Just got heavy duty strut tower brace from West Coast Fieros and the hardware on mounting plates is so thick that the bolts on struts are not long enough to allow the grill brackets to be put back on...just not enough thread there for both to fit back on....are these just bolts that can be replaced from underneath? Also just had alignment done will this need to be done again if I replace the bolts on struts?

------------------
1988 Gary Tucker (GT)

Hey Gary! Although I am on the other side of the country now, I'm from Dalton, GA originally... I've got friends in Ooltewah...

Best bet would be to call or write to Chris at West Coast Fiero and ask them what they suggest. I've seen quite a few of these that they installed but don't know what had to be done.

Next time I'm in Dalton we need to get together and let me check out your GT!

------------------

Fiero-Performance.com - New mods for your Fiero from Fiero Performance Bayern in Germany

Gary,
The strut tower three bolts are part of the struct assemble. Look at the struct cap it is part of that. About having another alignment once you put the bar on, the answer is it is not necessary. The only time that you need to check your alignment is if it is adjustable to a specific amount and is heavly pre-loading the struct towers.

Mine homemade bar has been on the fiero for over three years and not once it measurable or have any effect to the camber, caster, or toe on the suspension. Meaning it does not effect the alignment but it effects the fiero body.

So I can't just replace the bolts with longer ones? I was afraid of that. How can I put this thing on then and still have my engine vents in place?

------------------
1988 Gary Tucker (GT)

Definitely give West Coast Fiero a call. They should be able to help you out.

Called West Coast Fieros and they said to back up head of bolt from underside with a socket wrench and have a buddy hold it in place firmly while I hit from top and bolt will pop out and can be replaced with longer one. I am doing this now. Thanks to Kevin Acker for sending pictures (P.M.) of his $10.00 homemade brace...I sure do wish I had not spent so much money for this brace, but it is extra heavy duty.

------------------
1988 Gary Tucker (GT)

i'd like to see a picture of that homemade brace.

thanks,
toms...

I like to know what the strut tower brace does, other than esthetics that is. As far as I have read here there is no real use for them. Please I like to know if I was ill informed.

Thanks

Gary,
Glad that I could help.
Tom, your pictures have been sent.

I'd like to see the pics as well. thanks.

The strut bar ties the to strut towers together and reduces flex resulting in better handling and more responsive suspension.

Solo2..can I bother you for some pic's of that brace as well???

Solo2, it might just be easier to post a pic, cause I'd like to see it too and I don't know how many times you want to email it.

Solo2
Would you please post picture of your home-made strut tower brace and maybe give a litle info on how you made it, it would be greatly appreciated
Thank you in advance

Besides the bored and ported intake parts for the V6 Fiero, Darrell Morse also makes the strut tower brace for all year Fieros.
They're available in different colors (powder coated) even. Check out his website at; http://www.diginostics.com/Darrell_Morse/darrell_morse.html
Just thought i'd mention it for those who might be looking for one.

------------------

Activities Director N.I.F.E.

Not to take away from the cool mod a strut tower brace will do for your Fiero I had talked with Matt Adams (Herb Adam's son and now owner of the company) and he said that he didn't see ant need for a strut tower brace on the front or rear on a Fiero because of the unique construction and layout of the car; the front doesn't generate enough torsion to require it and the monoque construction in the rear didn't need it at all- if anything a strut tower-to-firewall attachment would be suggested but he again doubted it would do anything but add weight. He did advocate that you stiffen up the cradle to frame mounts with polyurethane or solid metal (West coast sells the aluminum cradle mounts) and of course Matt really pushed for the a-arm metal bearings and bushings his dad developed for the Fiero and the sway bars. These are expensive and after these years I don't know if they are even available anymore. This is all for the pre-88 chassis of course. I don't think any of the real racers are using them so I'd have to say the strut tower brace is mostly for dress-up so you can hang with the ricer crowd. Now you gotta look at the whole rear suspension and get it up to snuff! I tell ya, for every dollar you plan to spend there is an extra ten and a week of work following it. If I can pitch anyone else's stuff beside Herb Adams' it would be the UHMW bushings for the sway bars and rear a-arms from Gerald Stvorik: www.8shark.com/index

------------------
John DuRette
Black 85 SE, undergoing work as we speak!

I agree with USFiero... A strut brace on a Fiero is more for looks than anything. The rear of the Fiero is rigid enough that there is very little flex... Still looks cool though!

"Oh man! Here we go again! It seems like about every six months or so I have to defend this part. For those of you who have never read or heard about this, Here is the deal: I know that there is many differnt oppinions on whether or not this thing works. About four years ago I got a request from one of our club members to build him a strut tower brace. Not wanting to build him some thing that he didnt need, I proceded to design a brace that actually did strenghen up the top area of the strut towers and tie the two struts together. I uesd a computer program named COSMOS. This was an early version of a finite element analisis program. Once I had the rear sheet metal area drawn up I could actually apply side loads to simulate cornering, different road conditions like potholes and uneven pavement. I discoverd that even with the flimsy sheet metal brace that is place along the trunk wall that there was still a fair amount of flex. Maybe not enough to affect a daily driver, But we were building a performence suspension so a minimum of chassis flex was the ultimate goal. I then tried several different approches to provide the most strengh and still fit within the confines of the engine compartment and not interfere with normal maintenence (Read Compromise). The tops of the struts provide the most leverage for the size (diameter) of the strut bar. Think about what you would use to turn a stuburn bolt, A short wrench, or a long one. The same design pricipal works here. BTW, Did you ever notice that on almost all V6 powered 86-87 Fiero's, Pontiac installed a 3/16" thick plate between the sheet metal and the top strut mount? This kind of contradicts some folks therory that the Fiero doesn't need any extra suspension stiffeners.
Through the years I have been improving the end brackets and paint finishes because besides selling a part that works, I insist that has to look cool too! I also have lowered the price twice since I started making them due to buying materials in larger quantities and shopping around for a good powdercoating vendor. When is the last time that WCF or the Fiero store done this?
To show that I totaly support the need for the strut tower brace kit, I have allways made this offer. If any one buys a strut tower brace from me and does not feel that it has helped there Fiero handle better, then all you have to do is send it back and I will give you a full refund. I dont want to sound arogant, but so far I have not had one return out of 250+ strut tower brace kits. Sorry for using up so much space. Thanks to all who support our hobby"
------------------
Darrell Morse
Custom Fiero components

