Stress Crack on upper sail panel to roof...worried
#1
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
Stress Crack on upper sail panel to roof...worried
I was looking at my car...and noticed a small "stress" crack starting to appear on my upper sail panel going onto my roof. It's just a slight crack. My car is a hardtop 5.7 L98....and has about every bolt on mod. Is it time for subframe connectors or what? Would SFC cause it from stressing out more? Any help would be great. thanks
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
can you get a pic of the crack?
yep, I can take a picture of it tomorrow
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At least 3/4 of the thirdgen's I've seen have had the issue. It's probably the most obvious sign that GM didn't reinforce the subframe as much as they should have ![Big Grin](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
SFC's will definately make the car more rigid, and should prevent them from getting worse. Worked on my dad's old 92 at least...
![Big Grin](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
SFC's will definately make the car more rigid, and should prevent them from getting worse. Worked on my dad's old 92 at least...
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Car: 1990 TA
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: 4L60
And take care of that ASAP.
After I had my SFCs installed I didn't give it another thought, and now its starting to rust.
After I had my SFCs installed I didn't give it another thought, and now its starting to rust.
![doh](https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/images/smilies/doh.gif)
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
which set should I go with? I love the looks of the Kenny Browns..I can get them for $250.....the problem would be to have a descent welder weld them up....I go to college now for welding...and I have a welder....but nothing to do this kind of work....
I know that alot of the third generation Camaro's and Bird's have this problem....but I didn't realize this problem exsisted with the hardtop cars......
I know that alot of the third generation Camaro's and Bird's have this problem....but I didn't realize this problem exsisted with the hardtop cars......
Last edited by Sickness91Z28; 03-23-2004 at 10:07 AM.
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Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: L98
Transmission: T-56
Originally posted by 84customZ28
I know that alot of the third generation Camaro's and Bird's have this problem....but I didn't realize this problem exsisted with the hardtop cars......
I know that alot of the third generation Camaro's and Bird's have this problem....but I didn't realize this problem exsisted with the hardtop cars......
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Car: 89 GTA (88 Firebird V6 to V8 conversion RIP)
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 spd
That cracking seems to be a problem on many of the cars I've seen too... I'm not sure its always a problem with torque, cause my car has the same problem, and its a hard top with 2.8 V6!
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Car: 89 GTA (88 Firebird V6 to V8 conversion RIP)
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 spd
That cracking seems to be a problem on many of the cars I've seen too... I'm not sure its always a problem with torque, cause my car has the same problem, and its a hard top with 2.8 V6!
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
It probably is the lead that was used. I used to have an 84 Z28 that had the same problem. I had to cut out all of the old material, weld new metal in...and finish it. It got rid of the crack. On my 91....it's just the passenger side...but before I buy a set of Kenny Browns....I need to know if they will cure the problem.
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Car: 1990 TA
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: 4L60
I know that alot of the third generation Camaro's and Bird's have this problem....but I didn't realize this problem exsisted with the hardtop cars......
I need to know if they will cure the problem.
From the top:
![](http://transam.goumba.net/images/crack_top.jpg)
And underneath:
![](http://transam.goumba.net/images/crack_bottom.jpg)
Last edited by Goumba T; 03-23-2004 at 01:56 PM.
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
here is a picture....it's not really to noticable....but it still drives me crazy just knowing there is a crack
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Car: 89 GTA (88 Firebird V6 to V8 conversion RIP)
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 spd
That's exactly what the crack on my V6 car looks like... how difficult is it to fix that crack? Once I finish putting in the new engine, I'll be repainting my car soon and want to fix that crack too.
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
well...for a show car..I'm kind of worried about it...but as long as it doesn't get any worse I guess I can live with it. If you know anything about paint/body repair...it's really not to difficult to fix....just have to grind out the cracked area, weld a new piece of metal in....and do the body work..not to bad really...but I'm not about to do it on my 91....i just got done with the body work last year..and it's pretty good shape...especially for a black car
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Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T56 6-Speed
Mine had it also and has it again.. I got my car painted in september and it came back like a month later.. I guess they just didn't do a good enough job repairing it.. It was very small though.. I've got a STB, SFC and an entire new suspension too.
