I got one and all I can offer is this: It's made the most noticable difference toward the reduction of cowl shake and chassis flex

Try the search as there's many threads in this section and in the suspension section with pix, discussion and 'both sides' of the story.

 

I second Tifosi's remarks, especially for reducing cowl shake on a S4 spider.

 

Just finished doing a bunch of reading and have decided to make the chassis stiffener the first upgrade on my car. Likely followed by poly bushing set, springs, shocks, and tires.

I am currently using the stock exhaust on my car, but may decided to add performance headers down the road. IAP offers two stiffeners, one for spiders with stock exhaust and one for spiders with headers. Which one should I buy? Is the one for headers backwards compatible with the stock exhaust?

 

The headers version of the chassis stiffener is a little longer than the regular version. This accounts for the bottom shape of headers, which don't follow the traditional Alfa contours. There should be no problem fitting the longer version to a car with stock downpipes, but I would still ask. BTW, all of the stiffeners sold by IAP, Centerline and others in the U.S. were designed by Don Ereminas (Alfa Romeo, Parts, Service, Harrington, CT), and although he is semi-retired now, he still supplies all of them.

Best regards,

 

FYI, according to Don himself, the real magic of the stiffener is in the long axis portion of the stiffener. I had to use the "long arm" version for my Centerline exhaust and it barely fit. You can actually leave the foward transverse portion off and still have excellent results. Also, the stiffener can be placed in two confiurations.

Danyl

 

It this a simple project with a bolt on device? Or is there a welding
that must be done to achieve the stiffness?
Ray Kiszely

 

Just bolts on Ray.

I'll point out that one could also redrill the holes where the front cross bar installs so that you can clear the exhaust. I did this for my 78. Makes a big difference if scuttle shake. Car just feels more solid as it transitions over bumps.

Best Regards,
John M

 

Thanks

John:
Thanks for the information. I'll check it out
Ray

 

Oh, hey, the instructions are gonna say to connect things up front first then do the back section where it connects to the leading end of the trailing arms.

I'd highly suggest ignoring that and fitting up the trailing arm end first as (1) it gives something to pivot the length of the stiffener on, (2) it's easier to work things up and down when the back is anchored then it is to do the same when the front is anchored, (3) you won't get nearly as screaming pissed when you try to get the shim washers that go in at the rear lined up along with the throughbolt hole aligned, and (4) it's way easier to work, lever and generally be somewhat comfortable when working in a front wheelwell than when up under the car on your back.

 

Revised installation directions

Tifosi:
Thanks for the insight, this is very helpful. I've had similar experiences in assembling or installing something in the past. Sometimes the instructions are not the best way, especially when the instructions for step 8 say "now, with a helper holding 'x' in place............." Of course no one said anything about needing a helper in the beginning. By the way, I bought my Alfa a few years ago from a fellow in Northern New York, near Rochester.
Ray Kiszely

 

I bought my Alfa a few years ago from a fellow in Northern New York...

I'd be very careful about those 'upstate' New Yorkers. They can be quite the nefarious characters.

waving at Tifosi...

 

Nefarious characters from NY

You may be right. On of my best friends, a retired County Judge, living in South Florida is formerly from New York, went to school at RPI.

 

I've been called atrocious, and once I was called late for dinner, but never nefarious before this point in time

 

Has any UK owner tried a chassis stiffener? Are the European models different in that they have less movement? Would like info before buying and folding up in my suitcase!

 

I have been wanting one of these for my S4 1991 but was assuming the shipping costs would be a killer. Let me know if you decide to get one, might be cheaper to ship two and split the cost. (I assume its rather heavy). Britt in Telford

 

You ain't gonna fold it up like that, though you might get away with passing it off as a boxed pair of skis.

AFAIK there's no difference in the way the actual chassis is assembled so I can't imagine a Euro model having less flex than a US model.

 

The US chassis is spec'd to goofy units like slug pigs per bushel of lamb's wool.

