Strut tower brace to firewall

calan · 10-10-2008, 11:49 AM

I'm gonna fab up a new front bar and attach it to the firewall...question is, how? The firewall is some pretty thin stuff, which makes me wonder why people recommend attaching it there anyway since it seems that the firewall itself would flex.

I was thinking about using a blind nut, or maybe welding hex nuts to it.

Any ideas?

Thanks

romeen · 10-10-2008, 05:19 PM

Hey Craig, good to see you back on the forums.

Another member fabbed up his own triangulated STB which you can see in this post. I think he did a great job. Hopefully this helps.

I got tired of the crappy rear strut tower braces

90laserRSfwd · 10-10-2008, 05:40 PM

You could make a semi trianglulated strut brace that ran across the engine bay ( like every strut brace out there) and also added "down bars" that went from the strut mount itself to the steering rack cross member, if you have enough room with your setup (I don't have A/C and the battery isn't under the hood so I've got room).

calan · 10-11-2008, 03:07 AM

Hey Romeen... LTNS... I see you've been saving your allowance to buy up some more little green bars

I still wonder what that big bolt (3/8?) in the middle is threaded into...surely not just the firewall sheet metal?

DSM Jeff · 10-11-2008, 10:00 AM

I was looking to do this with my strut bar. I was planning to run a longer piece of 1/8" along the firewall with another piece inside to sandwhich the body.

calan · 10-11-2008, 10:28 AM

Jeff,

How would you get the piece inside and hold it in place?

DSM Jeff · 10-11-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calan

Jeff,

How would you get the piece inside and hold it in place?

At least on a 1g (probably the same for a 2g) remove the wiper cowl. You can then drop a plate in. My plan is to tie in my strut tower bar to my firewall with the 2 additional bars and plates.
Here's my set up. The bars and plate I plan to add are in red, bolts are the blue dots. You can also see the wiper cowl off with the plastic covers removed where you can put the plate in and make a "sandwhich" for additional support and strength.

JFZERO ECLIPSE · 10-11-2008, 04:59 PM

My old 1g had RRE's now discontinued Hardcore STB...Heres a pic of it installed

BTW, just wondering anyone know what might have happened to my old 1g in the pittsburg area?

DSM Jeff · 10-11-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFZERO ECLIPSE

My old 1g had RRE's now discontinued Hardcore STB...Heres a pic of it installed

Where did that actually bolt to the firewall? Did it use orginal bolt locations or was a drill your own type of deal. I never remember seeing that one.

pagosa dsm · 10-11-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romeen

Hey Craig, good to see you back on the forums.

Another member fabbed up his own triangulated STB which you can see in this post. I think he did a great job. Hopefully this helps.

I got tired of the crappy rear strut tower braces

Thank you for the complement. I have a few modds on my gallery. They may give you some other ideas. My next modd will be a pair of front tubular lower control arms and a 4 point roll bar.

DSM Jeff · 10-12-2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pagosa dsm

I have a few modds on my gallery. They may give you some other ideas.

I've definatly gotten a few idea's from you. Just waiting/saving for a tig welder. Sucks not being in school to use one. Looking foward to seeing the tubular arms.

bmoha2 · 10-12-2008, 06:34 AM

"I got tired of the crappy rear strut tower braces so I made my own" is my own post but the pictures and the braces referred to in it aren't my own. Bummer. I am also working on a triangulated front strut tower bar and 6 point roll bar. In my own opinion, the firewall on a 2G is flimsy. It is substantial like the firewall on a EVO8. I would almost suggest making a brace that goes thru the firewall and to something burlier. Possibly to the dashboard crossbar. Realistically I amnot sure how much there si to be gained just from triangulating it to the firewall.

RipperXX · 10-12-2008, 12:52 PM

OP car is a 1G though right?

DSM Jeff · 10-12-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipperXX

OP car is a 1G though right?

His info says so. Either way its custom and the ideas can be adapted for either generation.

JFZERO ECLIPSE · 10-12-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSM Jeff

Where did that actually bolt to the firewall? Did it use orginal bolt locations or was a drill your own type of deal. I never remember seeing that one.

There is a lip on the firewall, it isn't the strongest thing in the world, but it sure was a PITA to drill through for some reason....I had to make my own holes....