S13 Front Strut / Firewall Brace

A forum for approved vendors of specialized, limited-production parts. Help small businesses that cater to Nissan enthusiasts and score some unique, useful parts! Contact [email protected] for approval and rates.
User avatar
rotorimp
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:07 am
Car: 02 Xterra, 60 IH Metro
Location: AZ

S13 Front Strut / Firewall Brace

Postby rotorimp » Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:38 am

Finally ready!

These front strut / firewall braces were designed and engineered specifically for the purpose of increasing the rigidity of the cowl and front suspension areas on the S13.

Developed for the 240sx Convertible, they are equally effective at reducing front end flexion on the Coupe and Hatch, while allowing full access to the top of your engine. Valve cover removal can be done without removing the FSTB.

In addition, they are situated to transfer and distribute strut tower loads evenly across the firewall and bulkhead, increasing suspension flatness.

Image

Manufactured from thick-walled mild steel tubing, with CNC-cut mounting plates and gusseted welds and joints, you won't find a beefier strut brace on the market. PERIOD.

Finish is a high-quality satin black powdercoat that's been professionally applied to resist chipping, scratching and flaking.

Note: Drilling of the firewall (two holes) is required. Installation is fairly simple and should take less than an hour with normal hand tools.

SAY NO TO CRAPPY EBAY STRUT BRACES!!!!


User avatar
homeslicej2
Posts: 5450
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:46 pm
Car: 1990 S13 SR'd hatch

Re: S13 Front Strut / Firewall Brace (rotorimp)

Postby homeslicej2 » Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:50 am

Is it necessary to reinforce the firewall at the mounting points?

User avatar
AZhitman
Administrator
Posts: 71015
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 70 240Z, 75 240Z RB25, 63 Bluebird RHD, 63 NL320, 67 WRL411, 67 SPL311, 68 510 SR, 77 620 SR20, 79 210, 92 SE-R, 97 D21, 98 S14, 12 Titan 4x4.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

Postby AZhitman » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:07 am

No. The steel is fairly thick there, and the forces are distributed with the direction of the firewall metal.

User avatar
Repo Man
Moderator
Posts: 14403
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2002 6:52 am
Car: '15 RAM 1500, 4x4
Location: Indy
Contact:

Re: S13 Front Strut / Firewall Brace (rotorimp)

Postby Repo Man » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:50 am

Freaking SCORE! That looks awesome Jason. This just went to the top of my list for stuff for my 'vert. I'll put one on my hatch too as soon as I get the wiring sorted out.

User avatar
Loki
Posts: 7653
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:27 am
Car: 1994 Nissan 240SX Convertible
2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2001 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
Location: Detroit, MI
Contact:

Postby Loki » Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:19 pm

You have to drill two holes in the firewall to install this right? I'll have to find a means of doing that before I even think about ordering...

User avatar
Joe
Posts: 7275
Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2003 8:29 pm
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: (Loki)

Postby Joe » Tue Aug 07, 2007 4:19 pm

so uh what engine is going in that 240

i see some heavy mount pod modification on the crossmember

jrivera
Posts: 233
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:24 am
Location: South Carolina

Re: (Kamin)

Postby jrivera » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:20 pm

Very nice...

User avatar
DJButton
Moderator
Posts: 5605
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 6:38 pm
Car: 2010 Nissan 240sx
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: (jrivera)

Postby DJButton » Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:32 pm

Well Jason, you truly are a master fabricator, finally a strut brace that is better then the others and will fit around my RB before I get a front facing IM! Great Work!

User avatar
homeslicej2
Posts: 5450
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:46 pm
Car: 1990 S13 SR'd hatch

Re: (Loki)

Postby homeslicej2 » Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:30 am

Loki wrote:You have to drill two holes in the firewall to install this right? I'll have to find a means of doing that before I even think about ordering...
Would you have to remove the dash to drill your holes and not hit stuff? I like it btw and will have to get after I finish the brake upgrade.

