91RS/SR355

Im in the process of building a 355 with a Holley Stealth Ram induction system and I was wondering if anyone knows of astrut tower brace that will clear the upper plenum and hood. I currently have a 305 tbi so its kinda hard to judge it without actually swapping the intakes and having the STB to measure, especially since this is a daily driven car. I askd some of the guys at Jegs and they had no idea. Im planning on running an L88 style fiberglass hood so i may get more clearance from that but im not sure yet. Any help would be appreciated.

UMI Performance

I know with the factory hood the Stealth ram is pretty much touching it, or at least what I can remember?

Would be tough to find one to clear

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

none exist for the stealth ram... the HSR is roughly 2 inches taller than the stock plenum and puts the TB at a completely diff angle thats why the HSR TB will run on the underside of the hood. any strut tower braces that have been made for TPI cars will NOT fit the HSR....

u'll just have to fab up ur own... its not difficult, just measure and cut some tubing. im gona be doin the same thing when i instal my hsr 383. the hood is a good idea for the HSR since u will need the room over the stocker. but the strut brace should be made to fit the hood as well. dont even bother modifying an aftermarket brace either. good luck

gcpoland

iTrader: (18)

You can use a BMR one with 2" aluminum blocks under each end. Works good.

UMI Performance

Did this clear with the stock hood? We are in the process of making one now for the TPI, we were going to do the Stealth Ram next if it works. I haven't installed the Stealth Ram yet to know..

Thanks!
Ryan

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

let us know how the stealth ram one works.... my throttle body on my HSR hit the bottom of my stock IROCZ hood. i had to cut abit out from under the hood.

I have no idea how you would run a strut tower brace in there without a big cowl hood

gcpoland

iTrader: (18)

Stock hood. BMR fits over the TPI and it will fjust fit the SR Plenum.

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

post some pics.
I have the RA1 hood and a Jamex bar and I put some wood under the mounts to see if that would work and the ends would hit the hood.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

the biggest question here is how toasted are your motor mounts? are the original or new? Old mounts can lower the engine almost a half inch and at that point you may have clearance for the STB, but anything higher there may still be issues

my 2cents

gcpoland

iTrader: (18)

Sorry about the quality. Click on it and you should get a bigger pic so you can see.

UMI Performance

That cleared with a stock hood with out cutting it?

Thanks

91RS/SR355

I havent been able to get on here much, but thanks for all the replies. Im going to be using a tubular K member so ill probably end up using new motor mounts too so unless the k member geometry is a little lower it will be at stock ride height.

T/Atime

anyone out there using a stb with a hsr with stock hood...

quality pictures would be appreciated.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

im not sure how close it would be but u could get the BMR one to work( its gona be really close). the HSR(well the TB/intake duct) hits the bottom of the camaro hood and the firebird. often ppl have to remove the hood brace to get the clearance needed. the BMR one is a good bit thinner(where it goes over the plenum) than the UMI one. and since it also sits farther back toward the rear of the plenum it wouldnt be in the highest point of the HSR (TB area). i would think GCpoland's would clear barely. but it would be super tight. unless u had a aftermarket cowl hood. i think he said its touching. and replacing your stock motor mounts will increase engine height about 1/2" especially with the poly engine mounts.

if the STB is resting on the plenum this wouldnt be a good idea. since when u give the engine gas the engine twists in the engine mounts. esp with stock rubber mounts the engine twists a good bit. this will cause interference with the plenum and STB. can cause damage/noise etc. poly engine mounts altho they raise the engine height they also greatly reduce engine twist. this would allow for a closer fit of the STB to the plenum if poly engine mounts are used.