C4 No Flex Kit and C4 Beam Plates - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Jim Stanley · 02-03-2020

I am considering installing the following in my '90
1) C4 No Flex frame kit by Vette2Vette and
2) C4 Beam Plates by Bill Bourdeau.
Please comment on your experience with these products including ease of installation.
Thanks,
Jim

EvanZR1 · 02-03-2020

I don't have the No Flex frame kit, but I keep eyeing it. I do have C4 beam plates that Pete installed for me when doing the engine. The car did feel a little "tighter" after the beam plates, but it wasn't horrible before. I don't ever take my top off, so honestly the car doesn't feel too bad for being a almost a 30 year old car. If I was going to do any track days with the car, I'd probably be more motivated to do the no flex frame kit, but then I'd also be looking at doing a roll bar and better coilovers.

secondchance · 02-03-2020

In my opinion, beam plates help with tying engine/trans to rear differential. This in turn, theoretically reduces torquing of the body.

I do not have No Flex kit and have no comment.

Karl · 02-03-2020

The beam plates just help the car track in a straight line under hard acceleration and prevent the rear end from kicking out sideways.

I have the exotic muscle 4point bar in my Z. Mainly for the camera mount and extra stiffness.

I rode in -=Jeff=- Z with the no flex kit and it is a day and night difference with and without it. Especially over uneven roads etc.

Well worth the investment.

Good luck.

dredgeguy · 02-03-2020

I have both and they do the job. The C beam plates are night and day if you decide to go to the drag strip. Without the plates, the rear of the car would pull left if the rear tires broke loose. With the plates, she stays straight. As Secondchance said, keeps everything together. The No Flex does that even more so. There is a dip in the road near my house and if I had the roof off, the body would flex going over the dip and the glass top locked in place in the rear would creek and moan. Thought the plastic would shatter it was so loud. After installing the No Flex, no more noise so that is proof enough for me. I was lucky, the No Flex was one of the silent auction items at the ZR-1 Net Registry tent at Carlisle a few years ago and I got a great deal on it.

Jim Stanley · 02-03-2020

Thanks to all for your helpful feedback. I now know how to proceed. I am going to go with the V2V No Flex first as I don't race the car.
Best to all you Zroners!
Jim

billschroeder5842 · 02-03-2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Stanley

Thanks to all for your helpful feedback. I now know how to proceed. I am going to go with the V2V No Flex first as I don't race the car.
Best to all you Zroners!
Jim

Good for you. I put on the V2V kit a few months ago and am very happy. It really quieted the car as well as making it feel a little more solid.

-=Jeff=- · 02-04-2020

I don't race my car either and I have both.. In fact I still have the prototype No flex bars on my car.. 10 years with no issues. I was amazed on how quickly I noticed the difference in the car after getting them

dredgeguy · 02-04-2020

While I found a big difference in the way the car handles with the C Beam Plates, I have only taken my car on the 1/4 track twice, once without the plates and once with the upgrade installed. That is where I found a big difference.

Dynomite · 02-04-2020

1. Advantages of C4 Beam Plates.
a. The C4 Beam Plates tie together each pair of bolts (Transmisison pair and Differential pair) with a SS Plate vice aluminum.
b. Each C4 Beam Plate also offers a larger contact area of the tensile bolt loads onto the C-Frame. This eliminates the wear on the "C" Frame from a smaller original washer and resulting release of bolt tension.
c. The C4 Beam Plate also acts like one big washer wherein the tensile load from each individual bolt is now shared a bit between bolts (minimum effect).
d. The C4 Beam Plates correct the condition caused by the bolt holes in the Aluminum C-Frame getting bigger or elongated with wear or the thickness of the Aluminum C-Frame from top to bottom between the original bolt two washers becoming worn so that thickness is less releasing bolt tension.
The C4 Beam Plates are definitley worth it if only for the Bolt Load Distribution (Two BIG SS washers on each end) on the C Frame and Ease of Installation. Take Note of the additional Stiffeners on each C4 Beam Plate (The BIG H). There is a BIG Difference between a Clamping Load distibution by two washers and the Clamping Load on ONE BIG PLATE on the Transmission Yoke as well as the Differential Housing.

