I kept hearing that most STBs (except maybe the BMR one) won't fit with the lower Pontiac hoodline, but nothing saying WHY. Bugt I've never held much confidence in the the thin bar in the middle vs a square or round tube.

I got an Edelbrock STB today anyways, and decided to see for myself.

OK....If you set the 2 strut mounts as far forward as possible on the metal, yet still have good metal support for them, you can JUST get a piece of paper in between the plenum & STB crossbar. By paper, I mean one of those stiff magazine subscription reply cards. Not cardboard...and not paper paper. More like stiff paper.

Even then, the hood would close, but sit up over the fender line by maybe 1/8". Something was holding it up.......Using some red paint on top of the STB, I shut the hood, and used the paint to "mark" where it was hitting the bottom of the hood. Nice...Only 2 spots!

Angle grinder took care of one side (VERY MINIMAL), and drilling 2 holes (in the bracing) then using the angle grinder to open up the 2 holes into a slot, problem solved on that side!

I might do a little more clearancing to the bottom of the STB over the plenum. Right now it clears, but if the engine torques over even 1/8", the plenum will hit the bottom of the STB. So, that needs some taking care of. I could raise the whole brace, but I'd gget more hood clearance issues.


So, it'll fit, with no more mods than you'd basically expect, for an aftermarket part.......so far.

Looks promising!

 

I must say....I'm overwhelmed by the # of responses of "They WON'T fit." or "IF you do THIS, THIS, & THIS, they'll fit...or "Duno what you mean. Mine dropped in fine.". Even is some HAD said it won't fit, no way, no how, I'd have tried anyways. I make things seemingly impossible, possible.



Well, after redrilling the 2 passenger side strut mount holes forward about 1/4" (I'll weld the first 2 shut), the passenger side cowl bar fit. It was hitting on the countour underneath the cowl area not alloting it to fit flat.

Tip....Secure the 2 cowl bars FIRST, then do the strut tower mounts. Had I done that, I wouldn't have had to redrill 2 holes.

Since I moved that mount forward, it also created more interference with the under hood bracing. A little wet, red paint to mark the problem area and my small ball peen hammer solved that little issue! Just gotta (maybe) clean the red paint spots off the black bar. I'm more concerned with functio that "pretty" though.

As for the plenum to cross bar clearance...1/4" MAYBE? But, sitting in the car, hood open, I can see light under the crossbar & the shadow of the bar on the plenum. Even at full rev & throttle stab, the plenum is in no danger of hitting the bar. I could fully see the light under the car on the plenum.

So yes. With some effort, the Edelrock 3-pt STB WILL fit a Pontiac.

 

I didn't realize that they weren't supposed to fit a Firebird until I saw this thread, and I was planning on one for mine. Have you got any pics of the mods you did to your hood?

 

I meant to take pics, but I never did.

All I did was use some red model paint, dab it on top of the STB where I thought it was hitting & shut the hood.

The red marks told me where to use my BFH at. Problem solved! I still need to clean the red paint off the STB.

 

I got the impression that you had to cut the bracing and I was a little leery of that, but I have no problem with a little BFH work. Thanks!

 

On 2 of the bracings, I drilled 1 hole near another already existing hole, then used my die grinder to "slot" it (maybe 1.5" long), then hammere down that area. No big deal, other than making SURE the grind sprks wre aimed AWAY from the base of the windshield. I wouldn't want those hot spark to breach the windshield & embedd themselves.

 

Here you go. It turns out I only cut the drivers side not the passenger side. I only hammered on the passenger side.

Edelbrock 3 pt STB
pic missing

Drivers side under hood (where I had to "cut" the bracing)




Drivers side strut mount
pic missing

Passenger side under hood (no cutting here, just dimpling)



Passengerside strut mount (you'll notice the passenger sits farther forward. I had to redrillthe holes. Do the cowl mount FIRST, then the strut mounts, to get them even on the struts)
pic missing

 

When i installed mine I elongated the holes where the bar attaches to the mounts and the mounts are almost touching the shock mounts. I also have somewhere between 1/8-1/4" of clearance from the plenum to the brace with no contact. I only had 2 spots where the brace touched the hood at each corner where it angles down to meet the tower mounts. I also avoided further contact with the bars running from the brace to the cowl by attaching them on the underside of the cowl and brace. I'm thinking of removing it so I can leave my Carmotorsports hood liner I use for car shows on all the time instead of having to remove it to drive.

 

Considering the cost of those Carmotorsports hood liner costs (I've looked before...eeeeek!) I wouldn't drive with the hood liner installed & only put it in for shows.

 

That's true but since the car is a toy now and only comes out for shows, cruise ins and fair weather driving only to the tune of 100-200 miles a month keeping it clean wouldn't be a problem. Plus having to replace the hood liner clips is a pain as they have usually only been good for 2-3 uses.

 

My friend has an '88 Formula and I've never heard him ever mention anything about having clearance issues when he installed it. Although he does have an L03 and a formula hood so that may be the difference right there.

 

Big difference, I had the Edelbrock TBI brace when my car was still TBI and had absolutely no clearance issues. I guess it all boils down to the Firebird's low hood lines and the TPI.

 

Ok now for the extra-stupid question. Has anyone ever tried to put a TBI strut tower brace on a TPI?

 

Won't clear the front of the TB and intake.

 

anyone ever try it on a v6?

 

Even less effort is required to install the BMR piece. That "thin" piece of metal you refer to is actually pretty thick. Also, the way it crosses the plenum looks very nice. Not trying to pick a fight, but your method seems like quite a bit of work just to use an equally strong brace.