80LS1T Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Well I got 2/3 of them done. I have the strut to strut one done and the drives side strut to fire wall done. I just got too tired to do the passenger side one tonight. I figure quit while I'm ahead before I screw something up! I am using 1" square tubing for all my braces. This should be enough right? They are then bolted to the struts and too the firewall. I bolted mine to where the hood latch bolts go into the firewall. It seems to work for me? What do you guys think? http://www.datsun-280zx-lt1.com/strut-bars.jpg I didnt post the picture because its a big picture! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Hey bro is it possible to make me up a set ? Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted May 13, 2003 Author Share Posted May 13, 2003 I might be able to do that for ya? How much you willing to pay? The metal costed me $30. It will take me about 3.5-4 hours to make them. So I might do it for about $80+ shipping? Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 lol actually i was being sassy.you gotta remember, our chassis may differ from each other. the slightest bend in the chassis would cause the bars to not fit. Also, with those bars, once you take them off after use, the chassis may snap into a position that the bars would not care to attach once they are off. I know its the same model car, but both of us have no idea how much my chassis differs from yours They would certainly have to be adjustable. cheers and thanks for the offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted May 13, 2003 Author Share Posted May 13, 2003 Awww man! I thought I had a money maker here! LOL That's ok. I would have don it though! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gprix1 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Just make the bars but don't drill the holes. Leave that for the buyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greimann Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 I have a little concern about the end fittings. Strut bars are intended to be completely rigid in compression and tension. It kinda looks like to me that the end fittings have a slight bend in them to fit the contour of the strut tower. As the body flexes, that bend is the weak link in the system and will not provide the rigidity that a more robust design would offer. At the firewall there is definitely cantilever situation that will allow flexing, especially in tension. I'm not saying that they are inadequate, because anything is better that nothing, and they may very well be rigid enough. When you are trying to combat small fractions of an inch movement in the body, the details in a structural system like this count. Finish what you have and if you decide to change it later, keep these comments in mind. Here is the strut tower tie in by our Mr. JohnC. Triangulation is everything in a structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted May 13, 2003 Author Share Posted May 13, 2003 Yeah I have a little bit concern about the ends too. I know from reading a lot of posts that they should really be straigh, like the ones in your pic Greimann. But like you said anything is better than nothing! I will most likely build new ones next year if I swap in a bigger cam. That way it will be easier to do when the engine is out. I am just looking for something to get by right now. I think these will do the job in that respect! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted May 14, 2003 Author Share Posted May 14, 2003 Ok I am done with my "homemade" strut bars. I am not sure how great they are going to work but I would rather have these than nothing at all. I really should have done this when the engine bay was not painted. That way I could have done it like JohnC did. Those look AWESOME!! And they probably prevent 99% of the flex up front that is not desired! Mine are very rigid but they aren't as nice as those. If mine prevent 85% of the unwanted flex then that will have to do for now. Here's an updated pic... Guy P.S. By the way I should be getting my driveshaft back any day now! So that means I can get my exhaust done and finally get to drive it! OH BABY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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