I ordered a regular (not triangulated) strut brace for my SOHC S13 from CPracing.ca, and the thing fits horribly. I've heard of cheaper bars either not letting the hood close properly, or the valve cover rattling against the bar, but my situation I think is worse. When installed, the bar is actually BENDING around the valve cover. This tight contact shakes the entire car on idle, and eventually something is gonna wear through something else should I leave this bar on.
I was recommended by CPracing to put washers under the brace at the Strut mount studs to raise it up. The thing is, I'm sure i'd need at least 1/2" of spacing to make the bar actually clear and not rattle.
I think maybe the SOHC valve cover sits higher than the DOHC one. Does anyone know this for fact? Perhaps they designed the bar over the DOHC engine?
CP racing strut brace.
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SHIFTrl240
- Posts: 544
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 4:28 pm
- Car: 1990 SR20 Sil-80
2009 Yamaha RoadStar Warrior
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti AWD - Contact:
I have a sohc and my original STB fit the same exact way. I added some washers and it fits fine. On the stock struts there is not a lot of extra thread on the top studs to raise the bar by much. This was solved by getting coilovers which have longer studs. On another car I got an eBay STB and it has TONS of clearance. So much so that it hits the hood and bends it up. That was solved by shimming up the hood to give it some room.In your case i would take the bar off and bend it to fit or send it back and try to get another brand. There is simply very little clearance between the hood and the valve cover so its very hard to get something that fits perfect.This problem is worse if you have the Nismo motor mounts which raise the engine higher.
Well whatever then. Perhaps my car is some kind of freak. Either way, I'm in the metal shop "modifying" the thing to make it fit. I checked my space between the valve cover and hood. I can fit an entire spray paint can (2.25" diameter) between the valve cover and hood, and make the hood shut without too much trouble. Lots of room. My poor freak strut towers are too short or something:rolleyes