Cowl or K brace, standard?

[GTBOB]

As seen here at 8:27

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[GT Pony]

There must be something different between the factory cowl brace setup and the Ford Racing setup. See attached photos.

The original factory piece also has some kind of other bracket involved (it's zip tied to the brace, so hard to understand where it goes), and maybe that's where the 5th bolt (the one I don't have) comes in somehow. The Ford Racing kit doesn't have that other smaller bracket piece.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

The fact that the service manual shows a bolt hole there for cars that come with the brace doesn't prove there would be one for cars that did not come with the brace. Still it doesn't make much sense for them to NOT have one. Why complicate the manufacturing procedure or screw up the Ford Performance strut kit sales?

 

[GT Pony]

Here's an install of the Ford Racing strut tower brace and cowl brace on a non Performance Package GT. If you watch closely from 3:00 min and beyond you see only 4 bolts holding the cowl brace down - it's missing the 5th bolt just like mine. So I guess the non PP GTs don't have 5 bolts, but only 4. Seems strange.

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[GT Pony]

The fact that the service manual shows a bolt hole there for cars that come with the brace doesn't prove there would be one for cars that did not come with the brace. Still it doesn't make much sense for them to NOT have one. Why complicate the manufacturing procedure or screw up the Ford Performance strut kit sales?

Agree ... only thing I can think of is that extra bracket that comes with the factory setup somehow gives the 5th bolt. :shrug:

 

[GT Nate]

I'm pretty sure that smaller brace goes along the windshield . I think there was a thread about it.

 

[GTBOB]

There must be something different between the factory cowl brace setup and the Ford Racing setup. See attached photos.

The original factory piece also has some kind of other bracket involved (it's zip tied to the brace, so hard to understand were it goes), and maybe that's where the 5th bolt (the one I don't have) come in somehow. The Ford Racing kit doesn't have that other smaller bracket piece.

That small bracket part # is FR3Z-63016A52-A

 

[GTBOB]

This is the bracket, you have to use some imagination. The 3 circled threaded bosses go towards the windshield. The "square" is the boss for your missing 5th bolt. The orientation of this photo is wrong...the bosses would be facing down/not visible.

 

[GT Pony]

@GTBOB ... thanks for the info. Guess Ford Racing doesn't care to include the smaller bracket with their strut tower/cowl brace kit.

So is the sole purpose of this other smaller bracket just to provide a 5th hole, or is there some other function?

 

[GTBOB]

@GTBOB ... thanks for the info. Guess Ford Racing doesn't care to include the smaller bracket with their strut tower/cowl brace kit.

So is the sole purpose of this other smaller bracket just to provide a 5th hole, or is there some other function?

I see some structural benefit for this small bracket. It bridges the gap from the k brace to the meaty part of the firewall.

 

[Alloy]

I see some structural benefit for this small bracket. It bridges the gap from the k brace to the meaty part of the firewall.

Yup GTBOB is correct. To get the full benefit/rigidity from the K-brace/strut tower brace, you need the 3rd smaller brace. It's pretty hefty but it does indeed "fill in" the gap between the top of the firewall/base of the windshield and the rear most part of the k brace.

I just happen to have one for sale brand new never installed. I was going to use it for my '15 base but traded that in for a PP which did come with it. Asking $50 shipped (it ain't light).

 

[BmacIL]

There is no denying the benefit as Ford would not have added the cost for the extension plate if it didn't have an effect. That said, I'm having trouble seeing how much it does with only one connection point between the inner and outer cowl panels.

 

[JamesinLittleSilver]

Weird I have the EB and I am sure I would have freaked out if I had been missing a bolt. Now I have to go home and check.

 

[GT Pony]

Weird I have the EB and I am sure I would have freaked out if I had been missing a bolt. Now I have to go home and check.

If your car didn't have the cowl brace from the factory, then it doesn't have the extra smaller bracket shown in post #23, which means there will only be 4 bolts used on the aftermarket Ford Racing cowl brace.

 

[GT Pony]

Here's a photo off of eBay I found that kind of shows how the firewall bracket and cowl brace match up with each other - note the profile match on the top edges of each piece. The red arrow I added shows where the 5th mounting bolt would go on a factory installed cowl brace.

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