Gaining Interest: G3/G4 Taurus/SHO Front Strut Tower Braces

[Bizzy]

I was recently contacted by someone who is primarily on TCCA. He will be doing a group buy for the G4 and has confirmed that they will also fit the V8's so he has decided to offer them to our community as well if enough interest is there. I told him I would do a gaining interest thread for him, if there is enough interest then this will go into an official buy in the group buy section. The only thing I didn't clarify with him right now is exactly how many people he needs to make this happen.

Here's the info he's given me so far. I'll direct him to this thread so that he can answer any questions that you guys might have, and I'm sure you'll have a few for him.

Costs are approximately $227 per kit, including all hardware plus shipping. Balance of $227 will be required up front for the purchase of the hardware and to put deposits down to get the manufacture started. I know it may unreasonable to expect the full price up front, but this will eliminate waiting on payments delaying delivery. Shipping is extra, can be your choice of company. You can pay the shipping when the parts are ready. I have not decided if I will offer painting on these. I recommend doing it yourself so its done the way you like. I will primer them.

 

[Mossdahaus]

To get them started he (we...I'm one of them) needs only 1 more person to get things rollin'

These ARE adjustable, so if your car is lowered it will for sure work! The product looks to be of good quality...

 

[Silvapain]

According to the Group Buy post on the TCCA, he needs 10 people total. I believe one has already paid, so he needs nine more from the TCCA and here.

As with Bob's FSTB bar, there is a tight fit by the PS line that goes from the pump to the rack up by the surge tank. Some slight bending of the hard line *might* be needed on some cars.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Ok, havent been on TCCA in a LOOOONG time due to a lot of the more active members there being the most irritating people I have ever ecountered. Just went and found the thread. The bar was test fitted on a SHO that does not appear to be lowered and they do not know if it functions properly, clears the hood or anything else. Personally, I wouldn't waste my money, especially for almost 300 bucks. And especially when the one that we know fits the V8 will be available again soon. here is what he has posted. And I can tell you from look, they will NOT tuck behind that intake as the bends are WRONGO

[quote name='Zeptoplix' date='Jun 7 2007, 10:46 PM' post='492917']
Well today I was able to meet up with SHOALL and test this bar on his car. He has a very nice looking wagon, and has definitely put the work into it deserve any praise he gets and then some. I am however, not satisified with the way the bar fits on the SHO, It fits and there it doesn't rub, but I was unable to tuck it in behind like on the duratec and vulcan because of a powersteering line. it sits just above the cowl line, however it does not impair hood closing. There is very limited clearance between the bar and the EGR valve as well as the P/S line. We didn't test drive the car with it, there wasnt' really time for that. The dimensions and everything however are perfectlly fine, I am just not 100% sure of the clearance. How much does the V8 move during normal/aggressive driving?

Here are some photos I took of the install.

Actually, I just thought of something, If the bar is made 1/2 shorter it should be able to adjust it towards the passenger side to get more clearance.
[/quote]

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I've wanted one for a long time. Gauges and a tune though, are more important for me right now.

x 2 about the TCCA, somehow I can not stand to be over there.

 

[SHOZ123]

I have a hybrid one. It is the original SHO Shop one but if the struts are moved out it no longer fits. I took one of the adjustable ends off of Bob's brace and had it welded onto the drivers side. This took care of the difference in strut top placement.

For added clearance on the passenger side I used a 3/8" bolt to extend the bar mount backwards about an inch. This gives plenty of space between the bar and the PS line or corner of the surge tank. You can also move the subframe as far forward as you can. This too will give plenty of clearance at the back of the motor.

 

[Silvapain]

I've never been in a car that has one on it, but I don't know how much it really helps. The strut towers are attached to the firewall, so they shouldn't flex very much to begin with. Is there anyone on here who has one that can attest to it working?

 

[SHOZ123]

You will definitely notice it.

As soon as the car is running again you will have to help me break it in. I can guarantee you there is no other Gen 3 like it.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

You need to make videos of your car Paul.

I have access to a computerized plasma cutter, and made a template for the actual plate that attaches to the strut tower, but I still need to make a CAD file with my notes.

 

[Silvapain]

You will definitely notice it.

As soon as the car is running again you will have to help me break it in. I can guarantee you there is no other Gen 3 like it.

I would love to help you break that thing (in) Paul.


Randy, do you have any concrete information about NESHO making a bar? Prototype pics, pricing, prospective release date? No offense, but I'm not going to wait around just because of rumors.

 

[Silvapain]

You need to make videos of your car Paul.

I have access to a computerized plasma cutter, and made a template for the actual plate that attaches to the strut tower, but I still need to make a CAD file with my notes.

Paul, I have some tracings of the mount bases if you need them. I could make a Pro/E model of them as well.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

I would love to help you break that thing (in) Paul.


Randy, do you have any concrete information about NESHO making a bar? Prototype pics, pricing, prospective release date? No offense, but I'm not going to wait around just because of rumors.

Then go ahead and pay too much money for it. If Kirk says they'll start making them, they'll start making them. And I guarantee they fit the exact same as Bob's bars if not better.

