Foreign Affairs 1MZ-FE Torque Rod group buy

[JoeB]

Ok, the guinea pig has it installed and I created a tutorial with pics http://www.zer0.info/solaraguy/viewtopic.php?t=16123. Very easy to install and I don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence by posting a tutorial but there are people that will do this at all levels. Trust me, even a novice can do this job. It took me about 30 minutes and I was taking my time. I didn't get to drive it around because of the rain here but I had my wife sit in the car, put it in drive and reverse, rev it and noticed the engine moved much less. I'm sure hoping it dries up and I get to test it out tomorrow! -JoeB

[SC V6]

JOE!!! HOW IS IT???????? im real curious.. cause I have mine sitting at my house... waiting for me to get back tomorrow..(im away to school)

[JoeB]

Ooops, I meant to come back here and post my imression of the mod. It's very nice, just as Jim described it. It feels more responsive. When you hit the gas, it makes it feel more torqy. It's not an exagerated thing, it doesn't feel like the engine is bolted down on solid motor mounts or anything. However, just like Jim said, wheel hop is GONE! Awesome job Jim! THANKS!

If anything, it's still just a little loose for my taste. I'm getting urethane bushings for the dogbone. I've got a set coming from Energy Suspension. I will do the test fit for them, take pictures and the whole 9 yards. From that point though they have to productize it so it might be some time until it is available out of the catalog. I really like the urethane that ES uses, it isn't rock hard so it absorbs vibration but also MUCH stronger than the rubber giving more control.

There is another solution that I found from WRAITH on TN. A company called Superpro out of Australia makes the bushings for the dogbone also. They even include the metal collars with them. The US distributer is http://www.globalperformanceparts.com/. He is going to stock some of these now that we found him.

I'm not saying everyone should run out and buy them because different people want different things. Have someone sit in your car and rev the engine while in gear & holding the brake very well, watch your engine. There is a lot of movement in the dogbone that holds the engine on the passenger side top of motor. Potential problems is, transferring noise/vibration into interior of car, possibly sending vibration into the sc idler pully causing belt slip (if you have an sc), and additional wear on other engine mounts. For me, it's an easy decision! It's just Energy Suspension or Superpro.

Sorry to drift off topic but it is related "somewhat". If someone wants more information, start another thread, I can add more info like pics of the bushings. -JoeB

[CASTRO]

just got mine today and installed too. Wow, its not that much of a difference, as Jim said since it is a little soft. I'm considering the dog bone mount replacement as well. Keep us informed Jim. The motor feels more direct and I guess with my aging car, makes it tighter as if it were brand new. you can play with the throttle on/off and the motor considerable settles faster and doesn't have as much "rubber band" feeling to it. good cheap mod!

:::EDIT:::/UPDATE

on the drive from home, i decided to do a bunch of launches from a dead stop, as well as feather the throttle right in the engines powerband trying to rock it. The tires break and start to spin faster progressively instead of wheelhopping. Since I have an auto as well, its easier to control exits out of turns. The wheelspin is easy to modulate as there is a more direct feeling and less freeplay/movement in the engine. Only thing left now is that dogbone mount

[SC V6]

keep me posted 2.. im interested

[lazyboyz69]

how do i buy one?

[s15lara]

that sounds like a good/inexpensive mod. im very intrested in buying the torque rod and dogbone mount. keep us posted, awesome job guys.

[StockSolara]

lazyboyz69 you may contact Jim of Foreign Affairs at 503-236-2871 to find out how to purchase one.

[PDX SuperSolara]

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen. As I said earlier, I found the torque rod completely eliminated wheel hop and it sounds like it is working that way for everyone. There is a lot of torque developed by the motor and the more you limit the movement at one point such as with this torque rod, the more other points will have to work. There is also a potential for vibration which is really annoying when you firm up the mounts too much. If Joe's 'dogbone" mod helps further with no downsides that's going to be another easy mod. I'm really anxious to know how it works.

As for the torque rod, I think this is a "no-brainer" mod as it is cheap, easy to install and seems to have no downside at all. I have tested mine for a few months with no problems. Wheel spin is easier to modulate since power goes to the tires instead of being wasted moving the engine, with no wheel hop, you can get a much better hole shot once you learn how to properly modulate the power. And most important is I always felt like such a dork when my car would wheel-hop. Now I can put the power down without feeling like I am rattling my car to pieces.

If you want a torque rod, I found more components, so they should be available indefinitly.

[EricSol]

Let us know how this turns out long term as EricSol said he fooled around with the idea but it put more stress on the rear motor mount. For the DIY guys, I believe I priced the parts out at something like $25. Like Jim said it's an easy mod. Just remember it's a female Heim joint and not a male one.

When I stiffened the front of the motor it forced the rear mount to take all the abuse and it failed. I devised a "snubber" to hold up the rear and that seemed to work. I am doing one for a Toyota executive next week and will try and snap a few photos.

One thing to remember is that the shock was never designed to be a motor mount and the block isn't as beefy like were the motor mount is, I personally woudn't mount the motor solid using the shock location. A jeep urethane motor mount bolts to the crossmeber then all you have to do is make a bracket from the jeep mount to the block where it was desighned for the stress. I removed the shock completly after that since it was no longer needed.

[JoeB]

When I stiffened the front of the motor it forced the rear mount to take all the abuse and it failed. I devised a "snubber" to hold up the rear and that seemed to work. I am doing one for a Toyota executive next week and will try and snap a few photos.

Eric, very interesting. I actually got a urethane mount from Energy Suspension for the rear but am still interested in the snubber if you offer it. Please let me know.

One thing to remember is that the shock was never designed to be a motor mount and the block isn't as beefy like were the motor mount is, I personally woudn't mount the motor solid using the shock location. A jeep urethane motor mount bolts to the crossmeber then all you have to do is make a bracket from the jeep mount to the block where it was desighned for the stress. I removed the shock completly after that since it was no longer needed.

Even more interesting. I bought the Jeep front mount that was supposed to work on our car. I figured mine being an automatic must have been significantly different than your manual transmission and that is why the mount didn't come close to working. So now I understand a bracket has to be made to make it fit. Would you have any interest in making/providing that bracket? If so, I'd love to have one and agree we need more support closer to the front of the motor. If so, start a new thread and post about it so we don't wrap it in with the torque rod Jim is offering.

I see you did get the GTO! Congrats, great car!! Do you have a web site so I can follow the progress? Don't be a stranger. -JoeB

[Mandarinsolara]

(in the most retarded voice you can think of)
"Hey, uh ... Ed whatdya spose we should do to da solara now?"

"Well i haadnt thought bout dat... mayber we should uh do somethin cooo . like nitruss or uh maybe a turbine charger."

"What?"

"Actually ive been thinkin about it lately... and i just really got have a uh, ... a um... a TORQUE ROD!"

"Ya dats on da top of my list too Ed."