Silvia_Drift
Posts: 102
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:54 pm
Car: 1989 Nissan 240sx Coupe

Re: (homeslicej2)

Postby Silvia_Drift » Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:23 pm

Hey man, I want one. How much shipped to Toronto Canada?

And I am also concerned about drilling the firewall. Do the brake and clutch line need to be relocated? And does it come with the hardware to mount the bar to the firewall?


Modified by Silvia_Drift at 9:29 PM 8/8/2007

digzsublime
Posts: 185
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:40 pm
Car: 95 S14 w/ LS1.

Re: S13 Front Strut / Firewall Brace (rotorimp)

Postby digzsublime » Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:05 pm

Very nice, I will be ordering one of these soon. I've got an RB and it looks like it should clear.

It's unny though. I was just talking to the guys in our abrication shop, like a week ago, about making one very similar to this. Guess there is no need to use up my favors when I can just buy one. Thanks.

Just out of curiousity, how thick is "thick walled mild steel tubing" ?

User avatar
Hijacker
Posts: 15754
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150
Location: Fredericksburg, VA

Postby Hijacker » Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:27 am

in a few weeks, i shall be ordering one myself. thanks jason!

User avatar
rotorimp
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:07 am
Car: 02 Xterra, 60 IH Metro
Location: AZ

Re: (tenkawa_akito)

Postby rotorimp » Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:30 am

Hello all,

Drilling the two holes in the fire wall is very easy--you do have to remove the plastic just above it to get to the back side. They can be installed in about 20 min. just because you have to put it on-mark the holes and drill them. Nothing else has to be removed or changed. We did notice with some aftermarket suspension. that you have to lower one of the struts to get it on--just because they are made to very tight tolerances and I didn't want to mess up any threads on the struts. these bars also come very close to the hood. If your all stock you will be fine but some of the carbon fiber hoods come down closer and you might have to put some washers on the hinge. The wall thickness on the tubes is .095" and currently it is up to the buyer for the hardware to attach it to the firewall. Any other questions please post them.

Jonnie Fraz
Posts: 99
Joined: Wed May 23, 2007 3:44 pm

Re: (rotorimp)

Postby Jonnie Fraz » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:23 pm

Nice work Jason. I saw it when you posted up on welding web. On there you mention that there is no interfearance with top mount turbos, is that still the case?

User avatar
rotorimp
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:07 am
Car: 02 Xterra, 60 IH Metro
Location: AZ

Re: (Jonnie Fraz)

Postby rotorimp » Sat Aug 11, 2007 4:28 am

YES Sir--That was the main reason for builbing them. Seems like there are endless strut bars that go across the motor but none that are able to clear the big turbo's, LS1's ect...

User avatar
Dano
Posts: 15784
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2002 8:01 pm
Car: '05 Nismo Frontier CC / '95 240sx base
Location: Kansas City, KS/ Phx, AZ
Contact:

Postby Dano » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:59 pm

I just saw these in person this week and they look great! Now I need to get on the template for S14!

-Dan

User avatar
rotorimp
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:07 am
Car: 02 Xterra, 60 IH Metro
Location: AZ

Re: (Dano)

Postby rotorimp » Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:15 am

As of today we have 6 Left.

datsun2401972
Posts: 540
Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 10:04 am
Car: 90 240sx coupe XE

Re: (rotorimp)

Postby datsun2401972 » Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:03 pm

How much do they weigh compared to the competition?

User avatar
AZhitman
Administrator
Posts: 71015
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 70 240Z, 75 240Z RB25, 63 Bluebird RHD, 63 NL320, 67 WRL411, 67 SPL311, 68 510 SR, 77 620 SR20, 79 210, 92 SE-R, 97 D21, 98 S14, 12 Titan 4x4.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

Postby AZhitman » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:20 pm

They're significantly heavier than those sissy ebay bars, I'm guessing 5-6 lbs..

