Anyone have a strut tower brace? What are the pros and what are the cons?

I'm thinking about either a Hotchkis 2-point one, or a BMR 3-point one. Which is better, 2 or 3?

 

I can not think of anything negative about the STB. My opinion is it tighted up the front end of my car. Also you will note a lot of highend latemodel cars have them as stock.
My Hotchkis STB.

 

i think the 3 point is better . less body flex in my opinion . edelbrock makes a good one , not too expensive . advance auto , auto zone , napa , most any parts store . good luck .

 

Is your hotchkis on for a LT1? I couldn't find a red one for 3rd gens...? Where did you pick yours up at?

 

I bought it a Sumitt Racing quite a few years ago. And that a TPI 350.

 

I know it's a TPI engine...i was wondering if the STB was for a LT1...because i couldn't find a red one made for the TPI motors.

 

BMR makes one. you can have it powder coated a couple different colors I believe. UMI may also make one. There are several others. Check the site sponsors.

 

Yeah...i saw BMR has one...and Edelbrock's seems to look nice (comes in black, but could probably spray paint it red). I really like the looks of the Hotchkis though, so that's what i was wondering...and i wouldn't want to spray paint the hotchkis because it has hotchkis written on there!

 

They look almost identical to me...

 

seems they are all red with a black option. I like the Eldabrock ones. What about if you have a LS motor? They sit low enough you can use anyone you want right?

 

i have the edelbrock. with the strut brace and a wonder bar it tightened my whole front end up, i love both of them..


The down side is. pulling valve covers off. It is a giant pain in the **** if you have to pull them.

 

So...did hotchkis stop making a TPI STB? I can't locate it on the site. LT1 STB looks similiar...will it fit?

 

I have part number 2001SS and they are a gun metal gray with red decals. This works with the TPI only. The price is $196.82. This was the reply of an e-mail from Hotchkis.

 

One of the previous owners of my ride installed a Kenny Brown STB on my Camaro.

I removed it once in order to feel the difference...

The front of the car made me think about something that would look like jelly.

Once it was rebolted to the car, the front was really tighted up, and the steering feelings were much better.

 

Hotchkis still makes a TPI STB...i'm looking at one on Hawks! I would like to get it in red...but they only make it for the LT1...i don't know if that will fit a 3rd engine compartment or not! If i didn't go w/ the Hotchkis, i would probably go w/ the black Edelbrock, and then paint it red. What does everyone think i should do?

Hotchkis 2-point?
Edelbrock 3-point?

 

I would go with a two point because all the three point STB's I've seen only have little rods connecting it to the firewall. I just don't see how such small diameter rods could provide much of a noticable differance other than to help clutter up the engine bay.

On a side note...
Instead of everyone saying "yeah it felt a lot better" or "dont get it, it doesnt do much;" I wish someone or a company would take their products and a car to a skid pad or something and test how much of an improvement it really gives. Atleast it would give us better info on how to get the most bang for our buck.

Anyone with a bunch of money and time on their hands and are willing to provide the thirdgen community with cold hard facts please step forward.

 

no the three point IMO is better. Yes some may look smaller and infact be but tying in the strut towers and the firewall all together is triangulating the front end. I see them for TBI mostly.

But if i may ask again....... TBI 3 point on a LSX? is it being done? or does LSX force the two point or custom? I see pictures that seem to make the engine look lower (as in the final hight of the intake vs. TBI or TPI)

 

LS engines don't affect the STB at all. A friend of mine has a LS1 with a STB, and PLENTY of clearance. The only mod he had to make to the STB was the mounts. And that was because of his fiberglass hood, not the LS1. Cut the tops down, shortened them, and drilled new bolt holes. Problem solved.

Pros of STB? Tighter steering, more responsiveness.

Cons? Price. Build it at home for a FRACTION of the price.

 

I think i'm going to get the Edelbrock on. Not too expensive and will do the same thing as all of the others!

