Lookin for front strut tower brace

[Inf]

Hey guys, why would anyone ever want/need to buy a car? Anyone with a welder, tons of free time and experience and a fully stocked machine shop can make one in a few years.

/sarcasm

[Chino 240Z]

I had a guy in a College motor rebuilding class that had a wire attached to his throttle linkage and pushed through the radio cut-out openning in his truck. He gave it gas by pulling on the wire by hand. We asked him why not buy a new cable and we would help him install it? and he replied what is wrong with the one I got!?!? :stupid:

sorry not related- BUT FUNNY HUH!

[My260Rocks]

well, its true, the hood wont close. the bend starts too early. I think i can fix it with a vice to lessen the angle. if i have clearence issues with the camcover then ill add a bend in the center. hopefully all this bending wont jepordize any of the structural integrity of the brace. Ill update

[Bambikiller240]

There are two ways to go about this:

1. "The right part for the right job". (MSA#23-4201 @ $109.95)

2. "The Jed Clampett Method" ("I can fix it. My Dad is a TV repairman. He's got the ultimate set of tools" - Jeff Spicoli of Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

[jmark]

Does the MSA part require any mods.?

[Inf]

Once you start making bends and whatnot you are going to change the way the metal deforms under load. If it is that easy to bend that you could bend it with ease, doesn't that defeat the purpose of the strut brace in the first place?

That said, I have heard that these honda-intended braces are designed for that particular market (read : designed for looks, not rigidity) and are not that great anyway.

If someone really knew what they were doing when designing a strut brace, sure they could make a good one on their own. But me personally, I would put my money on something that is proven and made for that specific application.

[Bambikiller240]

Does the MSA part require any mods.?

It is made for the specific application.

Only one mod required: "Take it out of the box it came in".

[TomoHawk]

I think you gotta remember one important thing:

If your car isn't already in perfect alignment, what good will a strut bar do, besides keep your car in its currently twisted condition? Before you go to fit a strut bar, make sure the geometry of everything is absulutely perfect. Some strut bars may have adjustable ends on them, but that's there to adjust the length of te bar to fit exactly where your bolts are, not to push apart or pull together something that's not in perfect geometry. Think of it thisway: You'll have to use that little screw to stretch the radiator support apart (not going to happen) or to pull together the struts that are connected with a steel brace that's even stronger than the strut bar itself.

FWIW

[sblake01]

Way back on the first page, post #5, I put up a link to the last time we talked about this so that we wouldn't go through this again. I guess it didn't work. Hey, if he wants to build his own brace, let him. Let's move on.

[jmark]

It is made for the specific application.

Only one mod required: "Take it out of the box it came in".

Cool. I'll probably pick up one for our 280Z.

[My260Rocks]

sblake01, dont give up on me man:)

i read the post (after i bought the dang thing) and there is no follow up on whether he could get the thing to work while still closing his hood.

I understand that bending will effect the integrity. I think its chrome molly, which affords me some ability in changing angles, but a small bit. Like I said, I'll update. If I have to bend the snot out of it, I know its not a good idea, and will say "there is no way this project can work". This thread will probably be more useful then the other one if for no reason other then the fact that it is mentioned that the honda bar doesnt fit with in the first page of the thread.

BTW, look at the pic of my car, doesnt look like a Clampet style ride, I wont put anything on there that a)doesnt work, like a sprung brace bar b)looks like shite. :stupid: :cheeky:

[Bambikiller240]

BTW, look at the pic of my car, doesnt look like a Clampet style ride, I wont put anything on there that a)doesnt work, like a sprung brace bar b)looks like shite. :stupid: :cheeky:

I hope not. The pic of your car is one (huge) reason I can't understand the effort to make this POS work in an application is was not intened to be used in.