96SilverRam

So, finally got around to upgrading my rear bar & sway bar brackets. I originally had the Strano 22mm hollow fixed bar on the car; along with the matching poly sway bar mounts & poly endlinks. I decided to do a small upgrade and just see how a Strano 22mm hollow 3 way adjustable rear bar would help the handling of the car. I also changed out to the BMR rear sway bar mounts, UMI aluminum/poly sway bar bushings (Front & Rear). The front bar is a 35mm Strano also. The BMR large heavy duty sway bar mounts are very nice pieces; however, make sure you have enough room to fit these beasts. I have a fays 2 watts link and it was a little tight trying to get everything to fit, but I eventually figured it out :nod: I also changed out the strano stock endlinks to a custom built set of QA1 rod-ends with an aluminum adjuster for changing the length of the assembly, as needed for the different positions on the bar. The whole setup is pretty trick and the bar tucks up nicely with my 12 bolt / TA girdle. The front 35mm Strano accepted the UMI aluminum / poly mounts no problem. Everything was greased with super-lube and mobil 1 red synthetic. I also removed my BMR extreme LCA's and replaced them with BMR's Poly/spherical (QA1) LCA. This should help the car out some; previous LCA's were poly/poly. I just need to button up a few things and take it out for some fun imp:

QA1 rod-ends with the aluminum adjuster/mis-alignment spacers (aluminum).











Just made it right here :nod:


You can see the BMR LCA with spherical end in this pic.

JakeRobb

Nice! I wish I had the cash for suspension upgrades right now.

mzgp5x

Also have some experience with 97 MM6 manual trans.
UMI front K-member. Did not fit. Fore-Aft/ Cross car pins would not engage the rails. Solution... Cut off and re-welded correct.


Engine mount driver side did not match UMI piece. Solution... cut off and relocated/ welded good.


Manual trans mount. Trans mount bolt does not line-up with trans mount. Solution... Alter UMI piece. Also improved trans mount "capture" by additional steel. Rear torque arm mount did not work. Sorry... altered mount and additional shim pack for better rigidity.


I informed UMI. No response. I really was not pizzed at UMI. No way was I going to send this stuff back. Possibly some of these problems can be caused by mfg tolerance by GM. I actually like UMI stuff, except, it would have been better with no paint/ power coat.


Car handles excellent. Solid bushed up front. Much more room and engine clearance. I also did my own alignment. It was a great leaning experience.


Now to the rear. I'm thinking C4 vette. B.

CompleteOPS

Also is that shortblock gasket set the correct one for the vented optispark timing cover seals? I searched the part number but it came up with generic info for 92-96.

Injuneer

CompleteOPS

Oops forum jumped around on my mobile browser. I was trying to respond to a different thread.

87Aerocoupe

mzgp5x that's really disturbing to hear about the UMI k-frame, that's the one I was going to buy in the spring along with the tubular upper and lower a-arms!!! I guess I'll get the BMR stuff instead.

gaedbo

That is some beautiful workmanship on that car. Nice going !