Soo, I've got this idea

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Ok, so i have all these tools and such and don't really want to pay the asking price for one, So. I want to make a strut tower brace for my car, it seems simple enough..  StangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:I dont think that they are are that diffuclt to build but the way I see it is unless you are making a perfect copy you might run into some suspension problems....depending on what kind of car your driving you can pick up a *nice* one for under $100.00 chevy ? rk motorsportsford? svo products Nissan ? stillen mazda ? mazdaspeedvw? eurosportBonez
Reply:I agree when it comes to making parts like that its a real pain.  Even where I work we build theese armorered cars and many are armored assault vehicles.  We build em from chasiss up, have tons of tools to make all sorts of parts. YEt we still order in suspension parts and other parts that just arent easy to make right.  Its cheaper to buy it from a manufac who punches em out a dime a dozen then to make em yourself. CHRIS
Reply:A big part of the expense of these parts is the engineering/design work that goes into them.  The aftermarket manufacturers have spent a lot of time making sure that everything has proper clearance (air intake, etc.) and that the hood closes cleanly with everything bolted down.  I have only installed one strut brace and learned the hard way how easy it is to screw this up by making small mistakes.  For instance, bolting the brace on while the suspension is loaded (i.e. not on jack stands) can #$&* up the suspension alignment ride quality, etc.Little things like this makes it seem to me that it might be more trouble than it is worth to try to engineer one yourself.  My two cents.
Reply:The suspension of a car is a pretty delicate thing.  Only a small amount of misalignment results in some pretty crappy and dangerous handling.  Although this part is not directly affecting where the wheels hit the road, if it applies stress to the body, it can have more subtle effects on the geometry of the suspension.  In fact, that is what a good one is supposed to do, have subtle positive effects on handling by reducing body flex.  d38710 points out that you can make some pretty serious mistakes installing even a well-designed unit.  If you do it, you should be really careful and get some advise from some racers, or other folks who might have some experience building these for racing applications.  They would likely have some different insight from the mechanical side.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:hmm, i just see if i can pickup an svo or roush for a decent priceStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:What'cha putting this thing on?  A mustang? a truck?http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-97...15956504QQrdZ1Here is an inexpensive one for a mustang...Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:It supports the suspension,its not part of it. If you can install and uninstall it you have it right. If down the road you find  it binds when you remove it,it was doing its job
Reply:Originally Posted by HyFrequencyIt supports the suspension,its not part of it. If you can install and uninstall it you have it right. If down the road you find  it binds when you remove it,it was doing its job
Reply:did you ever get a brace or no ?dawg
Reply:Originally Posted by arcdawgdid you ever get a brace or no ?dawg
Reply:go with a magnaflow set up...I have had a couple of diffrent systems and the build quality of the magnaflows are so much better then the rest.... I got a nice s.s. rear muffler with the slash cut tip for $60 on epay and had a local guy bend up a nice system  cost me total of $325. had it on 2 years and still sounds real nice....deep and not tinny -dawg
Reply:Vipermanz,If you like to drive hard, you need to take a trip to Cheaha.  Even a pretty slow pace will give you a decent workout.  I used to ride bikes there.  Folks, specifically park rangers, frown on REALLY aggressive driving, but during the winter months, almost no one is there.  Just a suggestion.  There is a restaurant at the top that has a great view of the valley and of Anniston.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Viper,I think you should make one just for the fun of it and to save all that "engineering development" money.  Let someone else pay for it (assuming there was a lot of engineering development).  I made one for my '65 Ranchero using HF's compact bender, a hacksaw and a mig welder.  Worked fine and looked factory.  You could make some mock up bends using thin material, and when you have the positions and angles right (ie, cleared the hood and all the other stuff under there), make the full blown parts.  Would be extra fun to do and be nice to brag about.   Have fun!