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Topic: strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds (Read 3077 times) previous topic - next topic

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

need to know what source / pn to order for a birthday gift for my son
need pn of the strut tower brace that spans the engine bay or if there is one available.

just lost my job a couple weeks ago, hope this $ doesnt hurt too bad

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #1 –
Try BlueOval Industries....They  offered them at one time for like 1oo bucks.
87 Tbird LX w/Factory floor shifter:D   3G upgrade. Tinted Windows...85 Mustang GT steering wheel(non-cruise) 17'' Saleen SC style wheels,Front/Rear TC sway bars/poly bushings & Mustang GT steering rack...'05 Mustang V6 springs...93 Cobra MC & booster, MM adjustable C/C plates,  Work  In  Progress.......  ( On The Shelf---HO computer, 19lb injectors, HO cam, BBK headers, Explorer Intake, Cold Air Intake ,Phantom Gauges, Stinger stainless exhaust pipes )
 S O L D

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #2 –
no dice there either...  i thought for sure i had seen members on here with this on thier engine bays.

may have to just make one

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #3 –
Shouldn't one for any fox body stang work? If so maybe check a Mustang site like Late Model Restoration? Im pretty sure Vinnie has a strut tower brace on his Sport as well. Maybe Vinnie can chime in here. Good luck with the search though.
87 Tbird LX w/Factory floor shifter:D   3G upgrade. Tinted Windows...85 Mustang GT steering wheel(non-cruise) 17'' Saleen SC style wheels,Front/Rear TC sway bars/poly bushings & Mustang GT steering rack...'05 Mustang V6 springs...93 Cobra MC & booster, MM adjustable C/C plates,  Work  In  Progress.......  ( On The Shelf---HO computer, 19lb injectors, HO cam, BBK headers, Explorer Intake, Cold Air Intake ,Phantom Gauges, Stinger stainless exhaust pipes )
 S O L D

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #4 –
Any mustang one should work, but you may have to drill a hole or two out for it, and the winsheild hose squirter is in the way of the tri brace style.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #5 –
i assumed the stang ones were too short due to narrower chassis, assumed the strut towers were closer together as well,, will likely order a stang one then,, those seem available.

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #6 –
http://www.coolcats.net/modifying/frame.html

firewall forwards is basically identicle. there are minor differances in suspension and wheel base, but most parts for a mustang will physically bolt in place.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #7 –
never even thought about checking out eric's page,, thanks!

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #8 –
Make sure one for a Fox stang is ordered, the SN95 cars had a different firewall/cowl and the bars for them will NOT work, or at least the 6 or 7 I have seen haven't.

I've got one for mine...Maximum Motorsports, I believe.

Lou, (thunderjet302) has a bar, though I don't recall the brand.

Stacker is correct, you'll need to relocate your washer fluid hose, other than that, direct bolt-in.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #9 –
I used a Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar. It went in with one mod to the passenger side strut tower mount. It did hit my hood insulation but that's because my car has a thicker aftermarket hood insulation pad. Link here:http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?33889-Maximum-Motorsports-strut-tower-bar-hits-hood&highlight=strut+tower
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #10 –
Maximum Motorsports. Please realize that there is one for injection and one for a carbureted setup like the '85 Mustang GT. Give them a shout as they have dealt with this before on the T- Birds.

This is a shameless pig but give my buddy John George a shout at http://www.chicane23.com as he can usually get you a better deal than buying direct from MM. Chicane is a MM dealer so it's on the up and up.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Aerocoupe;432689
Maximum Motorsports. Please realize that there is one for injection and one for a carbureted setup like the '85 Mustang GT. Give them a shout as they have dealt with this before on the T- Birds.

This is a shameless pig but give my buddy John George a shout at http://www.chicane23.com as he can usually get you a better deal than buying direct from MM. Chicane is a MM dealer so it's on the up and up.

Darren

I used the fuel injection one. Make sure you get that one if you have a 5.0 with SEFI. The carb one will work for the CFI 5.0 cars.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #12 –
sorry guys, i pulled the trigger before reading the posts above.
i got Item # 16196 from american muscle.

looks to be from user pics for FI 5.0 fox mustang chassis.
 

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #13 –
ah yes, MM , looked at them again.
couldnt tell from anyones pics how the fire wall connections were made.  i imagined in a collision the two bars getting shoved into the firewall penetrating things.

the MM looks like it has the strut tower metal connection plate i wanted.. the one i just ordered does not have that much meat.  I could weld on to suffice this adder on the item i just ordered.  oh well..

ships to me sometime next week.. may have time to fit test it to my 20th and have it ready for my son's bday when he's here around the 15th of may.

strut tower brace that fits 83-88 cougs & birds

Reply #14 –
Quote from: jcassity;433197
ah yes, MM , looked at them again.
couldnt tell from anyones pics how the fire wall connections were made.  i imagined in a collision the two bars getting shoved into the firewall penetrating things.

the MM looks like it has the strut tower metal connection plate i wanted.. the one i just ordered does not have that much meat.  I could weld on to suffice this adder on the item i just ordered.  oh well..

ships to me sometime next week.. may have time to fit test it to my 20th and have it ready for my son's bday when he's here around the 15th of may.

There are two pinch welds on the firewall where the cowl and firewall meet. from the factory there are also two holes in these pinch welds. The MM bar actually bolts to those pinch welds. Other strut tower bars require you to drill holes into the cowl. The MM bar has a much more rigid mounting point than the strut tower bars that have you drill through the cowl.

As for the strut bar getting pushed into the passenger compartment in an accident: if you're in an impact hard enough to push the strut towers back then you've got bigger problems than the strut bar moving ;).
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.