Anyone know of an available strut tower brace that will definitely fit and clear the hood on a TPI Firebird? I've tried the Edelbrock piece with no luck and from what I can find the BMR isn't much better. I'm about to the point of designing my own but wanted to take one last stab at finding a production piece.

 

I had a Hotchkis STB on my old Formula. You may need to trim the hood liner a tiny bit, but worked fine for me.

 

I went as far as removing the hood liner and that didn't help. The Edelbrock brace just about requires metal trimming and I'd like to avoid that. Their 3 point TBI brace had no clearance issues at all but I had the 3 point TPI brace sitting on top of the TPI and the hood still would not close. I've heard that Hotchkis has stopped producing their 3rd gen brace. BMR was my next choice but I've read that they're just about as bad on a bird.

 

You don't need a 3 point STB. I am sure you can find a Hotchkis STB somewhere for sale.

Unless you installed some tall motor mounts, the Hotchkis will work.

 

Just personal preference but I'd rather have a 3 point.

 

A three point is not good because the firewall is not a load bearing structure. You can actually bend the firewall and crack the windshield if it twists just enough.

I do not know of any 3pts that will fit correctly on a TPI 'Bird though.

 

Any idea on how close the Hotchkis brace will come to the hood?

 

If you trim a tiny bit off the hood liner, you should have no problem.

 

i had a bmr 3 point on my car, with energy mounts, no probs

 

I got the Edelbrock to fit yesterday. Apparently too much time off during the holidays can get the mind working. I had already removed the old hood liner since it was looking worn and after a couple hours of fitting, testing and many times raising and closing the hood it finally cleared. Wound up elongating one hole in each of the smaller braces and trimming a 1/2" by 2" long strip off the hood brace on the passenger side just above the STB and it worked. I just don't see the issue about a 3 point causing the windshield to crack. The area at the cowl is pretty solid and the amount of flex it would take to cause this would be enourmous. I can see it happening to a 4th gen as the cowl extends over the rear of the engine and it would take considerably less twist to crack the windshield. Has this happened to anyone here before?

 

On my car, the 3 point BMR fits, but does touch the hood linder. My problem was the "3rd point." The brackets bmr supplied did not reach my firewall, so my shop had to fab an extender plate. Maybe they're just trying to save a buck

 

Im looking for the Hotchkis strut tower brace as well.... Cant seem to find one anywhere. Site doesnt havent. Someone told me they got one from JEGs..but didnt get back to me with a part number yet. I dont like the way the BMR looks. With that welded in piece that says BMR... Ide rather have it be all one piece. The Hotchkis one is simple, and seems to flow well with the car and the engine bay.

If anyone has a line on where to get these things please...do tell!!

Justin

P.S....does anyone know if the Hotchkis bar for the 93-97s will work? Or are they too short? They look like they might work with alittle tweaking...

 

Hotckis still sells a special edition (or something like that) of the bar if you call and order. However, they admittedly stopped making them.

 

Hi,
I went though three STBs until I found one that fitted. I've ended up the two point BMR