so i've been trying to come up with a design for a triangulated front strut tower brace that everyone seems to want, but i just can't get past the third mount.
you can't just mount to the top of the firewall, that area is really just the fresh air intake box for the heating/cooling system and only 20 gauge (or so) sheet metal. if you grab it and give it a good push/pull you'll see what i mean.
the only structurally sound place on the fire wall is the "pinch" weld or weld seam about 4" down the firewall. well this brings up several mounting issues, especially clearance of the manifold and whatever else is attached to that area. i thought about a plate that would mount to the "pinch"weld and go up to where the triangle legs would clear the motor. but once you start putting 90* vertical attachment points 4" apart strength and rigidity are reduced.
so i had to think a bit outta the box here
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what i came up with is a kind of bolt in gusset, that goes from the top of the strut towers straight back and down (at about a 45* angle) to the pinch weld. these would be made from 3/16" plate and should be plenty strong. it should be an easy install, requiring two holes on each side drilled vertically through the "pinch" weld (the wiper motor would have to be removed on the passenger side to drill the holes - then replaced) then bolted with a backing plate.
these gussets would definately eliminate any fore/aft movement of the strut towers. i'm not sure how much help they would be for side to side movements transmitted through the crossbar of a stb would be though. a "true" triangulated brace would address side to side and fore/aft movement......... if you could find a solid mounting area for the legs.
something like this could be used independently, with an existing stb, or
fabricated into a stb.
i'm guessing the gussets, hardware and backing plates could be offered for about $60 a set.
a fstb using the gussets about $125-$150
anyone care to comment???
-chuck
you can't just mount to the top of the firewall, that area is really just the fresh air intake box for the heating/cooling system and only 20 gauge (or so) sheet metal. if you grab it and give it a good push/pull you'll see what i mean.
the only structurally sound place on the fire wall is the "pinch" weld or weld seam about 4" down the firewall. well this brings up several mounting issues, especially clearance of the manifold and whatever else is attached to that area. i thought about a plate that would mount to the "pinch"weld and go up to where the triangle legs would clear the motor. but once you start putting 90* vertical attachment points 4" apart strength and rigidity are reduced.
so i had to think a bit outta the box here
what i came up with is a kind of bolt in gusset, that goes from the top of the strut towers straight back and down (at about a 45* angle) to the pinch weld. these would be made from 3/16" plate and should be plenty strong. it should be an easy install, requiring two holes on each side drilled vertically through the "pinch" weld (the wiper motor would have to be removed on the passenger side to drill the holes - then replaced) then bolted with a backing plate.
these gussets would definately eliminate any fore/aft movement of the strut towers. i'm not sure how much help they would be for side to side movements transmitted through the crossbar of a stb would be though. a "true" triangulated brace would address side to side and fore/aft movement......... if you could find a solid mounting area for the legs.
something like this could be used independently, with an existing stb, or
fabricated into a stb.
i'm guessing the gussets, hardware and backing plates could be offered for about $60 a set.
a fstb using the gussets about $125-$150
anyone care to comment???
-chuck
