Front upper Strut bar (update)

Motorsport-SVX · #1 05-10-2008, 02:01 AM

I finally found a good source with a water jet cutter
to make our feet for the strut bars.
I should have the final design mocked up by Monday
and then its just have the feet all cut out, then
powdercoated and they will be good to go.
The design will be simple yet effective and easy to install.
Hope to have a few colors maybe available for the feet or
even the bar for that matter.
Will start with hammertone or black feet and polished bar.
And take orders for a few colors soon after once we figure out
what will be easy and yet cost effective.
Will update the post with some pics very soon.

GreenMarine · #2 05-10-2008, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorsport-SVX

I finally found a good source with a water jet cutter
to make our feet for the strut bars.
I should have the final design mocked up by Monday
and then its just have the feet all cut out, then
powdercoated and they will be good to go.
The design will be simple yet effective and easy to install.
Hope to have a few colors maybe available for the feet or
even the bar for that matter.
Will start with hammertone or black feet and polished bar.
And take orders for a few colors soon after once we figure out
what will be easy and yet cost effective.
Will update the post with some pics very soon.

Dayle, in all seriousness, why are you spending time and $$$ making these?? I know you know the SVX and I know you also know that Subarus really DON'T need upper strut tower braces because of the location of the towers and the fire wall... Common man, do something alittle different than the average "rice shop" and get some parts made that are a real challenge and are REALLY nessicary. Not just there to make your car "look" fast4r...

~ Chris

LetItSnow · #3 05-10-2008, 05:29 AM

Rear anti-roll bar > strut brace

I think it's beyond understood that those would sell!

Motorsport-SVX · #4 05-10-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LetItSnow

Rear anti-roll bar > strut brace

I think it's beyond understood that those would sell!

I try to offer what I get request for

odepaj · #5 05-10-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorsport-SVX

I try to offer what I get request for

Well then

+1 for anti-roll bars

Motorsport-SVX · #6 05-10-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odepaj

Well then

+1 for anti-roll bars

Not enough request
and go take the $ and spend it on a day at a
good driving school, youll be better off

odepaj · #7 05-10-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorsport-SVX

Not enough request
and go take the $ and spend it on a day at a
good driving school, youll be better off

Wouldn't we be better off with anti-roll bars then strut braces though?

Im interested in a strut brace, but my budget has more room for anti-roll bars

LetItSnow · #8 05-10-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorsport-SVX

...a day at a good driving school...

Another one?

Gimme an anti-roll bar! Visa at the ready!

sabin · #9 05-10-2008, 11:06 AM

+1 anti-roll for me

Motorsport-SVX · #10 05-10-2008, 11:07 AM

I try to offer whats affordable and what I get request for.

that said, I took days class at the Bondurant School of
driving a few yrs ago here in Az.
While there I learned more in a day then all my yrs up to
that day.
I also installed a set of Goodyear F1 tires on my stock rims
that day.
Bob himself and I took a few laps around their track and he
was very impressed with the cars capabilities for its size etc.
And he has driven almost every car out there.
This was his first SVX experience. The only mods my car had
at the time and still do where the tires, our G lateral springs and
a set of Konis.
His time on the track was a good 3-4 seconds per lap then mine
by the end of the day.
I asked him where that car could use help and after brief moment
he told me the car was extremely well balanced and for its size etc.
He didnt think sway bars would even make much of a difference
to the avg driver or autocrosser with the springs and konis mod.
He emphasized driving school first, tires second and then maybe the
spring & koni mod to almost any car before anything.

I took a few laps with one of his drivers in a 94 SHO Taures that
was bone stock and it killed my Svx times... all driver.

LetItSnow · #11 05-10-2008, 11:55 AM

I'll bite:

What did he say about strut braces on an SVX?

odepaj · #12 05-10-2008, 12:20 PM

Dayle, do you have your PM box turned off? I'd like to discuss some things with you (not dealing with the strut braces).

/Hijack

Motorsport-SVX · #13 05-10-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LetItSnow

I'll bite:

What did he say about strut braces on an SVX?

