1st gen camaro hotchkis handle bars

[Dark Pursuit]

Does anyone have experience installing hotchkis handle bars with billet hood hinges ?
I have Eddie Motorsports hinges on my 67 camaro and have been considering hotchkis handle bars . I also have hydroboost , which might be extending the master cylinder out a bit.
My concern is that the billet hinges may hinder the hotchkis support mounts at the firewall.
Anyone with experience with this combination, please let me know, and a picture would be very helpful.
thanks ,
Duane

[Rod]

Does anyone have experience installing hotchkis handle bars with billet hood hinges ?
I have Eddie Motorsports hinges on my 67 camaro and have been considering hotchkis handle bars . I also have hydroboost , which might be extending the master cylinder out a bit.
My concern is that the billet hinges may hinder the hotchkis support mounts at the firewall.
Anyone with experience with this combination, please let me know, and a picture would be very helpful.
thanks ,
Duane

The Hotchkis handle bars did not work with the ring brothers hinges i had....the gas cylinder sits off to the side into the engine compartment and hit the sides of the handle bar not allowing the hood to close........personally i liked the performance advantage the handle bars offered so i got rid of the hinges

[rickpaw]

Hi Rod,

Can you give me a measurement of the space between the fender and the bar, at the hinge mounting point?

Thanks.

[Dark Pursuit]

Thanks Rod,
I will be keeping the hinges, so will need a more custom front frame support system.

[MAGONSTERZ68]

Hey guys on a side note, what was the final verdict on Chassis Max Bars Bars fitting 1st Gen with ls2? Specifically 68 convertible with holley engine trans mounted LS2, fittment issues with crossover bar ever confirmed to fit or interfere?

[dhutton]

Hey guys on a side note, what was the final verdict on Chassis Max Bars Bars fitting 1st Gen with ls2? Specifically 68 convertible with holley engine trans mounted LS2, fittment issues with crossover bar ever confirmed to fit or interfere?

The handlebars will not clear the Holley accessory drive on both sides. Not even close. I had to extensively cut and modify mine to get them to fit. The cross bar also needs to move forward.

Don

[77thor]

My question is: How much of a difference do these bars make? Is it noticeable improvement?

[MAGONSTERZ68]

i did not use the holley accessory drive on this build but rather notched the sub frame and located alternator and ac pump underneath engine.
As for the cross bar what did it interfere with? Sounds like it could contact the power steering pump?

[dhutton]

i did not use the holley accessory drive on this build but rather notched the sub frame and located alternator and ac pump underneath engine.
As for the cross bar what did it interfere with? Sounds like it could contact the power steering pump?

https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...ars-no-shakers

[MAGONSTERZ68]

Awesome!, thx

[MAGONSTERZ68]

handlebars clears LS2 application, custom repop with new dimensions looks totally stock, down to the powdercoat! clears hood without having to modify the actual mounts.

[Just 1 More]

My question is: How much of a difference do these bars make? Is it noticeable improvement?

Any updates?

[MAGONSTERZ68]

Any updates?

Works like a champ, corners with the best of them, very nimble. I dont road race by any means but did want rigid as possible with an fbody convertible especially with 600lb springs pushin up on pockets. minimal flex when i lift up either front corner with floor jack speaks volumes compared to original set up. Well worth it as long as your not looking to add a power adders, it would be a tight fit in the engine compartment with fender wells.

[anguilla1980]

The Hotchkis handle bars did not work with the ring brothers hinges i had....the gas cylinder sits off to the side into the engine compartment and hit the sides of the handle bar not allowing the hood to close........personally i liked the performance advantage the handle bars offered so i got rid of the hinges

I glad I found this thread. I'm planning to add the Hotchkis handlebars and buy the Ring Brothers hinges and hadn't even thought about interference issues.

[TheBandit]

For what it's worth, you can also get downbars from Chassisworks or have a local fabricator make a set to fit your car as needed.

This thread post #40 has some results on the Chassisworks "struts" in a 1st gen Camaro, indicating a significant improvement in torsional rigidity.
https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...and-increasing

3820 lb ft/deg Starting Torsional Rigidity
4290 lb ft/deg With Solid Body mounts from Chris Alston (12% improvement for about $100)
4750 lb ft/deg with body mounts and DSE Subframe Connectors (11% additional improvement for about $200; 24% total improvement for about $300).
5305 lb ft/deg with body mounts, subframe connectors, and forward struts (12% additional improvement for about $350; 39% total improvement for about $650 and about 3 days of work).

For you SI guys, and to compare to Sik68's list, the numbers are:
5176 Nm/deg Baseline
5813 Nm/deg Solid Body Mounts
6436 Nm/deg Body Mounts plus Subframe Connectors
7188 Nm/deg Body Mounts, Subframe Connectors and Struts.