91black5spd

I was thinking of getting the edelbrock strut tower brace (EDL-5227). Does it make a decent difference? Also, Do I need to drill for it? And if so on the firewall and/or the strut towers?

MdFormula350

most all of the stb's for thirdgen you have to drill the holes in the strut towers.

i had the 3 point edelbrock stb, test fitted it and sold it, i didnt like all the pieces of it. if i get any i will get the kenny brown 3 pt. stb, its all one piece.


subframe connectors help the msot for stiffening the chassis, but from what i have read stb's help tighten p the engine bay some as well.

cc 82Z-28

iTrader: (7)

I use the Edelbrock unit you are talking about. I like it and yes, it does tighten the front up. I like the idea of it coming out without having to take the brackets off.

Don 79 TA

i just bought the BMR one
very very nice piece, and it fits the firebirds too
i think the edelbrock one has hood closing issues on the firebird
plus BMR's is 3 point and very sturdy

Mongoose

iTrader: (2)

The one he's talking about is a 3 point. I have this one on my car as well and I definitely noticed a tighter feel after the install. I'm currently looking for a good 3 point for a TPI as I am converting soon. I'm not a fan of the big BMR logo in the middle of it. If anyone has a pic of the Edelbrock 3 point TPI brace I'd love to see it.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

I've had this 3-point Edelbrock EDL-5227 TBI brace for years. Yes you'll need to drill 6 holes. Two for each of the strut tower mount brackets and two through the lip at the firewall. It takes just minutes to remove and re-install, since you're just un-bolting the larger bolts that mount the brace to the brackets and the two bolts at the firewall lip. You can gain some hood clearance if necessary by bolting the firewall bracket to the underside of the firewall lip rather than on top of the lip. Yes the brace adds some stiffening that can be felt.

Lon

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

The Edelbrock may be fine for a Camaro, but you're going to have massive hood clearance problems on a Firebird. Redraif had one (repalced it with BMR, fits the Bird much better), and even after lots of cutting and grinding on the bar it still hit. It hit with her stock hood, and it hit with the Suncoast hood on the car now. The BMR rubbed a little (notched the hood slightly for clearance), but fits nice and is easy to remove when needed. I hate the BMR logo in it too, we'll probably make some kind of plate to cover it.

Redbird

Below is a pic of the Edelbrock STB on my old '87 Z28 CP racecar.

The very same brace was installed on my '87 base 'bird before the CP car was built, and is now back on my 'bird since the CP car was sold. It fits fine with no "massive clearance issues". In fact, I even raised the strut mounting points by about 3/16" to clear over the top of the adjustment plate. (so I wouldn't have to remove/loosen the STB when I changed from the autocross settings to street settings)

maxrochatansky

Will such an Edelbrock or similar strut tower brace still be valuable if you already have the "steering box area strengthening bar" or "wonder bar" ? (Spohn and some others make that one) I just ordered that one, havent installed it yet.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Yes.

JamesC

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

No wonder we had different results, you're using the carb version. I used the TPI version, and stand by my statements on it. A friend with a stock 91 GTA had the same results I did. So is your 87 Firebird still injected, or is it carb too? I would think by looking at it that you would have some clearance issues around the tb ducting. The EFI version uses the same mounts, but they're positioned higher and will hit any Firebird hood.

Redbird

Ah, he was speaking of using the TBI/Carb brace. I figured you were too.
My '87 was never injected. The 5.0 was carb'd from the factory, and I went back with a carb set-up on the L98 because it was easier.

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

Ok, when you said "base" I was thinking V6, which was MPFI only. My 87 TA came with the carb 5.0, so I'm familiar with them. The carb/TB version looks a lot nicer, too...the TPI version looks homemade, with the rectangular tubing.

90firebird

I've had no such problems with my brace.. I doubt the fact that I have a powerbulge hood has any effect on it either; I just have some minor rubbing but nothing that could be considered "massive". I guess it varies from car to car, or you may've mounted yours further forward on the strut towers..

70gmc

Can someone give me a list of STB's that would work on a carbed 88iroc. ive seen alot on TPI but very few on carbed, also which one is the best choice in your opinion