 

[Silvapain]

I already have a FSTB made up out of 1" x 0.085" 4130 Chromoly that I did in my Baja shop. I just need a set of mounting plates - we don't have a plasma torch at the shop, and I'm not about to cut them out with an oxy torch.

Kirk didn't say they are going to make them, Randy did. From what I've seen, Bob's bar didn't fit any better. The bar in the picture was made using Bob's bar as a template. If you go on the TCCA, you can see a picture of the mock-up bar laying next to one of Bob's bars. As far as price, yes it's expensive, but what isn't for these cars? Since you are implying Kirk's future bar will be cheaper, remember Kirk's SS brake lines are $300. Now, I'm not saying Kirk is ripping anyone off - that's just how much it costs to make parts for such a limited demand market. Econ 101.

EDIT: missed a spelling error

 

[nothingtoseehere]

The price was reduced for the GB on the lines. There are two choices for SS lines. Doug Lewis'. 300 for the front, no rears and the need to modify the hard lines. OR NESHO's, 300 for all four corners, bolt in, no modification necessary.

The issue with the Canadian bar is not really price...something is only worth what you will pay for it...but really it is the fact that it is installed improperly on the car shown and also has not been tested on a lowered SHO which a lot of V8SHO owners have. The car has not been test driven with the bar installed and the "seller" himself admits that the clearance for the EGR is slim to none and he doesn't know if being driven, there will be a rubbing issue at all. Bobs bars fit fine as numerous V8 owners, myself included, have been running them for years; and mine was one of the first made

Just doesn't seem to have been properly tested on a V8 and IMO, is not near worth the money for something that will potentially not work at all.

 

[Silvapain]

There's no need to defend the price of the SS lines Randy - I understand why they are priced that way, and I think that's they are a good deal. I simply used them as an example that even NESHO has higher prices compared to similar parts for other cars. To top it off, NESHO is hardly making any profit at all off them with such a low price.

The man heading up this GB lives in Chatham, Ontario. If anyone on here lives nearby and is willing to give the bar a test fit, I welcome you to contact him through the TCCA.

 

[bent1982]

Okay, so I guess I have to defend my groub buy, that wasnt the intention of this thread, it was to gain interest. But thanks for pointing out some flaws in my thread on the TCCA.

The bar is adjustable, and there is way more room for adjustment than I have seen on any other bar. it is 1/2 inch longer, there is more threadable lenght, so you can loosen the connectors out almost all the way and it will still feel tight. Unlike the other bar offered, there are only five threads or so that the connector threads into, and without jam nuts, which most people seem to not use, it feels as though you could wiggle the connector right out. The bar that I had prototyped is slightly larger diameter than the finl bar will be, so when the final bar is built, it will take into account all these concerns.

Oh and as for hood clearance, the hood does infact clear it. We checked that.

I have no problem answering questions and alleviating concerns, but lets do it in a reasonable fashion, and not from a biased standpoint. If you have a question or concern, post it... But its going to be a comparitive issue, lets not start a my ball is better than your ball type argument, that serves no purpose but to create tension, and nobody benefits.

 

[Mossdahaus]

I believe the [final] bar might end up being 1/2" shorter in length as well to help with the clearence issues even more as well as providing more adjustment for the lowered cars...according to the TCCA thread

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Paul, I have some tracings of the mount bases if you need them. I could make a Pro/E model of them as well.

I have a template already made up out of card board with holes punched in it for the strut bolts, as well as the large center opening. What I mean by access, is that I took a welding class at a community college here and understand how to use the machine.

Actually going in and doing all this would probably take a week, or more to learn all the steps from the drawing to the cutting. But it could probably be done. Only problem is right now, I am working 8 hours a day normally 6-7 days a week. I'm hoping after summer gets out, and I start back up with school, and working not so much, that I will have more time to mess around with these projects.

I did cut a neat plate of steel that has my last name in it. Which I think we're going to mount in between the tubes on dad's grille guard on his 1999 Ram.



And BTW, is there any way/need to make a Rear STB?

 

[nothingtoseehere]

I am however, not satisified with the way the bar fits on the SHO, It fits and there it doesn't rub, but I was unable to tuck it in behind like on the duratec and vulcan because of a powersteering line. it sits just above the cowl line, however it does not impair hood closing. There is very limited clearance between the bar and the EGR valve as well as the P/S line. We didn't test drive the car with it, there wasnt' really time for that. The dimensions and everything however are perfectlly fine, I am just not 100% sure of the clearance. How much does the V8 move during normal/aggressive driving?

Again, by your own admission the bar was not tested properly and you yourself were not happy with the way it fit. So essentially you are here saying "Hey, send me a bunch or money for this bar that may or may not work; I am not sure if it will cause I didn't have time/resources to make sure, but I think it will."

This is far from a "my bar is better than your bar" thread, this is a pointing out the fact that your bar is not properly tested on the V8 crowd you are trying to sell to. In comparison the "Bob" bar was tested on the V8 numerous times and tweaked to all ends to ensure a proper fit on the V8. Simply using his design as a template and assuming there was no error in the copy is bad business.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

And BTW, is there any way/need to make a Rear STB?

Nope, no need due to the parcel shelf