So I've been thinking about the cadillac strut bar mod a lot. I'm wondering in on my vert I could do this mod but on the front side of the wheel well and have an x brace coming off of that to the top portion of the strut towers under the area for the top. Any suggestions or thoughts?

Got a pic to display the idea?

I'm having a hard time picturing it but have thought up alot of bracing ideas

Ill have to draw somthimg up on the computer later.

This is the idea...cant put a rear strut bar in a vert cus the tops of the towers are in the well for the roof to fold into. How do you think this would do.

The red line represents the origional position of the cadillac mod. the black ones are my idea.

Attachments

trunk_jpg.jpg (83k)

Im wonering if you built that around the housing for the top to lay in, if it will work. Thats one thing i hate about our verts, there nice, but handle like crap. Im also wondering how much did that cadillac strut brace helped. Hmmmm, ideas maybe since i have literally a strut tower brace laying around since i just rebuilt one...... Hmmmm.

Ahh, I was thinking you wanted it in the engine bay haha.

I have built something similar to that and find it to be very beneficial. I don't see why you couldn't mount it lower in a vert. Probably won't have the same bracing effect, but still better than it was stock.



Mated with a tie bar also



Old pic, Trunk has been red for quite a while now


Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Sunday, July 04, 2010 6:29 AM

I have also been contemplating a tie bar for quite some time. Driving the vert feels like poo after I take my Z out for a spin.

I'd suggest a normal trunk bar to keep the flex out of the rear of the frame rails where the open tire well weakens that area, especially at the end of the rails near the trunk opening.
Here's some ideas that I had before I finalized what I now have and maybe this will give you some ideas for your project.





Just make sure that you use grade 8 hardware and the hardware fits the holes perfectly with no slack in the hole.
You can use 3/4 inch galvanized electrical conduit tubing for your bars and a shop press to make your tabs on the ends.
The first picture can also have a bar going straight across the top of the strut tower connecting the two cross bars at the top of the bars.

Good luck though with this and keep us informed on the progress.


Misnblu.com
Newbie member since 1999
Thank you Dave and JBO!

Hmmmmm I like that idea thanks.

How strong is stainless hardware compaired to grade 8?

Rule of thumb... . Reinforce or brace up areas that are in-between the wheelbase. In that one box area is where your suspension and body will be communicating with one another.



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-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----

They do make a grade 5 stainless hardware which should be more than good enough for this.

And I agree Mr. G on the bracing between the wheel base. But the only thing is, there's not really a way to do so on the Jbody with the unibody construction it has. I see this done on alot of the 4wd sports sedans but with our platform, near impossible to really do anything with.


Misnblu.com
Newbie member since 1999
Thank you Dave and JBO!

i like your drawing and it looks like a good idea, but i'd like to see some pics of where your'e planning to bolt to with the carpet out. that way it can be seen if it's really beneficial or not

Sorry to drag up an old topic, but what year and model can this Cadillac brace be found on? I tried search and the only thing useful that came up was this post.