Protect Your Grille
If hot-rodders spent as much money keeping themselves safe as they did going fast, there wouldn't be nearly so many accidents each year. If you do any welding in your garage, consider investing in one of Miller Electric's Auto-Darkening Helmets. The Performance Series features three arc sensors to darken the lens between #8 and #13 shades in 1/20,000 of a second. This can be done manually and automatically, while a grind mode stops the lens from darkening while grinding. Auto-Darkening Helmets are designed for those who weld for extended periods nearly every day, and come with a two-year warranty, as well as several paint and graphic options. Those with more modest budgets would be wise to look into the Pro-Hobby Series. For as little as $149.00, welders can provide serious protection to their face and eyes, and another $20.00 upgrades to any number of graphic packages.
Miller Electric Manufacturing Co.
PO Box 1079
Dept. GMHTP
Appleton, WI 54912
800/4-A-Miller (800/426-45537)
www.millerwelds.com
Pop Some Wheelies
If you're interested in dropping up to 114 pounds off the nose of your Fourth Gen F-body, check out BMR Fabrication's Ultimate Weight Savings Package. Reduce 60-foot times, and help get those front wheels in the air with BMR's tubular K-member, lower A-arms, Strange adjustable coilover struts and coilover springs, Strange lightweight drag brakes, manual master cylinder conversion (for manual brakes), and Flaming River manual rack-and-pinion with bumpsteer kit and steering shaft. BMR sells this kit for $2,749.95 for '93-'97 F-bodies (PN LW003), and '98-'02s (PNLW005). Those wishing to keep their power-assisted brakes and steering can still save 84 pounds and a few bucks with PN LW002 for '93-'97s, and PN LW004 for '98-'02s, for $2,199.95.
BMR Fabrication Inc.
12581 US Highway 301 N.
Dept. GMHTP
Thonotosassa, FL 33592
813/986-9302
www.bmrfabrication.com
Salute To Side Rings
Though a stout performer in its own right, the GTO has in some ways become a servicing nightmare -especially when it comes to the differential. Gear installs are complicated enough without having one of the GTO's sophisticated side adjuster-rings seize. Between the $100-plus price tag and the time spent waiting while a replacement is shipped from Down Under, you'd be better off investing $99.99 in Speed Inc.'s GTO Differential Side Ring Tool. This heavy-duty 3/8-inch steel piece has a 12-inch-long handle, a 1/2-inch drive adapter to gain leverage, and a black oxide coating. Its 12 contact teeth pick up where normal hand tools leave off (which only contact the adjuster ring in a few places), and the Ring Tool is easily rebuildable if a tooth breaks off.
Speed Inc.
803C Albion Ave.
Dept. GMHTP
Schaumburg, IL 60193
866/LS1-SPEED
(866/571-77333)
www.ls1speed.com