FS: 3 point Strut braces front and rear, Fabbing my own brand of braces get em while they're hot! Options

[Darkchylde]

Hey Guys and Gals

My name is Art, I've been a member of the community for about three years. I am a steamfitter by trade and was thinking of fabbing my own strut tower braces I am certified to weld under nuclear conditions with an X-ray test to determine the efficacy of my welds, both of the stick and MIG processes.

I was wondering if there was any interest out there for me to fab these braces for more than myself. I 'm not entirely sure of the materials yet, the easiest to get a hold of and join would be steel. I realize that is probably heavier than most of you would want, I just thought of this today so I'll be checking out the possibility of aluminum as well. Anyway shoot me a reply here on this post or in a p.m., the cost for the braces I am trying to aim for is about 100-150 for a front brace (3-point) and about 50-75 for a rear (3 point as well). These prices are not completely set as I have not made one yet. I am also entertaining the idea of buying the plans to make the frame insert for awd setups but I am not sure about that one yet. Let me know if your interested and in what and I will get on crunching the numbers and the first prototypes. I will post pictures in the next week or so and list the final product materials, and for those do it your selfers, post an autocad print of the plans for a price as well. So hit me back and let's see if we can't make some good parts for ourselves.

First mock up picture, Made this to check fitment for the steel jig I made from the wooden one that I made with Stevenson, from his Jspeed one.
This one is 3/4 schedule 40 steel pipe It's fit into my trunk right now, to make sure the fitment is correct. I have a couple of tweaks to make. But the rears are going into production tomorrow 12/16/10.

Front brace mock up for jig, fitment is good just have a couple of clearances to check

had to make the front support just about from scratch,didn't turn out too bad if you ask me though.


This post has been edited by Darkchylde: Dec 18, 2010 - 1:22 AM

[Darkchylde]

Alright guys and gals, nitty gritty time. I need a real list of what people want as far as the strut bars. Still have to make a mock up of the harness bar setups. But if I am going to make these out of aluminum, it is pricey for me to just buy the materials without any real assurance that they will be purchased. I would also ask that I get a deposit on the aluminum bars, $50 dollars by paypal will ensure that you get a strut bar made of aluminum, front or rear. I wish that it was different, but I just can't afford to lose that kind of money. I will be pm'ng all of the people who have already posted interest and asking them if they think this is feasible. The cost for the aluminum alone not including shipping is just about a thousand dollars. You've seen the mock ups both are a perfect fit and yes the hood closes. Together they stiffen the car up nicely, handling is much improved.

Chacha mentioned a thicker bar, all custom requests can be accommodated to some degree. the bar I fabbed for the rear is a universal fit for the sixth gen, just like the Jspeed that I used to make the jig. The front bar is also jigged off of the Jspeed as well. I can't find oval aluminum so i would be using rectangular stock either 1x2 or 1/2x1-1/2 . On a side note I will not be using cast aluminum for the actual strut tower connection it will be 6061 aluminum welded together in the same style.

The sooner that I get a list together the sooner final production can begin. And just to let you guys know I am serious about this, not only do I enjoy the work. In the beginning of this forum there is a sticky about third party escrow, I'll check it out right after this post. Sorry if I seem a little stiff but i would really like to get these made, I am actually looking forward to it. I just don't want to get shafted. So hit me up start a definitive list. I look forward to hearing from all that are interested.