V6 tower brace

[Mustang_Eh]

Hey all,

So I impulse bought a GT tower brace for my V6 for a decent Canadian price :headbonk:

Has anyone installed these? I know they apparently don't clear the manifold, but I was talking to other people in my group and they said if I add spacers of sorts it should be fine. Thoughts?

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[s550v6]

Hey all,

So I impulse bought a GT tower brace for my V6 for a decent Canadian price :headbonk:

Has anyone installed these? I know they apparently don't clear the manifold, but I was talking to other people in my group and they said if I add spacers of sorts it should be fine. Thoughts?

Try some spacers and let me know! Been wondering about this for awhile now. Do you also have the k-member brace that connects both towers to the firewall? If not I would reccomend that one too to see full improvements from the strut tower brace. There is a therad on it somewhere here.

 

[DR_]

You should do both braces, the k brace to the firewall and the strut brace. If you use both braces you will still need to raise the top brace about 1/4" to clear the intake manifold. I accomplished this with washers but I plan to remove the washers and lower the engine with BMR motor mounts. If you don't use the k brace then you will need to lift the strut brace by probably 1/2"

 

[jburgess1379]

How confident are you in the washer set up for long term? Large fender washers I assume? I wonder if the Steeda brace will work as well.

 

[Tems]

Can anyone just give a brief explanation on the Tower Braces function? Besides making the engine bay look nice.

 

[s550v6]

Can anyone just give a brief explanation on the Tower Braces function? Besides making the engine bay look nice.

The tower brace connects the points when the strut (which is a part of the suspension and connected to the wheel) connects to the body of the car. By connecting the strut towers together it makes the frame stiffer and prevents the two towers from moving in relation to one another, this is called a geometry change I believe. The stiffer the frame of the car the better it will handle and apply its power to the ground.

To all who read, if any of this is wrong please correct me because this is my current understanding!

 

[s550v6]

Can anyone just give a brief explanation on the Tower Braces function? Besides making the engine bay look nice.

Think of adding a top to a box, it increases its rigidity.

 

[DR_]

How confident are you in the washer set up for long term? Large fender washers I assume? I wonder if the Steeda brace will work as well.

I wouldn't use washers long term. Mishimoto makes a permanent spacer for their tower brace in case you don't have the bottom k brace. A lot of people will be just throwing away that spacer and I want to get a hold of one and see if it does the trick.

 

[jburgess1379]

I wouldn't use washers long term. Mishimoto makes a permanent spacer for their tower brace in case you don't have the bottom k brace. A lot of people will be just throwing away that spacer and I want to get a hold of one and see if it does the trick.

I have the full K brace/cowl extension. So it'd only be about a 1/4" of washers. Does their spacer come with their strut brace? I could use that on top of my K brace.

 

[Clarkson]

I have the full K brace/cowl extension. So it'd only be about a 1/4" of washers. Does their spacer come with their strut brace? I could use that on top of my K brace.

So K brace fits with no issue?

 

[jburgess1379]

So K brace fits with no issue?

Definitely. Its the same upper brace the 20"ers have. Pairs nicely with the Steeda K brace down below. Much tighter feeling steering. Add the Steeda IRS braces and you'll love it. My car's more and more like a go kart.

 

[DANA44]

The upper k brace fits and is used on v6 convertibles from factory

 

[DR_]

I have the full K brace/cowl extension. So it'd only be about a 1/4" of washers. Does their spacer come with their strut brace? I could use that on top of my K brace.

Found out the Mishimoto spacer is only for one side so forget that idea.

 

[Mustang_Eh]

The guy I bought it from only had the tower brace. I have no plans on getting a K brace, hell I had no plans on getting a tower brace in the first place.

Forgive my ignorance, but what kind of washers are you guys using? Or do you just go to a hardware store and buy a bunch of regular 10mm washers and stack them on top of each other?

 

[jburgess1379]

Found out the Mishimoto spacer is only for one side so forget that idea.

I asked them if it would work if I bought two. We'll see. Steeda says theirs will not fit bc of the hood. Theres just not enough room. Maybe bc its round unlike the FR one? Mishimotos is round so thats not good.

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