I found a guy selling a used Hotchkis STB for the TPI engines, black, with a "rub mark" in the middle and missing the four mounting bolts to the strut towers (easily replaced). He's asking $100 US shipped, and if he'll ship it USPs I won't expect any ugly border fees. Does this sound fair?

 

that sounds way too much for a chunk of steel tubing or solid steel or whatever the hell they make those things from. thats like 170 canadian or something. put that money towards more useful mods. plus those things make it even harder and more complicated to work on the engine in an already cramped engine bay. just one more thing to uninstall and remove to get to something else.

 

I agree 100% strut tower brace is practically useless.

 

They arent completely useless, but I made mine in 3-4 hours and with $40 in steel and $5 in paint. It looks about as good ( one of the welds is kinda ghetto because it was in an awkward place and I couldnt grind it.

They arnet totally useless, because when your front outside tire is making like a 1000 lbs of force, the fenders will bend. But the only way they bend is if it is making like 1000 lbs of force, which is like .9+ gs. But most peeps put it on for decoration or to eliminate rattles in the front end.

 

I agree the price is to high for a used part with some items missing. A STB is the best improvement you can make to a 3rd Gen Car besides SFC's. Comments are from people who wouldn't know the difference any way.

 

You must be kidding right??? SFC are the best thing by far to improve the structure of these f-body cars. Reading information on these cars state that fome of the fire walls crack from the stress put on these cars. Making these cars strong is the way to go, I put the sfc and the stb on my car and what a huge difference the sfc make. As far as a stb alone, I would be hesitant to do so because you are only gioing to make the front end mode ridged. If you go with a stb go with a 3 point brace, it's stronger . My 2 cents worth

 

I guess you dont read very well. I said "that the STB is the best improvement you can make to 3rd Gen car besides SFC's". In case you do not understand that means BOTH.

 

There's no way I read that right... Are SFCs and wonderbars useless too?

Oh and as for beefing up the engine first, that just leaves me shaking my head. That's almost like saying to drop in a 400sb before you add sub frame connectors. Granted not to the same extend, but the same general idea. Power before structural reinforcements? C'mon...

DJP87Z28, I don't think they were referring to your comments.

So the general informed opinion is that the price is too high, right? Thanks guys.

 

i have zero structural reinforcements, and i went the power before rigidity route. however, this is part of the reason i have absolutely terrible 60ft times. my stock suspension is old and worn. i want to get subframes some day, but i have other mods to do first. good sfcs, like the one rachet and johnyiroc made, are excellent and really stiffen up the car and make it much stronger. however, the strut tower brace is more for show and getting in the way. i would never put one of those in my car. i cant stand things in the way when you are trying to fix or modifity something.

 

Original owner of 1987 Camaro IROC-Z and with the addition of the STB & SFC"s and other parts the car is tighter, rattle & squeak free then when it was new. Also the handling is greatly improved over stock.

 

Yes I can read just like other people in the forum

 

I'll third that. The only reason I have one is that I was able to get one off of Ebay for about $40. I didn't notice a thing after installing it. I think the only ones that may improve rigidity are the 3 point ones that don't use any kind of joints and that have solid mounting points.

 

Three point units are the only way to go- by only tieing the strut towers together (2 point unit)- you basically force the opposite side of the suspension to move (assuming steel body strut mount area flexes somewhat) in-line with the force applied to the one side- i.e. wheels match up better and suspensions is more symmetrical- but there is no real tie-in to the body other than through the teeny-weenie strut tower caps. A 3-point unit at least ties the body in more effectively with the firewall or in some designs- the rad support.

And yes- a pretty useless upgrade if SFCs are not in place beforehand.

 

If you bought one of those Cheap POS jamex one off e-bay you deserve it. From most of the posts I have read, most are from people who do not have a Quality STB installed or any other aftermaket supension items and are just talking heresay.
My opinion is you don't know what a improvement is over a stock set up.

 

Great- and did we ask for someone in Ohio to step in this forum to raise ****?

Why not impress the people over in you locale with your knowledge and stay outta here?

 

Dumb sh-ts from up North. Can't stand someone who knows more then you. And I did not bring up anything about anyones location until your DUMB *** remarks.

 

You are right a 3 point brace is much more stronger than a two point one. And djp87z28 chill man this is a forum and by reading what you think you know you have a lot to learn.:nono:

 

You are right a 3 point brace is much more stronger than a two point one. And djp87z28 chill man this is a forum and by reading what you think you know you have a lot to learn.:nono:

 

Pssssst, your ignorance is showing.....

Look, pud,......If you think the Jamex is any different than the Hotchkis, BMR, etc, then you're the dumb ****. They are all jointed. They all move at those joints. The only "qaulity STB's" I can think of are the Kenny Brown and the old HPM bars.

This is a public forum but if you think you can come in here and act like an idiot, you're wrong. That's my job. Please confine your ignorance to the other boards. I suggest the TBI and Street Racing boards.

 

He may be from Ohio but he's right for the most part... <shrug> A STB does serve a structural purpose, although I know little about the various brands.

Some are jointed, some aren't. If there's no slop in the joints then there's no difference, aside from being easier to remove. C'mon, two bolts and it's out. Not a big deal. Granted, a three point brace would be better structurally.

At any rate, I guess the majority answer was a resounding "no"?

 

I bought one (Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace for TBI/carb.) but in the rush to get it I didn't check that it wouldn't fit on cars with the A/C on the driver's side... does any one want to buy it? $120 takes it!