Solo2

Not trying to contradict you at all, Darrell... You make great products... And I don't have, nor have I ever driven a Fiero with a strut brace. I was relaying what I had been told by numerous Fiero owners who do have them. I guess none of them have your brace... Personally, if I were building a performance Fiero I would install a strut brace on it... for aesthetic value only. If it helped the handling, so be it... Bonus!

BTW.. I doubt if you really have to defend the product. I think people like the idea of the strut brace and there will always be a market for them.

[This message has been edited by Songman (edited 11-21-2003).]

fiero_silva pictures sent.
maddemon pictures sent.
fastback 86. You have no e-mail, can't send pictures.
85 LAMB You have no e-mail, can't send pictures. Both must PM your e-mail to me.

$10 Strut Bar Brace.
1" x 1" x 1/8" wall thickness square tubing welded to two "C" shape flat shock
pieces that bolt to the two out of three strut bar bolts.

In order to made the "C" shape brackets, use a cardboard pattern to located the
mounting holes and flat stock shape. Transfer the mounting holes to the flat stock and
then make a slight 3/4" to 1" wide lazy 90 degree shape big "C" pattern.

Weld the two "C" shape pieces together to the square tubing than paint. That is all it
takes.

Solo2
thank you for the reply
Here is my email Linck777@netzero.com

Darrel, can you send me a copy of said pics? witchbalz@aol.com

Do you have a web page?

------------------
I live my life a quarter-pounder at a time. And for those 500 calories or more, I am free. There she is, 2 pounds of pure beef. My dad ate it in 9.0 seconds flat.

I am confused ...

Solo2 = Darrell Morse

Is that really you?

Looks more like Solo2 quoted Darrell from a earlier post and did not put it in quotation.

(This what an earlier model of Darell's brace looks like)

------------------

[This message has been edited by Tina (edited 11-22-2003).]

quote Originally posted by Tina: I am confused ... Solo2 = Darrell Morse Is that really you? Looks more like Solo2 quoted Darrell from a earlier post and did not put it in quotation.

He did put it in quotes, and cited his name.

He just didn't use the forum quote feature

fierobrian pictures sent
85lamb pictures sent
fastback 86 pictures sent

Yes, I did use Darrell quotes that he stated just some weeks ago. You are not looking at this carefully.

I think the fact that Darrell has a satisfaction guaranteed or your money back policy says it all. If people aren't returning the braces, they must be doing something - even if it's only look cool.

I will be adding one to my Fiero eventually, and I expect it will tighten things up some, but it's not like it's gonna turn my car into a F1 car.

quote Originally posted by banditbalz: Darrel, can you send me a copy of said pics? witchbalz@aol.com Do you have a web page?

I posted Darrells website in my first post but, since you asked, here it is again: http://www.diginostics.com/Darrell_Morse/darrell_morse.html
Solo2 was quoting something that Darrell had said, he is not Darrell himself. I was also confused until i talked to Darrell. lol

Solo2
Thank you for the pictures
Gave you a + for being helpfull
From reading some of your past post looks like you have done quite a bit of work on your car would you mind posting some picture of it (in another thread I dont mean to hijack this one ) and mention what you have done to your car.

Anyone else have an idea about strut tower braces?

------------------
1988 Gary Tucker (GT)

BUMP!!!

------------------
1988 Gary Tucker (GT)

As an aspiring M.E. student, I am interested in the FEA that Darrell performed. I am wondering what type of parameters were used, and what mechanical properties of the sheet metal was given to COSMOS. I would assume that he used something like mild steel, say maybe 1020 steel alloy either annealed or normalized (which yield very high ductility but very good yield and tensile strength).

Darrell,
If you still have the COSMOS file and could point me in the direction where I could possibly get a trial copy to play around with it, I would appreciate it. If even a screen shot of the model that COSMOS used is all you can get, that would be great as well. I know that there are a variety of simple FEA trail copies available. I wish that I had Solid Works, but I only have a academic copy of Solid Edge V14.

What about cold working due to high mileage? I know for sure that my 240,000 mile '87 Coupe has been flexed and worked quite a bit. I have poly everywhere (cradle, suspension, and upper engine mount) as well as a stock front anti roll bar on the rear. It's pretty stiff, but could be improved of course.

Just to clarify, I am not trying to discredit your work. I am only curious as to how one goes about figuring this stuff out.

Thanks!

------------------
Blue '87 Coupe V6 5spd
AIM:FieroJoe87

[This message has been edited by FieroJoe (edited 12-16-2003).]