XLR8VRL

Ive been reading old posts for hours now. seems like alot of people have "heard" of broken windshields but has anyone ever witnessed this first hand. seems like the 3pt is a better design to me but i sure would hate to bust the glass in my new baby. hope im not kicking a dead horse around but your input is valuable thanks
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Zeta

Lots of conjecture exists on the topic.

Commonsense says that a lot of added stresses at the center of the horizontal part of the firewall will break the front glass.

However, in the 5 years I have spent on these lists I have not came across a first hand 'cracked windshield' testimony.

<small>[ March 24, 2003, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: Zeta ]</small>

FstBlkz28

iTrader: (13)

i've had my 3pt for alil over a year and a half now. still haven't cracked my windsheild. i have never heard of anyone that has cracked theirs or seen a cracked one themselves. i think the 3pt/cracked windshield story is more of a myth than fact....altho i'm sure it COULD happen under the right circumstances.

98_1LE

iTrader: (17)

I have never seen or heard anything credible to say that they will, just a few people propogating internet myths.

That being said, a couple racers that I respect have told me that a shock tower brace does nothing on a fourthgen. The shocks are not a loaded member like a strut is, and the STB is too far from the point where the A-arms mount up to make a difference.

01 ls1 z28 DA BRONX

this guy i know has a v-6 camaro, with the 3 point stb and after running really hard on it, in the twisties. he says he'll burn himself if he touches the mounting point on the fire wall..hmm <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

don't sound too good to me..

Eugenio_SS

iTrader: (2)

I guess a convertible with no SFC and stock suspension on R-compounds road-racing with a 3-pt... then I think that car would be at risk...

trackbird

iTrader: (4)

If he burns himself after touching the mounting point on the firewall....that seems to indicate that the engine was running, and the radiated heat made the bar hot. I don't see that as a very good argument against the 3 point bar. If the mount is a little loose (just loose enough to slide) and sliding back and fourth, I guess it could get hot....but it seems doubtful. As for the shock towers not being loaded, there are springs around those shocks and they support the weight of the vehicle at their mounting point (the inner fenderwells..which are heavy guage sheetmetal). The older (3rd gen) cars supported the springs with the K-member and the shocks were just dampers, the new cars support the weight of the car with the shocks and the inner fenders (really dosen't have strut towers as such). There are many differing opinions about strut towers on here (and all have been beat to death). I found a reduction of "cowl shake" with a 2 point brace. I also think that they are not that heavy or expensive and it "can't hurt" (in my opinion) to put one on there. Just my random thoughts.....I'm done now.....

XLR8VRL

`preciate the input guys. I really dont see why the 3 pnt would be hot other than radiant heat. if its loose and causing that much friction why doesnt he tighten it or even weld it for that matter??? Think im gonna go with the edelbrock 3 pnt looks like a PIA to install though. anyone with some experience with this?
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trackbird

iTrader: (4)

I bought an Edelbrock 3 point once. It is a great looking piece. I could not get my wiper arms loose to remove the cowl panel to install it (the car had 500 miles on it at the time). It looks to be a great brace, but it will be a real pain to work on the car with and you will have to pull it off to do much under the hood. If you can get your wiper arms off and deal with removing it to change plugs, etc....Pick one up. I may still change my car over to one (if I can get the wipers off...ever....). Good luck!

arcom

Look no further...I have the 3 pt STB and suffered a cracked windshield. I believe the extremely cold weather had something to do with it. So did the chunk of road debris kicked up by an 18 wheeler that hit just above the windshield wiper arm.
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01 ls1 z28 DA BRONX

i'm just trying to help out and tell what one guys situation is, no need to get up on my case man..

trackbird

iTrader: (4)

01 LS1 Z28 da bronx,

Not getting on your case....I guess that really came off sounding kinda smart....(sarcasm dosen't transmit well in type). I just kinda thought that we missed the obvious point on that one. I really didn't mean that the way it sounded. But it really seems unlikely that there could be enough stress on the mounting location to actually heat it up that much. Anyway....I apologize for how that post sounded. Sorry.....

XLR8VRL

trackbird - there is a wiper arm puller ,similar to a pulley puller. also edelbrocks instructions suggest putting the cowl backing plate in with silicone to hold the plate in place when the bolts are removed (to avoid pulling the arms and cowl cover again) i think ill tack weld mine in just to be on the safe side. they also have a mounting plate on the strut tower, similar to a hotchkis stb so pulling it should be a piece of cake. anyway my tired old back could use something to lean on while working on this thing

arcom - so youre saying the windsheild got busted from debris???

da bronx - no ones on your case man, just seems unlikely
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arcom

"arcom - so youre saying the windsheild got busted from debris???"

Yup. But I do have a 3 pt brace installed.

SSixspeed

I think we're trying to find someones windshield that broke BECAUSE of the 3pt...

I've never heard a first person account of one. LG says that it only happens when the installer chips the windshield while drilling the holes in the cowl.

01 ls1 z28 DA BRONX

its all good, though i witnessed it first hand today..

SSixspeed

Pics?

jyeager

I have come across a credible theory on the 3-point-busted-windshield issue. The theory goes like this: when installing the 3 point it's very easy to knick or crack/chip the windshield base (down under the cowl) during the installation process. Then the twisting results in an eventual crack.

trackbird

iTrader: (4)

Sounds possible....