FWIW, I can flex a Cusco bar with my hands, and I'm not a real strong guy.

This thing is beefy.

User avatar
Fenvy
Posts: 5054
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2004 9:30 am
Car: 2005 350Z Base 6MT
Contact:

Postby Fenvy » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:39 pm

will it clear s13 sr20det with 3 nismo mounts?

my cusco barely clears

User avatar
jdm_master_X
Posts: 3524
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:22 pm
Car: 92 Nissan 180SX LHD!...LaWL
Contact:

Re: (AZhitman)

Postby jdm_master_X » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:39 pm

this is definitely a fine piece of work. i gotta get me one.

User avatar
rotorimp
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:07 am
Car: 02 Xterra, 60 IH Metro
Location: AZ

Re: (jdm_master_X)

Postby rotorimp » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:15 am

We made them VERY strong--they actually weigh 10lbs. You can NOT twist them by hand. If you look at the pictures they run very close to the fire wall as not to get in the way of any engine combo.

User avatar
homeslicej2
Posts: 5450
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:46 pm
Car: 1990 S13 SR'd hatch

Re: (rotorimp)

Postby homeslicej2 » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:21 am

Do you plan on making more of these (and possibly one for the rear?). I want one, but I have other things to do first.

User avatar
ishkabibble
Posts: 4667
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:08 pm
Car: 1992 NX2000 hardtop, 1993 NX2000 t-top, 1997 Infiniti I30t

Postby ishkabibble » Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:25 pm

Why doesn't it use all 3 bolts on the strut tower?

datsun2401972
Posts: 540
Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 10:04 am
Car: 90 240sx coupe XE

Re: (rotorimp)

Postby datsun2401972 » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:32 pm

Hopefully you'll have 1 left after the 15(payday).

And please do make a matching rear STB

Looks like the holes would be difficult to drill with the engine in?

User avatar
AZhitman
Administrator
Posts: 71015
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 70 240Z, 75 240Z RB25, 63 Bluebird RHD, 63 NL320, 67 WRL411, 67 SPL311, 68 510 SR, 77 620 SR20, 79 210, 92 SE-R, 97 D21, 98 S14, 12 Titan 4x4.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

Re: (ishkabibble)

Postby AZhitman » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:41 pm

ishkabibble wrote:Why doesn't it use all 3 bolts on the strut tower?
Because it's rigid, making it near impossible to install without dropping your struts... Don't want people to damage the threads on the strut studs!

User avatar
Fenvy
Posts: 5054
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2004 9:30 am
Car: 2005 350Z Base 6MT
Contact:

Re: (AZhitman)

Postby Fenvy » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:52 pm

AZhitman wrote:
Because it's rigid, making it near impossible to install without dropping your struts... Don't want people to damage the threads on the strut studs!
that makes sense, I was wondering the same thing

User avatar
rotorimp
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:07 am
Car: 02 Xterra, 60 IH Metro
Location: AZ

Re: (Loveless)

Postby rotorimp » Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:06 am

There was no real advantage to the third bolt. The two bolts properly torqued down are sufficient--plus it gives our bar a unique look.

And Yes as long as there is a demand we will produce them. In fact Dan has me convinced to do a s14 run.

User avatar
ishkabibble
Posts: 4667
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:08 pm
Car: 1992 NX2000 hardtop, 1993 NX2000 t-top, 1997 Infiniti I30t

Re: (AZhitman)

Postby ishkabibble » Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:50 pm

AZhitman wrote:Because it's rigid
I see. Thanks, Greg, didn't think of installation.

datsun2401972
Posts: 540
Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 10:04 am
Car: 90 240sx coupe XE

Re: (rotorimp)

Postby datsun2401972 » Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:47 pm

paypal sent!

Now make a rear one, lol!

Preferably one that ties into the strut towers and the bottom of the trunk!

....please?


Return to “Fabricators' Market”