have inspected them personally (ordered a set to see how they were built) and found serious issues with the cad plating and weld quality. The Kenny Brown setup is still better than some, but it is low on my list...just my thoughts.

Good luck!

brandon4321 07-02-2003 04:22 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 
ttt

glitch77 07-02-2003 06:19 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 
I've got SLPs. Get em, weld em in, youll love em.

End of story.

David N 07-05-2003 05:53 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 

My personal opinion of Kenny Brown stuff is not a good one and others on this board have inspected them personally (ordered a set to see how they were built) and found serious issues with the cad plating and weld quality.

I will disagree. I've installed KBDD on my '01 WS6 T/A, the quality was reasonable. Looked like the welds had full penetration. As for the size of the rectangular tubing, they are small. However, instead of having a long distance between the front/rear connections to the subframe, there are several connections to the outer pinch rail. This is much more effective at resisting torsional rotation than a very long connector. Simple physics, torque = force x distance. Long lever, you don't need much force to twist. Short lever, lots more force to twist something the same amount. KBDD is designed with short levers.

Also, the KBDDs attach to the rear subframe at its strongest point, which isn't at the rear control arm mount, but rather the frame rail running more inboard. Last, the way KBDD is designed, its easy to add several more attachment points along the frame rail and the mid-pan.

trackbird 07-06-2003 09:50 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 
http://corner-carvers.com/forums/sho...p;highlight=kb


This is a thread regarding the response that Kenny Brown gave the tech guys on that message board when they said they didn't like their parts...and this is the reply from one of the boards tech guys (with quotes from the Kenny Brown post). But, anyway...just my thoughts. (I do like the KB design better than most others, so I'm not too inclined to fight about it...I'm not running them and I'm not trying to change the world, I try to help when I can, and that's why I mention that most posts are "just my thoughts").

trackbird 07-06-2003 10:53 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 
Oh....and SLP connectors are designed to weld to the outer pinch rail as well. Still not a perfect design....but life is a compromise....

David N 07-07-2003 07:12 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 
trackbird,
I'm just trying to find out what the best SFCs are. I'm going to do some major surgery to my car, so I'm willing to remove KBDD SFCs and replace them with a better set, if they are inferior. I read the cc.com post, and searched for any references to KBDD SFCs for 4th gens. I didn't find any other info specific to our cars which shed any light. However, the cc.com link you gave discussed problems with Mustangs, mainly suspension components. I'm not sure what bearing this has on the f-body setup, except that the company doesn't design very good suspension parts for Mustangs. What specific info do you have about KBDD SFCs to show that they are poor in design? You referred to the quality of the SFCs, is the strength of the material poor? The welds that you inspected, was there full penetration, or was it the type of weld that made them poor. I'm not trying to get into a flame match, I'm just trying to find some more specific info about why you and others find the KBDD design a poor one.

trackbird 07-07-2003 08:20 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 
Good points.

I referenced the CC.com post to shed light on what seems to be the Kenny Brown Philisophy (I believe he said something to the effect of "it's good enough" in there somewhere. And, I'd not go through the hassle of removing a set of welded connectors for the gains of a better design (I'm not referencing any one specific design....just a general reference). I consider them to be somewhat "under-built". With that said, I often lean towards overkill, but I also prefer light weight.


https://ls1tech.com/threads/showflat...art=2&vc=1

On this post, Sawedoff said:


I have bought a set of just about every make of subframe, and the majority of them are absolute garbage.Most are made of low grade materials that just were maximizing the profit of the maker, to rush em' to the market, just to have something out there. The last and recent purchase was a set of Kenny Brown double diamonds. These are absolute junk, and will be cut and sold for scrap. I had talked to some engineers for a race team, and they laughed when I showed them the designs that are out there currently. Don't get me wrong they will stiffen up a car, a little, but they aren't the best they could be either.

Well, they're higher up at the top of the food chain, design wise, compared to something from BMR. Most of em' don't really triangulate all that well, and some don't do it all. These Kenny Brown's that I'm sitting here looking at, and thinking about using as a trellis for tomato plants in the garden, are brand ass new. They are already having heavy corrosion from a chemical reaction of the welding and the cadmium plating they used, in the weld joints. Big no-no here.

How come yours cost five hundred? Mine cost $267, they're basically about $5 worth of low grade metal boxed tubing, with a hardware store quality cad-plating job . I'm not mad about these, I've bought all kinds of crap for these cars, just to look at the design work, so I can design my own stuff.



This pretty much sums up my thoughts on Kenny Brown Subframes. I don't think they are designed as well as the kit from LG Motorsports or the SLP connectors, but they are better than most of the others. They would be my 3rd choice behind LG and SLP, but I'd likely reweld (after removing the plating...welding cad plated steel can kill you...) and modify them as I was installing them (cross bracing, gussets etc). Like I said, I would not take the time to remove a set that are already installed...I think that would be more trouble than it is actually worth.

99 Black Bird T/A 07-08-2003 10:20 PM

Re: 2-pt vs. 3-pt SFC's
 

I've got SLPs. Get em, weld em in, youll love em.

End of story.

Yeah my .02 as well, I've got bolt in's, I keep meaning to get welded in.


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