Topic: LatinVenom Front Chassis Brace project

[LatinVenom]

I have been driving with this simple front chassis brace now for well over 2 months.
I took on this project after seen the BC sports bar and later the Werks model.
What I wanted to accomplish when I started the project was as follows, ease of installation without having to remove components from the car.
I also wanted to see if it actually made any improvements to the ride.
I know I have accomplish both of my goals above.
When the DDM BackBone was installed in my car, the car felt more solid, specially when driving over rough terrain, railroad tracks etc.
What I can tell you after installing my own simple design, LV Front Chassis Brace, the car felt even more solid than before.
I have attached a few pictures of the LV Front Chassis Brace installed in my GXP.

PS: The one you see on the pictures is the original prototype, the final revision will hopefully go in my GXP by the end of this month.
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UPDATE
The fabricator is going to make the 10 Front Chassis Braces.
I should have them in my hands on October the 26th.
The Price of the LatinVenom Kappa(LNF) Front Chassis Brace will be $95.00 plus shipping.
Please go to the following link at the bottom of the post to get the shipping charges.
PLEASE!!! Make sure you check the box Ship to a Residence.
The Pickup/Dropoff  choose Drop off at Fedex location
Total weight is 8lbs. The box will be 4x4x36.
The from ZIP is 33414.
If your are paying by PAYPAL and you use the method that requires fees, then you need to add that to your total.
If you want to pay by MONEY ORDER then let me know and I will PM you my address.

LIST of Members:
1.  DeepBlueGXP
2.  DeepblueGXP
3.  Desk305
4.  Marvic 1
5.  I LIL NDN
6.  Spartan
7.  Go-N-Def
8.  DRM
9. S.P.
10. U4EA

http://www.fedex.com/ratefinder/home?cc=US&language=en&locId=express

       
 

[Gentleman Jack]

LV,

do you have any pictures of it out of the car?  Where does it connect?

is it aluminum?

[TomatoSoup]

Ahh... thanks for posting.  So this looks to be more along the lines of the Werks front brace than the DDM tower brace.

Very interesting!  As much info as you can provide will be welcome.

[LatinVenom]

GJ,
No is made out of steel. It connects to each side of the frame.
I do have one off the car but is the prototype.
I want to show the final product and not something that is not really finish.
The tolerance on the final product have to be right on, this has been my biggest issue because when install, it will close the frame as if it was a factory made piece.
In our car you already have 2 braces, these braces attach to the lower portion of the A arms.
My brace then secures the upper part of the frame at it's level plane, thus reducing any form of shift, that maybe cause by using a higher closing point.
I believe this brace will be good for those folks that like to drive the tight curves and also for close circuit tracks.

[NormSky]

With the Corvette C5/C6 sharing similar hydro formed rails running the length of the car plus very similar SLA suspension pick up points why the heavier Corvette chassis never saw any engine bay bracing. Sure the C5 has slightly higher bending and torsional rigidty compared to the Kappa about 2-4 hz, respectively, but the Corvette does have a 500 lbs engine up front and never got an engine brace from the after market.

[bluemangxp]

Alvaro,
I'm very interested. If you need another Beta tester I'm ready and local. Plus I'll pay a reasonable cost. Thanks for your inititiative to take on this project.
Lynn

[bluemangxp]

I forgot to note that my car presently has a Kappashere Re Bar and  a DDM Backbone, it would be interesting to see what your device will add to the handling.

[HAMMER DOWN]

Very cool

[Imaj]

Nice job Venom. I am in line for one. My main concern is how in the heck do you get that thing in place?

[LatinVenom]

Imaj,

Its a Drop In Installation - Minimun 30 Minutes Installation from Start to Finish Product...

[kennysabarese]

Interesting. Maybe you can do a flex test like ddm has done?

[Imaj]

Thanks for the info. venom.

[old goat]

It's simple, I like simple.

[LatinVenom]

The flex test would require for me to take the BackBone of the car, will see what I can do.

[LatinVenom]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] An update.
I had to change fabricators since the person that was going to do them could not come through.
I found someone else but the price is not in line with what I want to sell it in here, is just to expensive for such a simple design.
I will try another fabricator this coming week and see what this company will charge to make them.
Understand that my target price is less than $100.00

I have attach a picture that shows where my simple design attaches to the frame.
It uses the existing bolts that are already on the frame.
As you can see from the picture there are 2 threads where the bolts go. These will secure the LatinVenom Kappa Front Chassis Brace.

[1LILNDN]

LatinVenom Lets face it ,most people in here and the other Forums have your Cooler /Travel Bag AND that was a big success . Hope tosee it soon.  A pair of ramps or a high Curb and its in.I Like that simple and fast

[LatinVenom]

No curve or ramp need it to install this Chassis front brace.
It will take about 30 minutes or less to install.
First disconnect the fan plug and move the cable towards the front corner. This plug is located on the passenger side of the car on the fan plastic case.
You can see this plug on the 1st picture I posted on this thread.
Undo the 2 bolts on each side of the frame (1 on the top of the rail, the other on the side of the rail, 4 bolts in total) that were on the picture above.
You will need either a 13MM or 1/2 inch socket with a 3/8 inch ratchet. You can also use a box wrench for the one on the side. 
You then take the Front Chassis Brace bar and from the driver side carefully slide the bar in between the radiator and engine.
You will tilted in about a 20 to 25 degree in a downward angle, until it is against the frame rail on the passenger side.
Put the top screws first by hand, do not tight them yet, then put the side screws. For the driver side you will need a long socket so you can clear the lines that hide it. Do not tight it down yet, then do the passenger side, again do not tight it down.
Now tighten the top screws first, then the side ones and you are done.
The last thing is to plug the fan connector, PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO DO THIS LAST STEP!!!

[1LILNDN]

LV  thanks I though it went in from the  Bottom sounds easy enough Let me knoe when you have them and will they be in Primer?

[GASNGO]

LV, Will your brace also fit a Sky Redline?
If it will I would like to get one from you.
Thanks, GASNGO

[old goat]

Go LV GO!

[LatinVenom]

LV, Will your brace also fit a Sky Redline?
If it will I would like to get one from you.
Thanks, GASNGO

I would assume it will fit the SKY/RL since is the same chassis as the Solstice GXP.

[LatinVenom]

LV  thanks I though it went in from the  Bottom sounds easy enough Let me knoe when you have them and will they be in Primer?

They will be painted the same color as the chassis rails.

[S.P.]

Will this brace fit with cars equipped with AC? If I'm not mistaken, installing the Autowerks brace (which this looks similar to) required bending a hose/line.

[DeepBlueGXP]

His car is listed in his signature as fully loaded, so I say yes!

[S.P.]

If that's the case add me to the waiting list!