I'm wondering about fabricating a strut brace in my TPI car. I'm curious about a few things on the 2 point braces though
1) the rod ends that attach to the brackets on the towers, do they swivel freely and if not what keeps them from doing so?
2) how much room is there between a stock TPI V8 and it's closed hood? I need to know clearances so I can get bend angles right.

I already have a set of rod ends. they are surplus wing strut ends off a Piper supercub made out of high quality billit aluminum I'm just wondering about a few things before I start to finalize my plans.

 

The rod ends will swivel yea. What you're bolting them to should have double plates though, so it won't swivel much. The rod end will just let keep your upper part of the front end from compressing, but will let it "slide" forward and backwards.
Think about a wonderbar to go with it.
As far as hood clearance, i'm not sure. Do you still have that hood padding? You can always use play-doh to find out.

 

Thanks. No I don't have the padding anymore. ( got rid of it when the hood was replaced when I hit the deer 5 years ago)
So I'm not sure what 'double-plates' means, is it that the braket 'pinches' the rod end slightly to keep the swivel to a minimum? I guess I'm going to buy some play-doh in the near future.

 

Yep, exactly. Keeps the bolts in double shear for more strength.

 

Thanks that's just what I needed.