I want to install a strut tower brace (Edelbrock for TBI/carb w/o AC) and I think I have a problem or two. It says to mount the STB at the firewall first by measureing halfway (about 31" from the inside frame), but it I go over that far, it hits the master cylinder on the side. So I can only go over say 30"/32" @ center. Big deal?

Second problem, those tops of the struts that I think get moved around during the alignment... are they supposed to be in the way? On one side they are not(sort of), on the other side the STB bracket sits about half on top of one and rides about 1/4" above the frame of the car! Normal?

Edelbrock directions rival those of Holley... both suck! B&M gives you 3 pages on how to install a tranny pan!!! I figured this would be cake considering some things I've installed over the years...

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

ttt

 

I agree with you on the directions.

I installed the Edelbrock STB on my 1991 Camaro, and had absolutely no problems. EDIT: Sorry - I just noticed our cars are not the same - I have a TPI with A/C 1991 Camaro. So some of the following will not pertain to you. END EDIT If I wrote the instructions, I think I could have done a much better job. Per the directions, at the halfway point on the firewall lip, I centered the metal bracket which allowed the STB to clear everything fine. Not even close to my master brake cylinder (but then I have a 1991).

Regarding the struts. I too thought that the side mounts would get in the way with future adjustments (caster) to the struts. But (as learned from this site ), when adjusted to where they're supposed to be (~4.5° caster), the struts will be almost all the way back. So that'll fee up all the room needed to mount the two main bar mounting brackets (at least for me).

If your strut adjusting tops are sitting right below the STB mounting brackets, then something is waaaaay off. Are you sure you got the right STB for your car? I don't want to insult your intelligence, but since you said the STB is almost hitting you master brake cylinder (mine is 3" from the front bar!) and won't allow proper tower bracket placement, it sounds like the rear brace is not located correctly. On mine, the front edge of the brace is flush with the front edge of the firewall lip.

These are my measurements on my 1991 Edelbrock STB, which fits fine:

The two tubes attach to the main bar with a distance of 22-5/8" between these two points (1/2" holes).

Each tube is 20-1/8" long (center of bolt to center of bolt).

The firewall lip bracket is 4-1/8" (c-c).

Of course, using another bracket, bringing these two tubes together (at the firewall end) will bring the main bar rearward, and bringing these two tubes outward (using another bracket) will push the main bar forward. But you should not have to modify anything if you have a normal (stock) car and using the correct STB.

A couple observations about the Edelbrock STB.

1. First, I like it a lot. Professonal quality parts and workmanship. I'd certainly recommend it. I was going to get the Hotckhkis (another excellent quality brace), but since the Edelbrock was a three point vice two points for the Hotckhkis, and both were essentially the same price, the decision was a no brainer.

2. What I didn't like about the Edelbrock was that four bolts used on the main bar were too short to take advantage of the self-locking (nylon) nuts. These were the two bolts that attach the main brace to the two tower brackets and the two bolts that connect the two tubes and main brace together. The bolts were too short to engage the nylon on the lock-nuts. It's not a big deal, but with a quality part (and appropriate price), I expect everything to be right. It's often the details in the manufacturing and engineering of a product that separate the good from the excellent. Anyway, the solution was simple - I just picked up some grade 5 nuts and used blue locktight which works as good as (or better) than the nylon lock-nuts, IMO. Besides, the nylon locknuts were grade 2.

3. The only other thing I didn't like about the Edelbrock (at least the one I got) was that the tubing welded in the main bar to accept the 3/8" bolts was 1/2" in diameter, leaving 1/8" slack! I didn't want any slack in this bar, so I simply got some 3/8" I.D. x 1/2" O.D. (which equals a wall thickness of 1/16") poly tubing (notice how I didn't spell the full name of the tubing type? That's because I can't remember - it's the whitish/hard type tubing - not the clear/soft tubing) that I inserted in the holes. This way all the bolts are snug in their holes. I think Edelbrock did this intentionally to allow for any variations with customer installations.

You may want to confirm from Edelbrock that you received the correct STB (get the p/n of the STB off the box and/or take measurements of the bar/tubes). My box is still here, and it clearly says for "Tuned Port Injection with V8's" on the box. Also confirm that you're mounting it to the correct location on the upper lip of the firewall. That would be my guess.

Let us know what you find out.

[This message has been edited by Stuart Moss (edited June 16, 2001).]

 

WOW... thanks for the reply! I had called Edelbrock (I like thier parts and have quite a few of them on my car all ready) and they told me that the STB was the same for a TBI and Carb application and is different than the one for the TPI cars. He also said that the STB would NOT clear the AC condensor, but since I don't have one anymore, it wouldn't be a problem.

He didn't say anything about the master cylinder or strut adjustment brackets being in the way...

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

well ray i don't like edlebrock parts, but that doesn't matter here. it's not unusual for me to have to modify, grind, slot or whatever to make aftermarket parts fit.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

 

Bio,

Well, if you have the right bar, the only thing I can think of which would cause the problems you described would be either the car was in an accident, which relocated the strut tower and/or rear firewall location (must have been some accident!!!!), you're not locating the rear bracket correctly on the rear firewall lip, or someone put in the wrong part(s) in the box.

If you can confirm the first two guesses above, then I'd take measurements of the bar you got and call Edelbrook again and confirm that you have the right brace. That's the only thing I can think of.

Sometimes (not too often) I make stupid (obvious) mistakes with a project even though I am always meticulous. If I take a break (eat lunch or come back the next day), my error becomes obvious to me. See what happens when you get old....

Good luck.

 

I just saw what Mr. Ede said.

If you have the correct parts and you vehicle is normal, it'd be hard to imagine that Edelbrock would manufacture a part that would require so much modifying (gridning/drilling/etc.). A little I could understand, but from what you said, it sounds like major. Obviously I have never had any bad experiences from the couple time's I've used Edelbrock products.

Please let us (me) know what you find. If in fact it is poor engineering (quality control?) from Edelbrock, I'd sure like to know.

I have no doubt that ede has more experience (personal or word-of-mouth) with them than I have (very limited in both cases) and I always put a high value on his posts. That is why I will be interested to know what you find.

Thanks

//Stuart

[This message has been edited by Stuart Moss (edited June 16, 2001).]

 

As far as I can tell, this car has never been in an accident. In Chuck Everly's picture, it looks like the STB does come close to the Master Cylinder on his old car too. I'm hoping he'll chime in about if he had the same issue.

Those strut adjusment bractes are movable... I think it is torqued around to an odd angle that simply gets in the way of the STB on one side (more than the other). By looking at it, it appears that I will have to move the one on the drivers side, install the STB, and go get re-aligned

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-