DSE 2nd Gen Mini-Tub Kit--Opinions--

[OneslowZ28]

So what do you all think about the kit they just came out with? I know im happy i waited for my rear suspension. Tell me what you all think and if anyone here has put one in yet. Thanks

[Payton King]

I was at DSE and SW is having his Trans Am done. Nice looking stuff, just like the first gen pieces. And no I did not have my camera, maybe SW will post up some pics.

[Steve1968LS2]

Is a second gen easier or harder to do than a 1st gen? I heard the second gen cars were pretty easy (in comparison) to do..

I'm sure the DSE kit is high quality, and the install CD is a big help...

[Lowend]

I don't see the point... you can fit a 315 under the car stock... Is it really worth thousands of $$ to do a 345 that will only serve to make the car understeer more?

[Steve1968LS2]

I don't see the point... you can fit a 315 under the car stock... Is it really worth thousands of $$ to do a 345 that will only serve to make the car understeer more?

Sorta depends on your front tires and the rest of your set-up. You could adjust tire pressure (more rear and less front) to help negate the understeer on track days or you could use a grippier front tire.

People like 345 steemrollers because they just look so bad ass.. and they really do..

[Mean 69]

Having done a DSE mini-tub on my 69, and recently two mini-tub jobs without fab'd deep tubs on a pair of 70 Camaros, I can tell you first hand that the second gen's lend themselves to mini-tubbing using the STOCK inners WAY better than the first gen's. The inner tubs on the second gen cars have a really nice, smooth, easy to deal with shape, and you don't even need to mess with the trunk hinge supports. First gen's are not that way, so the help from the DSE pieces is a plus.

Either way, it is a good amount of work. If your stock inners are in good shape, there is probably no reason to buy replacements. I do recall though, when I was doing my own car a year ago, I couldn't find stock replacement inner tubs from the repop houses which surprised me. Turned out I didn't need them, but my initial plan was to buy new ones, modify them out of the car, then install. It ended up working just fine without them. Both of these cars have Lateral Dynamics 3-Link setups, so I can't speak to the leaf hangers, etc that I think are supplied with the kit from DSE.

I never tried to put 315's on my car with the stock inners, but I will say that it looks like you'd have to raise the butt end of the car up pretty good to fit them, meaning they'd have to be hanging outboard pretty far. I have seen a few cars this way, and I didn't care for the look, or the relatively high center of gravity that resulted, but I haven't seen all cars that have been done. One big issue with the second gens is the body contour on the top of the wheel openings, there is VERY little vertical clearance on the outer wheel house when the wheel goes into bump, and there isn't much you can do about it, except to move the tire inwards. Both of these cars will be getting 335/30/18 R compound tires in the back (275's up front), so from the tire stagger alone, one would probably think that understeer will be a huge issue, as Lowend stated. This doesn't necessarily have to be true though, if you have a suspension setup that you can tune, which these particular cars certainly do have. I can tell you that I am certainly a function first kind of guy, but mocking up a 335 tire on the back of these cars look flat out amazing, pure business.

Mark

[6'9"Witha69]

Sorta depends on your front tires and the rest of your set-up. You could adjust tire pressure (more rear and less front) to help negate the understeer on track days or you could use a grippier front tire.

People like 345 steemrollers because they just look so bad ass.. and they really do..

Or stiffen up the rear swaybar and not worry about offset tire pressures or compounds.

[Steve1968LS2]

Or stiffen up the rear swaybar and not worry about offset tire pressures or compounds.

What's a rear sweigh bar??

[OneslowZ28]

Keep up the responses i like the added info i have gotten so far. Steamrollers are the way to go. I was thinking on having the body shop when it comes time flaring out the rears a little. It shouldnt be much more money since i need them replaced anyway.

Everyone Have A Great Thanksgiving!

[Lowend]

315's will fit the stock inners on 95% of the cars. With a 5.75" backspace on a 17x11 they just barely tuck into the stock fenders





You will generally have to elminate the tailpipes, roll fender lips and pound the seatbelt lump flat