Aftermarket Product ReviewProvide questions and answers about aftermarket parts for the Third Generation F-Body.
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I'm considering buying the UMI strut tower brace and I would like to know if anyone of you have used these braces on your 3rd gen. and just want to know how they fit and feel on the road? I tried seaching for write ups, couldn't find any. I'v got a 87 GTA w/5.7 TPI.... Thankx guys!
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Have one on my 85 Iroc. Well made,fits great. I have heard that there may be an issue with some of the Firebird hoods. I would call UMI and ask. Other than that,a very well made product. As for road feel, I personally believe they do more for overall strength in the body of the car by tying it together via the shock towers. Some folks say they are cosmetic only. I lost a squeak under heavy cornering due to the installation of the brace. All in all,I like it. IMAO
Definitely not a cosmetic only thing. The strut tower brace aids in stiffening the front end under cornering. I recently had mine off (I have an Edelbrock brace) and hated how sloppy the front end felt without it. Slapped it back on, and everything stiffened right up. DEFINITELY worth the money.
they do not fit the GTA/Trans am hoods without cutting the inner hood supports, Stephen was the guinea pig and he can explain if he ever got it to fit and what he had to do
The STB do serve a purpose and work very well, however, if you are still using the stock strut mounts, with the rubber bushings, you will not see all the benefit of the brace. Upgrading to a solid bushing design would be best. Check out the J&M ones from Hotpart.com, which are arguably the best ones on the market, or Spohn, they make a nice one too, but it doesnt have nearly as much adjustment or lifetime warranty of the J&M one
The STB do serve a purpose and work very well, however, if you are still using the stock strut mounts, with the rubber bushings, you will not see all the benefit of the brace.
Thank you for the above. Too many people simply waste time, money, and effort in installing the STB without spherical mounts.
JamesC
__________________ "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Hamlet
Other then headlights, firebird and camaros, are the hoods really different? Why cut/mod the hoods on GTAs if the braces fit fine on IROCs?
they are much different, the firebirds have pointer noses than the camaro does. The hood on the camaro is kinda flat, where as the firebird is rounded down after the shock towers. The GTA/TA hoods have different bracing than the firebird/formula, and that causes an issue.
You HAVE to cut the supports, its just the way it is, its already been tested.
Yes, I was the guinea pig/tester for UMI, for fitting their STB under the GTA/TA hood.
I had an Edelbrock 3-pt & it didn't fit either. It hit the under hood bracing, causing the rear of the hood to sit up higher than the fenders & requires some cutting of the bracing to fit right, but the cutting is minimal.
I test fit the UMI & had to cut a little more (over what the Edelbrock required), but that is only because it is bigger, thicker material and stronger. That & I adjusted it to sit a little higher to prevent rubbing on the TPI intake plenum.
The red on the bottom of the hood is from the ink I used to mark the brace, where it was hitting, so I knew where to cut or beat with my hammer
Stephen Thank you Very much for your quick reply...you mentioned that you raised UMI STB higher so not to rub the intake! If its NOT raised Does it rub? or is it too close for comfort to take a chance without raising it?... Thankx, Paul....lol I did get your PM reply first...
Stephen Thank you Very much for your quick reply...you mentioned that you raised UMI STB higher so not to rub the intake! If its NOT raised Does it rub? or is it too close for comfort to take a chance without raising it?... Thankx, Paul....lol I did get your PM reply first...
I started the bar as short/low as it could go. Rubbed the intake. Used a magazine subscription reply card as a feeler, to get the STB off the plenum. Felt good, let's go! Wrong....Hood hit, was above the fender edge. Hammer time!
Not enough.....OK, here comes the saw. There, now it it clears, hood sits down, plenum doesn't rub. All good huh? I thought so too, but no.
Check out the album of pics again.....I found 2 pics not in there, that shoulda been. Those show the result of an engine torquing over, on good motor mounts, with MINIMAL clearance. 2 grooves across the plenum.
I lengthened the bar/raised it last week, then sanded & sanded & sanded the top of the plenum down, to lower it. Now I think I have plenty of room, but of course....That meant the hood hit again. More cutting, more hammering & all is good again. I need to pull it again (at least one end to look under) & if no marks, I'm good. More marks means more work.
Not a big deal. Just what it takes. And really...What is has taken to get it to fit, is well worth the effort.
i have a gta.....get a bmr strut tower brace... it bolted on without any hood or intake issues.. just need to drill holes of course... and it looks good
Yes, it does look good, thankx 88fastgta. Now next Question, When I do the install of a STB, should the car be on the floor, be jack up on its suspension, or up on its unibody frame???...What should I do to get the car as straight as possible before mounting/placing the STB???
Resting on its tires/full weight on the suspension.
What I don't like about the BMR one, is the flat plate in the middle. I prefer the tubular bar, all the way across.
Cutting the hood (in my eyes) equals less potential stress on the chassis, than holes drilled in the strut tower. With a different hood, the problem becomes a moot point.
Now next Question, When I do the install of a STB, should the car be on the floor...
Should you wish to take full advantage of the STB, you might consider replacing the OE strut mounts with spherical mounts which eliminate rubber which will deflect. At any rate, I'd install the STB on a level footing on the floor with the suspension loaded.
JamesC
__________________ "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Hamlet
yes as stephen says do it with the suspension loaded..... and i can see what stephen is saying.. but i highly doubt those 4 holes would do anything.... gm put factory holes where the coolant overflow, windsheild washer fluid and cruise control mount and all of those are very close to the strut tower brace... i deleted my washerfuild and cruise control so those holes are exposed..... i dont know if you seen my recent thread aboutputting on alstons and bmr subframes together along with the bmr strut tower brace and wonder bar, but my car handles like a dream now and have no complaints are far as flexing goes...
Sorry that I haven't checked in lately! Thankx to all those who have replied to my thread and questions. You all have given my much insight to what I'm in for!!!
