[Neanderthal Racing]

Originally Posted by VSGTS14

bruce, does the the GT spec frame set work with ALK?

apparently, they have a spacer kit for alks:

Originally Posted by mxpop
Thanks BC,

I just talked to GT spec and they say that I will have more ground clearance than I have now with the required spacers added for the ALK kit. He said it will end up more like it did stock which is already an improvement for me.

Originally Posted by VSGTS14

and what brace would best be suited for track purposes?

as i've said, i think the gt spec kit does the best job, although all of them should be an improvement over stock. let me stipulate that this is just my opinion based on my analysis of the design elements discerned from looking at pictures.

[VSGTS14]

yea i see what you mean, there was a large thread saying how none of the braces out there help besides M1 and RPM because they actually tie both sides together with the bars in the middle....esp RPM it's gotta be the most rigid for connecting each side to each other and is probably good for autox as mentioned.

the gt spec looks good too however, i just don't know why there are different types and which ones actually do work and are proven besides looking at it with your eyes.

[70s-gearhead]

Originally Posted by Drag-On

How was the fitment? Did you experience any issues with the fitment?

Fitment was good but not perfect. I had to enlarge the holes on 2 of the mounting points about an 1/8 of an inch. There is plent of material so it was not a problem and took a couple of minutes with a dremel. I spoke to James at RPM and he said they were going to open up the tolerences a little in future editions.

[Neanderthal Racing]

Originally Posted by VSGTS14

yea i see what you mean, there was a large thread saying how none of the braces out there help besides M1 and RPM because they actually tie both sides together with the bars in the middle....esp RPM it's gotta be the most rigid for connecting each side to each other and is probably good for autox as mentioned.

unless you get under the car yourself to overview the actual landscape under there, you wont appreciate why it may be unnecessary to have one large piece rather than several sections, for instance.

Originally Posted by VSGTS14

the gt spec looks good too however, i just don't know why there are different types and which ones actually do work and are proven besides looking at it with your eyes.

because there is more than one way to skin a cat. remember that, no matter what the part under discussion is, people reflexively advocate for what they bought themselves or they just repeat what they read or someone else said - as if it was fact - in all those large threads. trust your eyes and common sense.

[Rookie84]

I'm still torn here. I just don't know which one to get Looks like all three are good. I might as well just go with the lightest one... how much does the GT spec brace weigh(all 4 pieces)?

[Neanderthal Racing]

i'll even add to the confusion. doluck makes a subframe brace, too.

[Rookie84]

Originally Posted by Neanderthal Racing

i'll even add to the confusion. doluck makes a subframe brace, too.

Yeah I know but it looks nowhere as stiff as other ones although it is very light, and I would rather get M1 or RPM in aluminum.

[Neanderthal Racing]

Originally Posted by Rookie84

Yeah I know but it looks nowhere as stiff as other ones

i dunno, the element time attack car managed to set the second fastest lap time with it onboard at superstreet's time attack invitational a couple years ago. maybe the decision isn't is critical as it appears (isfh).

[VSGTS14]

carbing makes one too and so does beatrush.
beatrush's looks like the factory one with the addition of one crossover bar and it's aluminum.

aluminum isn't really what we would want to use right? since it's not as rigid as chromoly.

[Neanderthal Racing]

tubular aluminum is more than adequate for the job. chromoly is roughly 2/3 the weight of mild steel and is overkill for this.

[TraSTi]

with beatrush you can use there skidplate...

[mxpop]

Aluminum is often stiffer than steel depending on design and application. The first aluminum framed roadrace and motocross bikes were faulted for being too stiff. Modern aluminum motorcycle frame construction actually incorporates flex zones in order for the bike to handle desirably. This is done thru an advanced integration of cast, billet, extruded, and forged aluminum used in key locations.

For subframes, I think that I would go chromoly as it can take a hit/scrape better (no comments on my driving "techniques"... ) without failure and is less prone to stress/vibration related fractures etc, all else being equal.

[mug23]

Originally Posted by Neanderthal Racing

tubular aluminum is more than adequate for the job. chromoly is roughly 2/3 the weight of mild steel and is overkill for this.

I also believe that chromoly for this application is overkill as I'm running with no sub frame at this time.

However, I'm in the market to look for a sub frame and I'm going with the aluminum for weight saving.

Unless you are going rally cross or something like that then you may need the stiffer one since you may end up hitting the bottom of your car a lot. Otherwise, I would just go for the lighter one just to tie things up.

[VSGTS14]

^that's what i plan to do, after bruce said what he has about gt spec it seems theirs is up my alley.
still dunno about aluminum under there for a subframe though..i mean it's strong but i'd rather have something stronger.

[TraSTi]

Any weight of the front end is very good on these cars...