Advice please, strut braces

[markvanderhill]

I'm sure some of you recognize this piece. I like the triangulated / gusseted setup even though it's harder to take off for valve cover, yadda yadda. 

 

Comes from a place who has "been making this part for more than 10 years and .. will admit to being terrible about marketing it"

 

This does not, will not fit on my car. I've been going around with the manufacturer for a week now. It is, according to them, within their acceptable build specs. They've given me the choice of forcing it onto my car (could never happen even if I wanted to try that) or refund.  I got the set. The rear went on beautifully, no problem, required drilling, all done, I don't really want to take it out now. I want the front, correct, matching, but it's like talking to a wall with these guys. 

 

tl;dr   My car isn't tweaked, their jig, or the schlub who made this is tweaked, and they refuse to correct it. 

 

Looking for advice, or even an alternative. 

[Zed Head]

They've given me the choice of forcing it onto my car (could never happen even if I wanted to try that) or refund.  I got the set. The rear went on beautifully, no problem, required drilling, all done, I don't really want to take it out now. I want the front, correct, matching, but it's like talking to a wall with these guys. 

 

Looking for advice, or even an alternative. 

Is there really a question?  Either the price you paid is for the rear bar only, or you take the rear bar off and get the refund.  At least they offer a refund.

 

Apparently TEP either has a tweaked jig, or car that they use as a jig, and has for many years, or they made a load of bad product and have been trying to get rid of it for years.

 

http://www.zcar.com/forum/10-70-83-tech-discussion-forum/123392-top-end-performance-strut-brace-not-fitting-pics.html

 

http://www.racetep.com/zfront.html

[Patcon]

Those dimensions are very different. If you forced it on, your car will be tweaked then. Your other option would be to cut it how you need to for it to fit and have somebody reweld it in the new configuration. That might be cheaper than sending it back and you won't have to worry about the holes in the firewall. By the way how did you pay for it? Credit card? You might have leverage that way if you dispute it.

[CDL1542]

I did my research on TEP before picking up strut bars and read nothing good about them. Techno Toy Tuning has some nice rear ones if you like the TEP design. I picked up a set from a Z owner who is very passionate about Zcars and makes and sells his own. He offered a few different options and goes by theramz on some of the forums. He sells a lot of his strut bars via ebay and they were worth every penny: http://www.ebay.com/itm/240Z-260Z-280Z-Front-and-Rear-Strut-Bar-Set-Show-Car-/201341305476?vxp=mtr

 

I went with his "show car" set with Z emblems. The pictures are awful cell phone pictures but they're really well done.

[Patcon]

CDL1542

Those are good looking bars

 

The thing I like about the TEP front bar is the triangulation. It is a shame they don't fit properly and the customer service is non existent.

 

If I do this at some point I will build my own.

[markvanderhill]

I see the light now. I didn't think it'd be this bad. Those are beautiful CDL. And adjustable. I saw that zcar writeup before this whole fiasco, Zed head, and what I took away from it was that I'd just need to elongate the holes and/or find my angle grinder. Thanks all. So am I overthinking it, wanting to hook to the firewall? This car probably won't see track days but I want it dialed in. Twisty mountain roads, and all that. 

[Zed Head]

Look at #8 here - http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/91330-240z-chassis-prep-reinforcements/

 

More good stuff in the thread.  Seems like you could buy a one piece bar for the work already done on the strut mount area, and add the two bars to the firewall yourself.  Customize a production bar.  The firewall bars are fairly direct to design.  Simple gussets to make it strong at the junctions.

[Zed Head]

This stuff looks interesting.  Not sure why they split the parts up like they do unless it's to avoid sticker shock.

 

If I added right it comes to $545 for the complete front and rear set.  Click on Chassis.  Goofy web site.

 

https://technotoytuning.com/nissan/240z

Edited June 5, 2015 by Zed Head

[markvanderhill]

I just drooled on my desk a little. 

[Patcon]

They make some beautiful stuff. I would like to have a choice on the anodizing color though...

[John Coffey]

Here's how to do it:

[markvanderhill]

Nice, you're right in La Habra. When can I pick this up? heh. Seriously, that is nice. Are you using hood pins?