Convertible cars with high hp did you add additional frame bracing - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Moreair1 · 11-02-2015, 10:22 AM

Curious how many people that have high hp convertibles have added additional frame bracing, or is it really not needed? And those who have is it really noticeable

SCHUSS · 11-02-2015, 01:22 PM

No added bracing here. GM built the frame with the convertible in mind, very strong. Not sure if there is a difference from the ZL1 to SS or not.

hworth18 · 11-03-2015, 07:00 AM

Bracing is very rigid on all the convertible models. This is one reason the vert weighs 400lbs more than a coupe. Adding additional bracing probably wouldn't help anything and just add even more weight.

bwk1971 · 11-03-2015, 08:10 AM

I didn't add any additional bracing to mine. There is plenty of bracing underneath for sure.

LuckyZL-1 · 11-03-2015, 11:40 AM

None required here but I could use some Kung Fu grips for my passengers to hold on to! LOL

Moreair1 · 11-03-2015, 12:27 PM

You just need to rig up a set up from one of those test your grip machine for the passenger, then Re label the meter to read something like -1 not so much 2 dam 3 o shi$, 4 oh god I am going die and 5 I think I pooped my self

Indydriver · 11-03-2015, 09:24 PM

One issue to be aware of is that replacing the mid-pipe with 3" requires removing some of the extra OE frame bracing. ARH makes a killer chromemoly brace to allow their 3" but it's $475. For this reason, I stopped with LTs + HF cats into the OE mid-pipe (plus preserving the NPP). The sound is great and I doubt that much power was sacrificed.

Moreair1 · 11-07-2015, 02:41 PM

Yup thats probably why i will stay with the stock for a bit unfortunately though I dont have the npp and does any one know the size of the stock exhaust on the ZL1 verts?

PhantomZL1 · 01-20-2016, 05:47 PM

Here's what Chevrolet did for the ZL1 Convertible: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chev...amaro_zl1.html

tmaleck · 01-20-2016, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indydriver

One issue to be aware of is that replacing the mid-pipe with 3" requires removing some of the extra OE frame bracing. ARH makes a killer chromemoly brace to allow their 3" but it's $475. For this reason, I stopped with LTs + HF cats into the OE mid-pipe (plus preserving the NPP). The sound is great and I doubt that much power was sacrificed.

I went with Stainless Works 3". Their brace and spacer kit is 165 from vendors on Gen5.
Tim

Moreair1 · 01-20-2016, 11:01 PM

Is there a big sound difference with that exhaust vs stock

tmaleck · 01-21-2016, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moreair1

Is there a big sound difference with that exhaust vs stock

Night and day different. The Stainless Works has a nice low rumble at idle, and a midrange pitch under half throttle and awesome sound floored. You can hold a normal conversation on the highway until you punch it, then it gets a bit loud. The only issue is AFM if you have an automatic. The factory exhaust hides it really well, the aftermarket not so much. I'm now strongly considering a tune that turns it off. At highway speeds it's not that bad, but in the city (as others have said) is is very obvious and annoying.

Overall, I like it a lot and when I add the CAI, I should get a bit better flow.

Tim

Moreair1 · 01-21-2016, 08:27 PM

Thank you for the info, I'm running a agp tt kit on my car, so down the line I would like to install a larger exhaust to help with sound but to also aid the turbo, which cai you going with?

tmaleck · 01-21-2016, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moreair1

Thank you for the info, I'm running a agp tt kit on my car, so down the line I would like to install a larger exhaust to help with sound but to also aid the turbo, which cai you going with?