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Car: 86 camaro
Engine: 2.8 multiport cross fire injection
Transmission: 5 speed
nice post guess i know for sure im not the only hardtop w/ a v6 that has this prob.
friend of mine theratdude has em to on his v6
i just sanded min down a bit and slapped on some fiberglass sanded down and primered over goin to paint son and i dunno if i had theese when i got the car or not and i havent put one mile on it unless goin in and out of the garage about 10 or 15 times put a mile on which i doubt lol.
im hopin mine wont come back and if they get worse ill have get some connectors prolly bolt ins since i dunno how weld yet and dont got or have access to a welder.
i think befoe doing more metal id weld the crack up then grind down but i dunno.
makes me wonder if mines inside as well need to check it i got my interior apart anyways.
friend of mine theratdude has em to on his v6
i just sanded min down a bit and slapped on some fiberglass sanded down and primered over goin to paint son and i dunno if i had theese when i got the car or not and i havent put one mile on it unless goin in and out of the garage about 10 or 15 times put a mile on which i doubt lol.
im hopin mine wont come back and if they get worse ill have get some connectors prolly bolt ins since i dunno how weld yet and dont got or have access to a welder.
i think befoe doing more metal id weld the crack up then grind down but i dunno.
makes me wonder if mines inside as well need to check it i got my interior apart anyways.
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i can't believe you don't have the subframes on that car....definately need to get a set of those and if you ever put any major power down i wouldn't suggest running sticky tires without a cage.
i have just about every possible thing on my car and the paint began to show signs a little which is why i put the 6 pt. in.
i have just about every possible thing on my car and the paint began to show signs a little which is why i put the 6 pt. in.
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Car: 86 camaro
Engine: 2.8 multiport cross fire injection
Transmission: 5 speed
kandied i wouldnt think u was reffering to mine and my v6 lol
like ill be puttin power down lol.
altho power isnt my concern id hate have nice street car for almost daily driving and shows esp shows and see a crack so im goin to see how long my works goin to hold up hoepfully wont show again.
like ill be puttin power down lol.
altho power isnt my concern id hate have nice street car for almost daily driving and shows esp shows and see a crack so im goin to see how long my works goin to hold up hoepfully wont show again.
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
I think I'll go ahead and get a set of the Kenny Brown's....I think I'm going to sell one of my Bass guitars (I don't play it much, plus, I have 3) that way to get the Kenny Browns. The biggest problem will be trying to find someone to install these properly....
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Car: 91 Z28
Engine: currently 350...BUILT 383 soon
Transmission: T56 w/4.10's
def go with the KB's, i have those and theyre great. many board members also think they are one of the best. my 87 IROC was getting stress cracks in the paint, they were pretty fine but still noticeable if up close, or maybe the silver paint made them look smaller, but anyway i dont have that car anymore and bought my 91 Z with almost all of the suspension aftermarket. not one crack but clear coat is coming off on my pass side sail panel...hope thats not cause of chassis flex
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#31
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
hope thats not cause of chassis flex
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Car: 91 Z28
Engine: currently 350...BUILT 383 soon
Transmission: T56 w/4.10's
oh ya...the KB's are a little bit bigger than others but when it comes to strength i want the best for my chassis. also if your car had dual cats your gonna get a lot of "cat banging" on the cross mount. it annoyed the hell out of me then i just cut off my cats and welded up some straight pipes for the time being until i get my hooker longtubes to a mufflex 4" system.
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Car: 86 camaro
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i was thinkin the same thing even posted it in my thread here.
i wouldnt se why not it last for a bit i fiberglassed mine so yur weld would last longer then my glass im sure.
i wouldnt se why not it last for a bit i fiberglassed mine so yur weld would last longer then my glass im sure.
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Car: 85 Camaro SC
Engine: V6
Transmission: 700r4
My 85 sport coupe has a small crack in the paint, only on the drivers side. I know its from the bad dirt roads here in AR potholes are murder on the Fbodys. I need to put a set of subframe connectors on eventually and repaint the car.
Welding would help some but the metal cracking will still occour if you didnt drill thru the end of the crack. IIRC if you weld over a hareline crack and dont drill out the end it will still continue to spread because the crack was never fully removed. The drill bit only has to be slightly bigger than the crack's width.
Welding would help some but the metal cracking will still occour if you didnt drill thru the end of the crack. IIRC if you weld over a hareline crack and dont drill out the end it will still continue to spread because the crack was never fully removed. The drill bit only has to be slightly bigger than the crack's width.
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Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
as of now....it's only the passenger side for me...hopefully...if I get a set installed....it won't crack on the drivers side...
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I am glad to hear this isn't an isolated problem. I've been looking at an '89 GTA for a great price, and the only thing that turned me off was that roof crack (about 3/4 inch long so far). I can MIG weld, so I will to the drill the hole at the end thing, MIG it, then SFC's right after that. THANKS!
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Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: TBI
Transmission: 700r4
Every thirdgen i have seen around town has the same issue i had very very small ones starting and i took care of it before i got it painted, need to get some sfc's on mine also. Been planning for it just havent done it
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