Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Datsbad
We currently have both frames, they both a real nice. So far only driven the DSE frame. It performs nicely but I think the base level coilovers are just not enough . Honestly my speed 3 kit I had in Fuel was excellent also . I cant tell a diff on the street at all between the new and what I had.
Now the ART frame is so badass looking . Everyone that has been through the shop says "wow they are both nice but I would go with one with the Vette arms " why? It just looks better.
Basically looks is the answer here. Both cars are running 10" wheels , one has 6.125 bs and the other 7 3/8. Not much difference here.
Both are very nice .
|
Now, maybe it's just the engineering background in me coming out, but something really bothers me about choosing one or the other of these because "it just looks better". Looks are a subjective thing, of course, and if all the further you intend to push your car is some brisk on-ramps and some backroad corners 15 MPH over posted, I suppose looks might be as good a criteria as any. But partly because my previous post encouraged the overall "one is as good as the other" gist of this thread, I feel like I ought now to stress that there may be very real differences in these products, and there are questions you can ask to get a feel for these differences.
The kinds of questions to ask break down into three categories: What were your design goals? What are the tradeoffs and decisions you made to achieve those goals? How much real world validation of your product have you made to ensure it reaches those goals?
To ask intelligent questions, you first have to have specific ideas in mind yourself about how the car will be used. If you're never going to put in on the track for an HPDE events (and if not, you're really missing something!), then your criteria for ultimate roadholding and adjustability need not be nearly as high. On the other hand, ultimate track fanatics will want to know what track testing (they did do a lot of track testing, right?) has revealed about the range of optimum setups for this subframe. Another thing to consider is the match of your chosen sub/suspension to your intended rear suspension. Will your rear suspension match the front in terms of damping ratios, roll vs. bump stiffness, roll center, and anti-squat/anti-dive goals? What problems will occur if it doesn't? Did the vendor emphasize weight reduction first, torsional rigidity first, or some balance between the two (or was that tradeoff never intentionally made)? Have they done FEA on their products, and what does that analysis reveal about the torsional rigidity of their product vs. the stock subframe? Why did DSE choose fabricated control arms, and Morrison stock 'Vette arms? And so on.
I think, in this case, we have two vendors who are respected, respectable, and successful. Neither wants, at least in a public forum, to get into an "ours is better than yours" p***ing match, particularly because real facts are usually obscured in such a debate anyway, and ultimately there is damage to the reputation of both. So it falls to us, as consumers, to push hard enough to get enough answers to make rational decisions. Which is not to say that in the end, it still might be a coin toss for you.
Cheers,
Scott
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
I would saved few bucks going on speed 3 kit!!!!
Linear Mode