Post 39 - C4 Beam Plates and Installation

02-03-2020	#1
Jim Stanley Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Missouri Posts: 46	C4 No Flex Kit and C4 Beam Plates I am considering installing the following in my '90 1) C4 No Flex frame kit by Vette2Vette and 2) C4 Beam Plates by Bill Bourdeau. Please comment on your experience with these products including ease of installation. Thanks, Jim

02-03-2020	#2
EvanZR1 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Omaha Posts: 402	Re: C4 No Flex Kit and C4 Beam Plates I don't have the No Flex frame kit, but I keep eyeing it. I do have C4 beam plates that Pete installed for me when doing the engine. The car did feel a little "tighter" after the beam plates, but it wasn't horrible before. I don't ever take my top off, so honestly the car doesn't feel too bad for being a almost a 30 year old car. If I was going to do any track days with the car, I'd probably be more motivated to do the no flex frame kit, but then I'd also be looking at doing a roll bar and better coilovers. __________________ Evan 2023 70th C8 HTC, 94 Admiral Blue ZR-1 SOLD - 2012 Carlisle Blue Metallic ZR1 - 800HP SOLD - Steel Blue 91 391cid ZR-1 #391 SOLD - Black 91 ZR-1

02-03-2020	#3
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,705	Re: C4 No Flex Kit and C4 Beam Plates In my opinion, beam plates help with tying engine/trans to rear differential. This in turn, theoretically reduces torquing of the body. I do not have No Flex kit and have no comment.

02-03-2020	#4
Karl Join Date: May 2013 Location: Chicago Posts: 977	Re: C4 No Flex Kit and C4 Beam Plates The beam plates just help the car track in a straight line under hard acceleration and prevent the rear end from kicking out sideways. I have the exotic muscle 4point bar in my Z. Mainly for the camera mount and extra stiffness. I rode in -=Jeff=- Z with the no flex kit and it is a day and night difference with and without it. Especially over uneven roads etc. Well worth the investment. Good luck. __________________ 1993 ZR-1 #211 Yellow On Beige Beast #2 1992 ZR-1 #427 Black On Black Sold 1985 L98 Blue On Blue Sold

02-03-2020	#5
dredgeguy Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 1,635	Re: C4 No Flex Kit and C4 Beam Plates I have both and they do the job. The C beam plates are night and day if you decide to go to the drag strip. Without the plates, the rear of the car would pull left if the rear tires broke loose. With the plates, she stays straight. As Secondchance said, keeps everything together. The No Flex does that even more so. There is a dip in the road near my house and if I had the roof off, the body would flex going over the dip and the glass top locked in place in the rear would creek and moan. Thought the plastic would shatter it was so loud. After installing the No Flex, no more noise so that is proof enough for me. I was lucky, the No Flex was one of the silent auction items at the ZR-1 Net Registry tent at Carlisle a few years ago and I got a great deal on it. __________________ Charlie __________ Dredgeguy WAZOO Member 1992 Bright Red/Black ZR1 #246 Dana 4:10 gears Polished LT5 by Haibeck Polished Fikse FM5's with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Stainless Works headers and cats with Corsa

02-04-2020	#8
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,137	Re: C4 No Flex Kit and C4 Beam Plates I don't race my car either and I have both.. In fact I still have the prototype No flex bars on my car.. 10 years with no issues. I was amazed on how quickly I noticed the difference in the car after getting them __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - 3" Magnaflow Bullet cats - LT4 Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

02-04-2020	#10
Dynomite Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Dakota/California Posts: 3,788	Re: C4 No Flex Kit and C4 Beam Plates 1. Advantages of C4 Beam Plates. a. The C4 Beam Plates tie together each pair of bolts (Transmisison pair and Differential pair) with a SS Plate vice aluminum. b. Each C4 Beam Plate also offers a larger contact area of the tensile bolt loads onto the C-Frame. This eliminates the wear on the "C" Frame from a smaller original washer and resulting release of bolt tension. c. The C4 Beam Plate also acts like one big washer wherein the tensile load from each individual bolt is now shared a bit between bolts (minimum effect). d. The C4 Beam Plates correct the condition caused by the bolt holes in the Aluminum C-Frame getting bigger or elongated with wear or the thickness of the Aluminum C-Frame from top to bottom between the original bolt two washers becoming worn so that thickness is less releasing bolt tension. The C4 Beam Plates are definitley worth it if only for the Bolt Load Distribution (Two BIG SS washers on each end) on the C Frame and Ease of Installation. Take Note of the additional Stiffeners on each C4 Beam Plate (The BIG H). There is a BIG Difference between a Clamping Load distibution by two washers and the Clamping Load on ONE BIG PLATE on the Transmission Yoke as well as the Differential Housing. Post 39 - C4 Beam Plates and Installation __________________ Left Clickable links -Solutions- LT5 Modifications/Rebuild Tricks Low Mileage ZR-1 Restoration 1990 Corvette (L98) Modifications LT5 Eliminated Systems LT5 Added Systems LT5/ZR-1 Fluids 1995 LT5 SPECIFIC TOP END REBUILD TRICKS Last edited by Dynomite; 02-04-2020 at 10:03 AM.