Author Topic: rear cross member upgrade (Read 8462 times)

METLSOL · « **on:** December 28, 2009, 11:28:12 AM »

I was hoping for a little info. I have an '09 gxp coupe autotrans. Dose this car have the zok rear support or fe3. If you look on crate engine depot.com it shows it as fe3 zok. Is the support on my stock gxp the same as the fe3 zok rear support? It sure looks the same.:huh:I know the car came with the fe3 pkg. Also is the fe3 zok rear support equal to the ddm probeam ? Do they do the same thing?

Rogue · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2009, 11:51:34 AM »

The GXP coupe does not come from the factory with a rear crossmember support. The Z0K unit is a weld-in, the DDM Probeam is a bolt-in. Both perform essentially the same function. When cornering under load you will be able to tell the before/after difference. GXPsy and I both have the Probeam and we're happy with the results.

Ben L · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2009, 12:02:01 PM »

I''d be willing to bet you have the Fe3 cross member. Installation of the ZOK rear cross-member requires removal of things like the diff, etc. Many many hours of shop time. The Pro-Beam ties into the rear shock mounts and performs the same stiffening function, and it is relatively easy to install. Essentially, it is a backing plate for the lower part of your existing x-member, but tied directly to the shock mounts at two points on each side. What's not to like? I did mine by myself in a gravel driveway in about 1/2 an hour. Drilling the vertical holes through the thin walled, foam filled stock x-member was the hardest part, and that was no big deal.

The only possible issue I have heard about is clearance with some after-market exhausts, but I have a Solo Mach Shorty and it fits just fine. Unless you have to for car classing purposes (e.g., trying to stay in SCCA Solo A Stock, where ZOK bits are legal), it just makes no sense to me to install a ZOK x-member, when you get the same or better functionality from the readily available, much easier to install, DDM piece. For solid, positive road and track handling and performance, get a DDM Backbone and Pro Beam, and never look back.

2kwk4u · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2009, 01:07:00 PM »

The probeam *does* conflict with some STOCK exhausts. Just depends on which side of the factory tolerance your exhuast is on. It conflicted with mine. Fortunately, I was installing a cat-back exhaust a few days later, so I took the probeam back off and reinstalled it with the cat-back.

If I remember right, some folks with the magnaflow exhaust reported problems with the probeam and/or kappasphere's equivalent (arguably inferior) brace.

snaponbob · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2009, 01:32:37 PM »

The little bit of interference I had with aftermarket exhaust was due to 3" vs. 2.5" pipe. I grinder solved the problem easily.

Treeman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2009, 01:34:37 PM »

I have heard that the Pro Beam needs to be notched for the 2009 exhaust. I have a 2009 and am debating whether to go ahead and do the Pro Beam or wait a bit as I am thinking about swapping out the exhaust.

FYI - Quote:
Originally Posted by LiquidPT
What changed? Is it because the shape of the trunk/gas tank changed?

It has nothing to do with the coupe. In late 08 MY and all of 09, they changed the bend location on the exhaust pipes. It also does not appear that the bend dimensions are consistant, as some wil clear by a little, and some don't come close to clearing. We are working on it....but its hard to hit a moving target.
__________________
Randy Carter - Product Manager
www.DDMWorks.com
06 Classic Cool: DDMp62 supercharger #0.5b

See http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f101/probeam-57438/#post877902 for a pic.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2009, 02:04:48 PM »

I had a magnaflow and it did interfer with the probeam. A few good wacks (with a 5 pound hammer) on the exhaust at the spot where it rubbed fixed that issue. I now have a Solo Mach Shorty and don't have any issues.

As for the rear sway bar, you could benefit from the ZOK upgrade. You cannot tell the difference from looking at it since it is a thicker pipe.

LiquidPT · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2009, 02:16:26 PM »

Quote from: Treeman on December 28, 2009, 01:34:37 PM

I have heard that the Pro Beam needs to be notched for the 2009 exhaust. I have a 2009 and am debating whether to go ahead and do the Pro Beam or wait a bit as I am thinking about swapping out the exhaust.

FYI - Quote:
Originally Posted by LiquidPT
What changed? Is it because the shape of the trunk/gas tank changed?

