Convert FYI - While doing winter projects I had all 4 shakers out of the car. Since I have welded Hotchkis SFC's, I thought I'd leave them out as an experiment for the summer. After a couple of days of driving it, I can report that I don't notice even a little difference. The car seems rock solid regardless of smooth or bumpy roads, of which there is no shortage of around here.

I'll leave them out for the season and report back, but my gut right now tells me I won't be reinstalling them.

With the shakers gone, the PMGR starter and battery relocated to the trunk I figure I have lost 100+ lbs off of the front of the car and no change to the rear weight compared to last year. The ride is excellent.

Test with both top up and down. I think they were added to improve stability when the top was down and prone to body flexing.

I have Hotchkis SFC's / X Brace, and took my shakers out also.
Rock solid out on the freeway.
Too bad the '60's engineers could not figure this out and instead bandaid/cover up the stability issue with shakers.

I'll leave them out for the season and report back, but my gut right now tells me I won't be reinstalling them.

With the shakers gone, the PMGR starter and battery relocated to the trunk I figure I have lost 100+ lbs off of the front of the car and no change to the rear weight compared to last year. The ride is excellent.

I have welded-in frame connectors so I'll do what you did, Al.

Good info. What kit did you use to move the battery ?

Beth - I built my own bracket out of an old bed frame and built battery cables from 1/0 welding cable. There is room for the shaker there should I decide to reinstall it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/trunk%20battery/P5210677.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/gort69/trunk%20battery/P3310598.jpg

Very clean installation ! Looks great.

Great job Al and thanks for reporting the results. You might also consider th Hotchkis rear shock tower brace for your car. I installed one and it did stiffen up body some. I imagine it would benefit a 'vert more than it did my hardtop. http://www.hotchkis.net/19681969_camaro_firebird_rear_shock_tower_brace.ht ml

That battery ground looks suspect to me. Could cause broken starter noses.

RA

Years ago I had spoken with Kyle Tucker about removing them from my 69 which had welded SFC's (and also a 8-pt roll cage). He said it would be fine which it was. I too liked the ability to lose 100#.

See what happened when they removed the harmonic dampners from the bridge... ;)

http://youtu.be/v7GvGqJquCU

LOL... I joke, but dampners are key components in stabilizing lots of harmonic resonance issues not just in convertibles. If they were structural they would have been just a brace across 2 points. The cocktail shakers contain a weight suspended between 2 springs surrounded in oil.

I wouldn't be so quick to discount the GM engineers, my understanding and what I have seen 1st hand is there is a resonance that really isn't detectable when driving but over the long term causes fasteners to loosen. Things like rearview mirrors just never stay bolted tight is one of the best examples I have seen.

Under the conditions most old classic's are driven where a few thousand miles a year is all the road time the car sees it may seem like the dampners are not doing anything. Same with a track car and it's likely someone could own a ragtop without the dampners for many years without issue. Take the same car and put 15k or more miles a year on it on bias ply tires and it could be a whole different thing.

That battery ground looks suspect to me. Could cause broken starter noses.


You just wish your battery looked that good. :D
Another case of sibling rivalry ! :beers:

Greetings from Arizona,
I put mine back in about 6 months after car was done, its mostly stock except 67 Pontaic Formula 400 rear diff with factory traction bars, no real difference found in driving from o MPH to + 100 mph found.
I'd run battery ground cable to engine, all of your engine ground requirments are being pulled thru body.....could cause problems down the road. New cars are having radiator and heater core problems because of improper grounds. You did a nice job on battery box, I made alum box for mine with lid and outside vent on my 66 Lemans. Jay

Thanks Jay -

That Nee-Nor Ron498 who pointed out the ground cable is my brother, and he runs his ground the same way. He was just giving me a hard time. The body mounted ground works great, and in fact the guru over at Mad Electrical recommends it as well.

The broken starter nose comment was a reference to my $47 PMGR starter, which did in fact break!