Volant. Seemed a good compromise between cost and performance.
We'll see soon enough.
Tim

11-02-2015, 10:22 AM	#1
Moreair1 Drives: 2011 ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,329 View My Garage	Convertible cars with high hp did you add additional frame bracing Curious how many people that have high hp convertibles have added additional frame bracing, or is it really not needed? And those who have is it really noticeable

11-02-2015, 01:22 PM	#2
SCHUSS 709 RWHP & 677 RWTQ Drives: 13' HPE 800 ZL1..... IOM vert, M6 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 1,140	No added bracing here. GM built the frame with the convertible in mind, very strong. Not sure if there is a difference from the ZL1 to SS or not. __________________ 11.34 @ 124.88

11-03-2015, 07:00 AM	#3
hworth18 Jus' Cruzin Drives: 2017 Camaro 1SS Krypton Green Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Northeast Oklahoma Posts: 1,108 View My Garage	Bracing is very rigid on all the convertible models. This is one reason the vert weighs 400lbs more than a coupe. Adding additional bracing probably wouldn't help anything and just add even more weight. __________________ “The moment you think you know what’s going on in a women’s head, is the moment your goose is well and truly cooked” -Howard Stark

11-03-2015, 08:10 AM	#4
bwk1971 Res Ipsa Loquitur Drives: 2013 Camaro SS Vert Supercharged Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 726	I didn't add any additional bracing to mine. There is plenty of bracing underneath for sure. __________________ "STREET LEGAL" 2013 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Convertible -- 2.9l Whipple Supercharger, CDC SportBar, Cordon CR-1 and MRR M017 wheels, Hex Vents, RPI ZL1 Splitter, CAI, Pfadt Tri-Y Headers, high-flow cats, ZR1 3 bar map sensor, ZL1 fuel pump, 3.875" pulley, ADM FPCM, 1LE PCV Oil Separator Kit, Elite Catch Can, APEX scoop and washer bottle relocation kit, Hotchkis lowering springs, BMR sways, BMR toe rods, BMR trailing arms, 620 rwhp, 564 rwtq, and tuned by Andrew Zurick of Complete Street Performance by way of Maryland Speed.

11-03-2015, 11:40 AM	#5
LuckyZL-1 Ragtop Rocket!!! Drives: Black on Black Convertible Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 809	None required here but I could use some Kung Fu grips for my passengers to hold on to! LOL __________________ ADM built 2013 Triple Black ZL-1 Convertible M6 ADM custom cam, LPE stage 2 heads with dual valve springs, LS-3 ported throttle body, LPE 2 piece pulley, LPE overdrive balancer, 10% overdrive pulley, ported supercharger inlet, ADM race intake system, stainless works 1-7/8 headers, Injector Dynamics injectors, ADM heat exchanger, ADM dual fuel pump system, ADM exhaust switch, ADM 3 tunes tuning package. 744rwhp 727rwtq

11-03-2015, 12:27 PM	#6
Moreair1 Drives: 2011 ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,329 View My Garage	You just need to rig up a set up from one of those test your grip machine for the passenger, then Re label the meter to read something like -1 not so much 2 dam 3 o shi$, 4 oh god I am going die and 5 I think I pooped my self Last edited by Moreair1; 11-04-2015 at 06:52 AM.

11-03-2015, 09:24 PM	#7
Indydriver Drives: '14 2SS/RS Vert 6M/KTU/NPP/DTA/ARH Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,826	One issue to be aware of is that replacing the mid-pipe with 3" requires removing some of the extra OE frame bracing. ARH makes a killer chromemoly brace to allow their 3" but it's $475. For this reason, I stopped with LTs + HF cats into the OE mid-pipe (plus preserving the NPP). The sound is great and I doubt that much power was sacrificed. __________________ Consensus is, by definition, a lack of leadership.

11-07-2015, 02:41 PM	#8
Moreair1 Drives: 2011 ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,329 View My Garage	Yup thats probably why i will stay with the stock for a bit unfortunately though I dont have the npp and does any one know the size of the stock exhaust on the ZL1 verts?

01-20-2016, 05:47 PM	#9
PhantomZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Arizona Posts: 50	Here's what Chevrolet did for the ZL1 Convertible: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chev...amaro_zl1.html

01-20-2016, 11:01 PM	#11
Moreair1 Drives: 2011 ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,329 View My Garage	Is there a big sound difference with that exhaust vs stock

01-21-2016, 08:27 PM	#13
Moreair1 Drives: 2011 ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,329 View My Garage	Thank you for the info, I'm running a agp tt kit on my car, so down the line I would like to install a larger exhaust to help with sound but to also aid the turbo, which cai you going with?