Fabed Strut Tower Brace's?
 

Has anyone ever fabed thier own STB's? If so what did you use, and if you have any pictures that would help us understand, also if you have the discription that would be awesome, I am thinking of doing this, and just wanted some ideas to go off...
Help a brother out

I think i made mine out of 3/4 square tube, might have been 1 inch thought, not really sure, it was awhile ago

others
 

That looks simple enough, I was thinking more round stock, and what about the kind that run back to the fire wall anyone ever do this.

I think a firewall mount brace on an F-body increases the chance of a busted wind screen.

Damn
 

Really, I could ahve sworn that I have seen them for sale, can anyone confirm this, I mean that sucks and all, but I guess jsut a tubular one from tower to tower would work just as well, I know this will seem funny but what about out back, i know the hump is at the top of the towers, so is there even a need, or perhaps just putting a round stock across the hump to stiffen up the back or does the axle do that already?

It has been beat to death that they are a waste on these cars and not needed. I noticed NO difference at all with one......I took it off and sold it, I was tired of it getting in the way when I was working on stuff...

The hard part with this car is you can't just run a brace across like a lot of cars because the engine is in the way.

so whats teh verdic
 

I mean do any of you think this is a waste of time, or is it worth keeping, maybe ill start a poll

Do some searching. Polls and opinions have been done to death on this subject.

Most people see little to no performance increase with a STB - it's mostly an appearance mod. Some people swear by them, but they are the minority. Overall, I don't think they can hurt (other than additional weight and getting in the way), but it's really not important. I had one for a few months until it got in my way, so I sold it. I'd recommend focusing your energy and money on something more important.

Yea, i honestly did not notice a difference after building mine. But it was fun making, gave me something to do and people who have been around 4th gens always ask me where i got one made out of square tube. And it cost me under $20 to make. If i were going to buy one i would just skip it and use the money elsewhere, but if i can make it and i have free time i will usually attempt it atleast.

If you really want one, I'd just pony up $79 and buy one. Yes, materials cost you less than that, but what is your time worth? And in the end do you leave it raw metal and let it rust? Do you paint it (which adds cost and time)? Do you powercoat it (which adds cost and time)? How good a welder are you, and what's the welding wire cost?

Some folks like to build things, and if that's you... great and build away. But for such an inexpensive part, I think it's often false econony to build your own.

i had one for a while, but it seemed like every other day it was getting in the way while i was working so i took it off. noticed a slight difference with it on....maybe

I have a Red Hotchkiss bar.....looks good...handy for leaning on, and probably helps it from flexing a bit.

I can lean on a Hotchkis brace and flex it, as I've done it upon installing some shocks when I had to put the brace back on. I'm not a small guy, but if I can make it flex a bit, how much stiffness is it adding? I cannot flex the UMI one at all.

I have an Edelbrock 3pt. for sale. $75+ shipping.

I've had mine on two different cars. Didn't really notice a diff, but i keep it on because it looks good and keeps people from trying to reach around to the back of the manifold. If i was hiding n2o this would be a good thing. But i'm not so I don't need it anymore.

Yeah I would ay irts a whole lot easier to just go out and buy one. Then you wont have fitting issues at all. STB was my first suspension mod and I honestly could feel the front end a little tyighter around the corners

the question was "is it needed" and obviously the answer is "of course its not needed" its not going to make or break your car... it does look good however, and gives u a place to put your hands/rags when working on your car...

as for fabbing your own, im sure it could be done, and if u have the spare parts to do it, go for it... but itd probably be a hell of a lot easier just to buy one

I believe that this was also proven to be an 'urban myth'.
I had a 3 point Edelbrock on mine for a while with a VERY stiff road race type suspension and stiff sidewall tires, and it never so much as caused a creak from the windshield, EVEN when hitting some bad potholes on really bad roads.

I also have this for sale ($75.00 shipped) as I've decided to cage the car for road course use, and tie the forward supports into the shock towers.

I just tried mine...1/16" flex maybe..I am 200 lbs. AND..BTW ..............I Never said...it was the best. Did I. :engarde: