Which Torque Arm?

Well I need to get myself a driveshaft loop and I know that UMI and Spohn both make adjustable tq arms that have DSL built into them. Therefore I figured that it was a good idea to possibly go that route because I hear that its a good idea to relocate the tq arm off the transmission. I found kits from UMI and BMR and they both cost over $200. Unless I get an all-in-one DSL/tq arm there is no other way to mount the tq arm right?

I know that BMR makes an adj. tq arm and they make a DSL but they are 2 seperate peices and are very expensive. I also believe that you need to purchase a relocation kit to mount the tq arm off the tranny so I'm thinking that I don't want to go the BMR route correct?
www.bmrfabrication.com

Spohn makes a nice unit that will relocate tq arm and I can get front AND rear DSL with the tq arm for about $475. How useful would the rear DSL be? I know a local guy had a rear loop and it actually helped him because his DS broke in the rear.
http://www.spohn.net/product.cfm?productid=1331

UMI make a tq arm similar to Spohn, but it doesn't have a rear DSL but it only costs $399. How quality is this? Seems like a nice unit and a good price as well.
http://www.umiperformance.com/2202.aspx

What would be the best route for me to go? Any idea how heavy each of these are? Any other suggestions/alternatives?

Ive asked this question before on other boards and what I learned is in the end is really up to you to choose what's best for your aplication. Every brand you mentioned above is good quality and would help.

Honda Hunter is right. It's all what fits your application, or budget in my case. I went with the UMI tunnel mounted adjustable w/ a front driveshaft loop. I'm sure you can buy a rear DS loop seperate someplace. I did notice a big improvent in the stiffness on shifts (6speed). It made it feel like a non torque arm car to me. puts the power to the ground without protest. WELL worth every penny. I bouhgt mine from Byunspeed.com, I think I paid $379.00 for it with no shipping charge.

Dave

I went with the Spohn with two loops. I had my DS break in half on the dyno last year and, while the front was looped, the rear section beat the crap out of the car and then flew out into the middle of the shop at 6100 rpm...That will not happen again. The rear loop only works (clears) if your car is not lowered...Spohn quality is fantastic and they have great customer service...

--Alan

I have a llot of UMI Products and I am very happy with the quality for the price, allthough I dont have their TA I am sure that the quality is top notch as is on all of their other products.

http://www.spohn.net/product.cfm?productid=1529


Would I be ok with two loops on this one and with mid-length headers? I'm going back to stock height, next week w/ installing headers....

full length adjustable...doesnt matter which brand.

decoupled is for race only applications in my opinion. it's way to expensive for someone looking for better suspension...NOT THE BEST the market has to offer.

Tunnel mounts are very hard on the tunnel. complaints have been registered that rips in the sheet metal has happened. in the UNLIKELY event that the tranny tailshaft snaps from extreme force from TA, i'd rather replace a tranny's tailshaft than have to weld my car back together.

non-adjustable is just a waste of money...once you replace the TA, you're going to get new springs, lower control arms, ... whatever you're going to do and then your axle will be out of preferred alignment.

Any idea how heavy each of these are?
I just weighed my UMI Tunnel Brace mounted TA with DS loop (#2200) - easy for me to do 'cause it's sitting in my basement, not installed on the car yet! It's 30lbs, including the TA, crossbrace with DS loop, and all the hardware.

I was concerned about the load on the floorpan that this TA would create. Ryan at UMI told me that it's not a major issue until you're in the 10's. At that point, a solution would be a set of 3-point SFC's that would tie into the TA crossmember mount.

With mine (I have 2-point SFC's) - I'll weld a brace from the SFC's to the TA crossmember if the car ever gets to the point that I feel it's necessary. That's actually kinda how BMR designed their Trak Pak TA.

Tunnel mounts are very hard on the tunnel. complaints have been registered that rips in the sheet metal has happened. in the UNLIKELY event that the tranny tailshaft snaps from extreme force from TA, i'd rather replace a tranny's tailshaft than have to weld my car back together.


Where have you seen these complaints? I've seen a Spohn floor mounted TA handle a 3,550# 30th SS convertible, making 1,350 flywheel HP, pulling 1.30-sec 60 foots, mid 8's at over 160mph, and the floor did not suffer in any way. For the car's 5 year history of supporting huge HP and running with the quickest LT1's in the country, it had at various times the MAC tunnel mounted (and that is a true "tunnel" mount), a Madman floor mount and then the Spohn floor mount, with no evidence of metal damage.

I've been running a Spohn floor mounted TA, in 3 different version since 1999 and there's no evidence of the stock support pads or floor pan suffering in any way. I was very sekeptical when I first saw the design, and kept a close eye on the mount, but never saw any evidence of stress.

If you're still concerned about tearing the floor pan, add some more sheet metal to the area, and save the tranny.

Good info, Injuneer. I think Severous01 probably got his info from Sam Strano, in this thread (http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=464011). Sam mentioned that he had repaired ripped floorpans damaged by tunnel crossmember mounted TAs.

It's reassuring to know that people have run quick times with high grip and HP, without issues with the floor mounted TA. Like you, I was skeptical the first time I saw them.

Unfortunately, there appears to be empirical evidence on both sides of this issue. There obviously must be some other factors involved.

BMR avioided the issue with their Trak Pak (and Xtreme Duty TA), which are best when the crossbrace is welded to SFCs:
http://www.bmrfabrication.com/instructions/tp-bottomview.jpg

the pic above isnt what's recieved with most tunnel mounts. the tunnel mount replaces the tunnel brace in the factory location. that unit mounts to the subframes on the outer subframe mounts. the spohn mounts to the first section from the driveshaft and it's a weak point on the chassis. BMR actually has a tunnel brace replacement.

i dented the tunnel with my tranny once when my mount broke. if my tranny can dent the tunnel imagine what you could do with a suspension component. too much force to attach something to. i'd go full length.

that's my opinion and i'm stopping here. i've replied before and i've defended my statement. i'm not looking at this thread again.

Nothing like a closed mind :D