FlameRedMetallic

hey guys are strut tower braces worth it? and if so, what kind of metal are they made of?

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86 IROC-Z
305 TPI
700R4 W/ shift kit
3.23 gears
T-Tops
maroon with gold stickers and rims/ black interior
43,000 miles
flowmaster exhaust, edelbrock headers, gutted airbox, converter, and MAF, K&N filters.

soon to come are 3.73 gears and subframe connecters.

Z28DJP1987

Yes, its is worth the investment because the brace tighens the front end for better handling. My Hothkis Brace is powdercoated
welded steel.

FlameRedMetallic

cool. i'm gonna design my own with autocad here at school and make mine myself. i just wondered what kind of steel they were made of. it would have to be real hard. something that would not flex. i was thinking about triangulating it so it connected to the firewall as well. anybody got any ideas as to what kind of steel to use? also how hard would it be to make a torque arm? quite a bit more difficult i would say, but i bet it could be done.

------------------
86 IROC-Z
305 TPI
700R4 W/ shift kit
3.23 gears
T-Tops
maroon with gold stickers and rims/ black interior
43,000 miles
flowmaster exhaust, edelbrock headers, gutted airbox, converter, and MAF, K&N filters.

soon to come are 3.73 gears and subframe connecters.

[This message has been edited by FlameRedMetallic (edited September 04, 2001).]

Bjase

I believe they're made out of mild steel. The strength is in the shape (boxed, tube, etc). My STB is 1X3 box over the engine, with 1.5 inch tube with flattened ends going back to the firewall. If I had access to the metal, I would have made it myself from the picture in the catalog and saved $100+. But it really is worth every penny.

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88 IROC with cobbled together (not by me)drivetrain, 86 (?) TPI unit on an '83 305,CE subframe connectors, Edelbrock strut tower brace, polygraphite bushings all around...it handles like a dream, but man is it hard to push!!

SCtoSS86

very much worth it, along with a beefier sway bar it made a nite and day diffrence on my Sport Coupe. Next and last mod to my front end is a wonderbar

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86 Sport Coupe
LG4 Auto
Mods
PAW headers/ y-pipe Dynomax Super Converter with a 3" bullet muffler installed in the Intermediate pipe
Edelbrock Open element air filter
L69 ECM
Moog Variable rate rear springs
edelbrock STB
86' GTA front sway bar (36mm)
Black Iroc Interior
Kenwood 120 watt head, Kenwood 6x9's jensen 4x6's rampage 100 watt amp to 6x9's

Future Mods
Carter AFB 625
Holley intake
Accel HEI Dist
Hooker 3-1/2" tips
Holley fuel Pump
Chrome dress up
A/F, water temp, voltage guages
SFC's, Lower control arms and panhard bar.
Much more to come, just havent thought of it yet.

It isnt breaking the law........till you get caught.

gravitar

Anyone know if Spohn makes a strut-tower brace or wonderbar? If not, who's is the best?

okfoz

FlameRed,
Be careful making things too hard of a material. If you make it out of too hard of a metal and not stout enough you could end up breaking it. Then I could imagine some part of it getting wedged under your hood and severly damaging your intake or keeping you from opening your hood or something silly. I am only eggaterating.

The Hotckiss that I have seems to be pretty standard extruded metal available from most metal places. It is simply welded together. and red powdercoated. I am thinking of powdercoating it black or yellow. the red stands out too much for my taste.

John

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87 Formula Yellow/Black

5.1 TPI Automatic
Baer 12" brakes 4 wheels, KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks & struts, Custom Leather interior, WAAAY TOO MANY MODS TO LIST

87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK

1967 Buick Riviera 430hp Turns high 14's (Not bad for 4300 lbs)

83 Camaro (Parts)
83 T/A (parts)

http://www.3rdgenformula.com

FlameRedMetallic

cool, thanks for all the info guys.

------------------
86 IROC-Z
305 TPI
700R4 W/ shift kit
3.23 gears
T-Tops
maroon with gold stickers and rims/ black interior
43,000 miles
flowmaster exhaust, edelbrock headers, gutted airbox, converter, and MAF, K&N filters.

soon to come are 3.73 gears and subframe connecters.