Hey guys,

I always thought this brace was for the AC brackets or something (my car came with AC system deleted) but this brace was all that was left.. It's impossible to remove without taking off the headers so i left it there.. Looking at this pic, and i've seen others around here, it looks as though this is an important brace connecting the frame to the strut tower cap or something!

My brace is connected to #1 in the pic, but it is NOT connected at point #2.. Should it be? There is no hole for it to go into... Odd..

 

One of a few underhood mystery braces that are on some cars in some years.

 

impossible to remove without taking off the headers? it's held by 2 small bolts, undo them and it comes right off.

Hole 2 is here, it's threaded...the bolt simply screws in there. The brace is there on all my cars (IROCs and a Trans AM), don't think it's thereon base camaros and birds

 

For what it's worth:

Brace, Whl Hse Pnl reinf-RH (Z28), is listed 82-91 in my parts and illustration CD. Though the Z28 business is only listed 82-86, the part number is the same for all years, 14045394.

JamesC

 

Interesting, I've never seen it before but both of mine are SC's. Can anyone tell me if the connection points are reinforced and how, or is it simply bolted to the sheet metal?

 

only to 91?? my B4C 1LE 92 car has it...

 

My CD only goes to 91.

JamesC

 

my cars had it but removed it and nothing happens think the strut tower brace is enough

 

Simply drilled and bolted w/ a self tapping screw. Nothing fancy.

 

It doesn't make sense that mine is connected at the frame but not at the strut tower. There is no hole for it to be screwed in at the strut tower! Should I make one and attach it? Super weird.....

 

Yeah weird, just drill a hole and use a self tapper.

 

I have a '91 GTA now, and used to have an '88 Formula. I don't recall ever seeing it on either one of my cars.

 

Thank you.

 

I wonder if that's a piece needed in the assembly process? Can't imagine that little thing would be of any real use.

 

i might as well attach it.. But it probly does nothing!

 

GM's cheap, so if the piece is worthless, I doubt that they'd have spent the money, but who knows.... Oh, and whether it means anything or not, there is a second brace on the pass side: BRACE, Fdr to Upr Cowl, p/n 14074745. The latter part, if you're unfamiliar, can be seen in pic in my vbGarage.

JamesC

 

Yep that one is there and intact! (the fender to cowl piece). That makes sense tho... Maybe GM forgot to drill it into the strut tower cap lmao...

 

I'd never seen one of those before, until a few weeks ago. There was one on eBay. Don't remember how much it sold for (or if it did). Does it actually make any difference, especially with the 3-point STB you have?

Eldon

 

Probably not, but at this point (STB, SFC's, Spohn strut mounts, steering box brace), saying either way would be difficult. Couldn't hurt. Should be a dime a dozen at the wrecking yards.

JamesC

 

Would anybody kno if the Strut Tower Brace, Edelbrock 87-92 Camaro/Firebird V8 w/ TPI Or TBI off of Hawks would fit an 86 bird with stock e4me

 

The Edelbrock STB (5227) won't fit carbed/TBI cars with the AC compressor on the driver's side because a brace interferes.

JamesC