Thank the world for the metric system.

 

Roughly 40lbs in the box, though a few suppliers base thier shipping rate on the $ of items purchased rather than what a given box weighs.

As in if you spend X, shipping will be Y, regardless of size or weight.

Just read the fine print ahead of time or ask while you've got a human on the phone.

 

Thanks for the advice. I will try to get a kit next month when I am in Calif and disguise it as hand luggage.

 

You need to know the dimensions of the package along with the weight, and then clear this with the airline beforehand. Four long steel tubes weighing 45 lbs. exceed hand luggage weight, and will not fit in the airplane cabin. For sure, the package which is used for shipments within the U.S.A. does not conform with published airline dimensions for checked-in luggage. Airlines have a list of odd-sized items that may be taken as luggage (such as skis), but it is a limited list.

Best regards,

 

If you decide to buy one and ship or have it shipped to Europe, I strongly suggest shipping by US Postal Service. I've shipped several things that way - wheels, springs, etc. Delivery takes about 2-3 weeks via USPS/Royal Mail, etc. surface, but much cheaper than the shipping companies such as UPS, DHL, FedEx, etc.

Gary Knox
West Chester, PA USA

 

Used to be true. When the rates went up last year USPS did away with surface shipping out of the country - even to Canada. Everything goes airmail now with size and weight restrictions that seem to vary with the country. It's a real pain.

 

Just got off the phone with Mr. Ereminas himself. Ordered me up one. His advice for a 1969 Spider is to use the "shorter" arms and they should work fine with stock exhaust.

He seems like a heckuva nice guy.

What's this I hear about upstate New Yorkers?

JP

 

THe standard chassis stiffener does not fit the 1969 spider. Don Eraminas has now a stiffener specifically for this model. See the link below.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/spider-1966-up/51837-chassis-stiffener-duetto-2.html#post608046

 

On my 69, I had to cut a small (quarter-sized) scallop out for the clutch actuator, and just bent the clutch arm out 1/16" and it cleared the plate w/o issues.

JP

 

Anyone have a problem lineing up the chassis stiffener front bracket holes to the steering box bolts???

 

Hey Murray,

Check this tread by Tifosi, http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/sus...nsion-brakes-wheels-tires/28899-just-installed-chassis-stiffener-my-spider.html

Rich

 

In (partial) answer to the guys from the UK who have queried the stiffener for the UK, I have been wondering about this myself.
I didn't feel the need for one with my Euro spec manual car (S4) but when I first got my Auto last year (US/Japan) the ride was appalling - crashing and shaking over bumps. So I started reading the threads about the stiffener but didn't go down that route.
Instead, replacing the shocks with Koni Classics has improved it immensely even though there was nothing obviously wrong with the originals - no leaks or corrosion. I now have a much better, more supple ride. Yes, there is still some shake but not at a level that bothers me.
I wonder if the shocks are a different spec. for the UK compared to US?
Its certainly worth putting Koni classics on these car.

 

I have been thinking about the stiffener kit. I think I will wait until I get to test drive the car in the spring. I just finished putting Yellow Koni's under all four corners. Good info on this thread. What would be the most appropriate setting using stock springs without the stiffening kit??

 

Hi just a thought ... I think the stiffener may not fit RHD spiders.

I've been eyeing a chassis stiffener for ages but I gave up buying a stock one from the USA bec I noticed from pictures that the long sections running from front to back runs right next to the chassis rails so much so that I think it will foul the brake MC since they occupy the same space.

I think the later LHD spider has wall mounted brake booster and MC unlike the RHD with under chassis MC.

I think you'll have to modify or redesign the existing one inorder to fit RHD spiders.

Will be most happy to be proven wrong on this and if so proven wrong ... I'll be the first to place an order for the stock stiffener

fgc
67 RHD 1750 spider

 

fgc,
This has been a concern of mine but I have put it on the back burner because of other Alfa matters. Its an interesting question.
Where are you?