 

UMI is coming out with a STB. I'm waiting to see what that one looks like before I make a decision although the Edelbrock TBI unit looks sweet for us carbed guys.

 

As far as I know, the only downside of a STB is all of that added weight on the front of the car. I don't have one yet, but I hate how heavy all of these chassis stiffening products are. I really want the bare metal Hotchkis STB, but I hear they stopped making them

Wait, I just thought of a downside

A guy over at LS1tech put his on when his car wasn't sitting level. Takes a ride down the road, things start feeling funny. Next thing he knows he's got a big crack in his windshield

 

Yes, they do add weight. Adding anything does. But the benefits outweigh the consequences.

Like a roll cage. up the weight but gain chassis benefits. Same for SFCs.

 

does anybody know if anybody makes any braces that would fit an 86 trans am with an LT1
thanks for any help

 

LT1s & LS1s have a shorter overall height than TPIs, so you can use ANY STB.

The only time you have to consider the design is if is a carb'd/TBI one or not.

 

thanks alot. its a good feeling knowing that i have a selection now. i guess my next step is to see if i can find a chrome 3pt

 

STB a MUST!
Edelbrock would not fit my '83 Firebird. The one I have, the Co. is long out of biz.
There is this sweeper of an on ramp. My car would be a bit scary, if pressed. I thought it needed more rear spring. STB and voila! it handled fine. So it was scary, all that unease on the sweeper, was front end FLEX.

 

Yeah, that's common w/ 3 pt's on 4th gens. But not on 3rd gens. I asked the same question over on Z28.com (good advice) and they said that it's common on 4th gens, but doesn't happen on 3rd gens!

 

With a LT1 under the hood of a third gen you need to use the TPI model not the TBI it will not clear the alternator. Trust me I found out the hard way!

 

The two point design is more than sufficient for the majority of applications. It is much easier to remove when you need to service the engine as well. Three point braces can be a major pain to install as well as remove, plus they have been known to crack the windshield even when properly installed.

 

I have yet to see a 3rd windshield crack, that could even SLIGHTLY blamed on a 3-pt STB. 4th gens yeah, 3rd gens no.

 

I am glad you havent but I have. A customer who runs SCCA solo course killed two in a season with no stone chips in the glass. We changed to a two point and havent cracked a windshield since.

Coincidence? Maybe. But I havent reccomended a three point since and I run a two point Hotchkis on my personal third gen.

 

Interesting. I had a 3pt on my 90 RS, running on 3 piece wheels & race compound tires, not DOTs, and never did. Nor have I seen or heard of a 3pt being a possible cause.

 

I understand how a STB would help in the twistys, but is there any gain at the dragstrip?

 

Good for you Stephen, like I said we could not find a reason and actually changed the brace for a unrelated reason. With it being the only difference since the previous season I have no other part to blame for the damage. Everyone builds on their own experiences, yours are obviously different than mine. It dosent make either wrong.
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Good question Bluegrass, if the car stands up off of the front tires the brace definately helps with the initial shock of the "landing" or if the car has a coil over conversion it will help the vehicle hold the weight with less strut tower deflection. Otherwise the effects of a brace on a drag car will be less dramatic than that of a road race or street car that will see higher turning loads.

 

So if you are getting some hang time off the line, it would be worth installing.

I can see how it would help with the coilover conversion. I run stock springs and struts, so it hadnt thought about that.

 

They are pretty much always a worthwhile install. For what they cost its a no brainer. Depending on your setup it is up to you if it will not be too much of a hinderance when it comes time to thrash on it in the pits.

 

I have the BMR 3-point (black) on my car. I was amazed at the difference in how the car felt when cornering that it made. I don't think that there is much difference between a 2 & 3-point brace. The 3-point connects on the part of the cowl that does not have much support so I do not believe that it makes a huge difference. But I would rank the STB very high on a must-do list for upgrading any suspension projects on our cars.

 

i have a edelbrock stb for sale right now and its painted red



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