Engine Strut Bar?

[rvlyssup]

FR3Z-16A200-C shows as both GT and 350 strut brace, with the 350 versions having the Ford Performance plate.

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[Bulldogs22]

guess im that asshole

If you didn't switch it out nothing is your fault and if you got it new I would drive right down to that dealer and say why did you or the factory take off my 350 specific strut bar.

 

[Cpove]

If you didn't switch it out nothing is your fault and if you got it new I would drive right down to that dealer and say why did you or the factory take off my 350 specific strut bar.

its almost 3 years ago now

 

[nastang87xx]

'16 Track Packs and R's have an aluminum brace. Base and Tech cars have a steel one. '17+, they're all the aluminum piece.

 

[Cpove]

'16 Track Packs and R's have an aluminum brace. Base and Tech cars have a steel one. '17+, they're all the aluminum piece.

just for reference buddy of mine in town has the identical car (2016 Tech pack) and his strut has ford performance written on the bar

 

[rvlyssup]

Apologies OP, was looking at this post through my phone earlier. My old tired eyes didn't see the GT badge.

I'd say someone swapped yours out.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-2016-...t-Tower-Brace-OEM-FR3Z-16A200-C-/201486448384

 

[Phoenix]

my 16 tech came with a strut bar. i took mine off because it doesnt really do anything.

 

[galaxy]

I literally just saw a video on the FB group of a guy asking about some noise his engine is making. His strut tower brace looks just like yours. Ironic; I couldn't believe it. His did have a GT350 tag on it however, but the shape was unmistakable. That "GT" on there didn't make you scratch your head a long time ago?

 

[Cpove]

I literally just saw a video on the FB group of a guy asking about some noise his engine is making. His strut tower brace looks just like yours. Ironic; I couldn't believe it. His did have a GT350 tag on it however, but the shape was unmistakable. That "GT" on there didn't make you scratch your head a long time ago?

I mean I did notice but I also live 2000miles from the dealership I bought it from so never made time to go back and ask wtf??

 

[johnny1]

I had a new 16 before my 17 and only difference if you didn't get the track pack on the 16 is the material brace is made of (and doesn't look like yours) and without the track pack you don't have the transmission and differential coolers. You still have the magnaride.

 

[johnson.ba]

I ordered a 17 GT w pp back in 2016 and mine came from the factory with a california special strut brace. I think these "mistakes" are decently commonplace.

 

[Niz55]

Damn dude took you 3 Years to figure this out?

 

[Cpove]

Damn dude took you 3 Years to figure this out?

again no...I just didn't care at the time because I hadn't seen any other cars strut bars and am over 2000 miles away from my original dealer... I am less concerned with whats stamped on the top and more with the fact that it appears to be constructed differently than the ford performance variant as well

 

[cmxPPL219]

Apologies OP, was looking at this post through my phone earlier. My old tired eyes didn't see the GT badge.

I'd say someone swapped yours out.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-2016-...t-Tower-Brace-OEM-FR3Z-16A200-C-/201486448384

OP - What rvlyssup linked here is the correct strut bar you should have, on certain early production MY15 and MY16 GT350 Base models.
Structurally and design-wise, it's the same, just the plaque is different. This bar shape is steel. On the later GT350s and/or the GT350Rs with the thicker-looking unit, those are aluminum.

You mentioned you bought yours new, which means 1 of 2 things in my mind:
1. As others have said, someone at the dealer swapped it out and hoped you wouldn't notice.
2. Sloppy Quality Control at Flat Rock Assembly in Michigan and they installed the wrong one from factory, and nobody noticed. (Whether due to a mistake or deliberately installed the wrong one because they ran out of the correct one, and just bolted the GT one on, and sent it down the line)

Trust me when I say this: As proud as the UAW is of Flat Rock and quality (and again, no factory anywhere in the world, Domestic or Import, is perfect) quality is a real issue at Flat Rock.

Ask some of the early MY15 model Mustang owners - it was bad. Some had mismatched interior door trim (one door was correct, the other completely different) meant for a different model - there are a handful of other issues. You can search it.

Two Recent Examples:
1. 2019 GT350R
Recently, I saw a video of a dealer (Town & Country Ford) with a 2019 GT350R. The dealer was promoing the GT350R and eventually showed some interior footage. Now, I'm an anal eye-for-details person. You know what I saw? So, for those who aren't aware, for MY19, GT350s now include the stitched center console that first debuted with MY2018 refresh.
GT350 should get silver stitching.
GT350R should get red stitching. I saw this GT350R with silver stitching on the center console, and meanwhile, the the "knee pads" and steering wheel had red stitching. And of course, red is meant to coordinate with the red-trim Recaros on the GT350R.

Around the 5:11 mark
(Whoever buys this, I hope they see this error and negotiate away the ADM on this lol...)


2. Mustang GT PP2
The PP2, for those who don't know, among other exterior stuff like the splitter, has a unique low-profile rear spoiler. What did I see a dealer (Andy Mohr) have in stock? A White GT PP2, and it had the PP1 pedestal rear spoiler installed. Yes. I checked the window sticker to see if possibly this was a special order unit and someone specc'd the PP1 spoiler. Nope.

https://www.andymohr.com/new-Indianapolis-2019-Ford-Mustang-GT+Premium-1FA6P8CF5K5178163
Still in stock as of this typing

Actual PP2 Rear Spoiler for reference...

And my Mustang? I have a black PP2. Factory paint. I see small dust specks here and there. And no, it wasn't repainted, or damaged during transport and repainted before put up for sale. All factory. I checked every panel, checked for over-spray, checked for masking, checked for all other clues. All original factory paint. I know I'm not the only one. My buddy has a '17 GT Ruby Red. Same...

I have a feeling the truth to your strut bar question lies somewhere in here...

DESPITE all this - Love these cars!

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