He said they can never hurt, as long as you dont
spend too much for one and its built well.

anyone can always email me at

motorsport_svx@yahoo.com

GreenMarine · #14 05-10-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LetItSnow

Rear anti-roll bar > strut brace

I think it's beyond understood that those would sell!

DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by odepaj

Well then

+1 for anti-roll bars

+2... I'd be in... Only if I could specify the size though...

Quote:

Originally Posted by odepaj

Wouldn't we be better off with anti-roll bars then strut braces though?

Im interested in a strut brace, but my budget has more room for anti-roll bars

That first sentence would be much better if it wasn't a question... We WOULD be much better off with Anti-Roll (Sway Bars) than a Strut tower brace...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorsport-SVX

I try to offer whats affordable and what I get request for.

that said, I took days class at the Bondurant School of
driving a few yrs ago here in Az.
While there I learned more in a day then all my yrs up to
that day.
I also installed a set of Goodyear F1 tires on my stock rims
that day.
Bob himself and I took a few laps around their track and he
was very impressed with the cars capabilities for its size etc.
And he has driven almost every car out there.
This was his first SVX experience. The only mods my car had
at the time and still do where the tires, our G lateral springs and
a set of Konis.
His time on the track was a good 3-4 seconds per lap then mine
by the end of the day.
I asked him where that car could use help and after brief moment
he told me the car was extremely well balanced and for its size etc.
He didnt think sway bars would even make much of a difference
to the avg driver or autocrosser with the springs and konis mod.
He emphasized driving school first, tires second and then maybe the
spring & koni mod to almost any car before anything.

I took a few laps with one of his drivers in a 94 SHO Taures that
was bone stock and it killed my Svx times... all driver.

Alright, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that "Bob" probably doesn't own a Subaru or know much of the Chassis dynamics of the cars... All Subarus have their Strut towers essentially WELDED to the Fire wall... We all know of the fire wall as the very strong metal "shield" separating our bodies from the very hard working machinery in the front of the car... The average driver, and even the most aggressive Autocrosser (which is much more stress than any street driver will put on the car) will never need to strengthen the strut towers, as they are already strong enough. I will turn around and also say that if you are going to build a race car you obviously want it to be as stiff as possible. So a strut tower bar (along with MANY other structural strengthening techniques) would be used... But I think I could rightly assume that "Bob" didn't look under the hood of the SVX (or any other Subaru for that matter) before he jumped to the conclusion that it "needed a strut tower brace"... Cars like Hondas, Fords, and Toyotas (to name a few) will benefit from strut tower braces ad their bodies are quite a bit different than ours... Subarus however have no need for them unless you are building a track car and are going to subject the body to immense forces ALL THE TIME (which will weaken the body quicker)...

In our case though, we would benefit MUCH MORE from Sway bars (Anti-Roll Bars) than any strut tower brace... I can also say that as one of the original Koni/GC suspension swapped cars, and extremely avid Autocrosser, Sway bars will make a difference no matter what springs or struts you have in the car... Be they Stock, GC, or other... Swaybars don't care about your set up... They produce results no matter what...

Recently I installed all Polyurethane Sway bar Bushings and new custom Front End links on my car... Now I haven't had the chance to Autocross it yet (that is this coming weekend), but I can say that the turn in response has been increased and overall body roll has been decreased enough to notice it in the drivers seat. I will report more after the first Autocross this coming weekend.

Cliffs Notes from above and for a Final time...

Strut tower braces are RICE (there for esthetics ONLY) and serve no purpose on a Subaru...

Swaybars are 23498629387423 times better than any Strut Tower bar could dream of being...

Moral of the story??

Buy Strut tower bars if you want to be like every other Ricer on the block... Buy Swaybars if you actually want to feel a difference in the handling and gain much more pleasure from driving your car

LetItSnow · #15 05-10-2008, 02:34 PM

The S2000:

...can make use of a strut tower brace.

The SVX? Not so much.