It has nothing to do with the coupe. In late 08 MY and all of 09, they changed the bend location on the exhaust pipes. It also does not appear that the bend dimensions are consistant, as some wil clear by a little, and some don't come close to clearing. We are working on it....but its hard to hit a moving target.
__________________
Randy Carter - Product Manager
www.DDMWorks.com
06 Classic Cool: DDMp62 supercharger #0.5b

See http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f101/probeam-57438/#post877902 for a pic.

My understanding is that they've modified the design and newer ones should mount on a 2k9 w/o modification.

Treeman · « **Reply #8 on:** December 28, 2009, 04:27:30 PM »

Quote from: LiquidPT on December 28, 2009, 02:16:26 PM

My understanding is that they've modified the design and newer ones should mount on a 2k9 w/o modification.

Really? I'll ping them and ask because their web site mentions "fitment" issues.

LatinVenom · « **Reply #9 on:** December 28, 2009, 04:40:06 PM »

I have the Probeam and the Magnaflow exhaust and have no issues, although my ride is a 2007 GXP.

Dave@DDMworks · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2009, 05:05:03 PM »

Right now with the 08-09 GXP/Redlines it is a hit and miss as far as fitment and it may need to be altered slightly for the stock exhaust. We have made changes to the Probeam and when we make the next batch they will be altered to fit the 08-09 GXP/Redlines already.

Hope that helps,
Dave

METLSOL · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2009, 05:26:17 PM »

Really all I wanted to know is the stock rear suspension crossmember on the 09gxp with fe3 components the same as the fe3 zok rear suspension crossmember. This piece is avalible in a kit with the zok sway bars.

Dave@DDMworks · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2009, 05:34:45 PM »

If you take a look at the rear crossmember you can see if it is the z0k one, if it has a piece of metal welded to the bottom of the brace, you have the Z0k brace, if it is smooth all the way along the bottom, it is the regular piece.

Hope that helps!
Dave

METLSOL · « **Reply #13 on:** December 28, 2009, 06:05:53 PM »

Thanks Dave.It appears to be the regular part not zok. The part I was looking at on crate engine depot.com was listed as if it was a performance gm upgraded part from stock. It looks exactly like my stock part. Maybe its just a heavy ga. metal like the zok sway bars?

Dave@DDMworks · « **Reply #14 on:** December 28, 2009, 06:13:19 PM »

Unless they have recently changed things, the Z0k braces start life out as a regular brace, but then they weld on a "U" shaped piece of .100" steel onto the bottom of the stock piece to make it stiffer.

Hope that helps,
Dave
www.DDMWorks.com

Ben L · « **Reply #15 on:** December 28, 2009, 06:16:10 PM »

Quote from: METLSOL on December 28, 2009, 06:05:53 PM

Thanks Dave.It appears to be the regular part not zok. The part I was looking at on crate engine depot.com was listed as if it was a performance gm upgraded part from stock. It looks exactly like my stock part. Maybe its just a heavy ga. metal like the zok sway bars?

Like I told you I was willing to bet in the first place, you have an fe3 x-member. The ZOK ones are reinforced as Dave describes, not just "heavier" stock.

Sorry if you got too much information, but drinking from a firehose is a hazard around here sometimes. Knowing whether you will have fitment issues with the Pro Beam you are considering should be helpful, though, when you get around to it.

METLSOL · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2009, 06:27:53 PM »

Yeah, maybe I've had too much free time to drink about it.

LiquidPT · « **Reply #17 on:** December 28, 2009, 08:33:20 PM »

Quote from: Treeman on December 28, 2009, 04:27:30 PM

Really? I'll ping them and ask because their web site mentions "fitment" issues.

When it came up, I asked them. They may have not done another batch yet (or maybe haven't updated their website)

davytudope · « **Reply #18 on:** December 29, 2009, 08:37:04 PM »

it took me less than 2 hours to change the zok rear crossmember with the car on jackstands. its not that hard. just get a nice mallet.

News:

Welcome Guest!!!

Author Topic: rear cross member upgrade (Read 8462 times)

Ben L

Ben L