FIXED: Hood gap issue b/c of strut bar, cusco brace | updated w/final pics & info Options

[snapshotgt]

Having this issue becuase of my cusco 2pt strut bar. First off, sorry for the poor pictures - low light and not much time:

Drivers side:




This brace:


Right hand, better condition:


On a side note:





Suggestions welcome for the hood gap.
I know some have been able to fix this issue.
Btw, the issue is becuase this bar is for a st205 (different hood).

Thanks-

[snapshotgt]

I'm thinking washers on hinge bolts (rear) to raise the back up a bit...

[CelicaST_CALI]

mabye its cause u have a beast living in ur engine bay...

This post has been edited by CelicaST_CALI: May 21, 2008 - 12:25 AM

[azian_advanced]

i don't think the engine has anything to do with it. i guess you'll just have to follow your own advice and go jdm-pro-drifter-style!
or do what i did and upgrade your hood

btw, similar thread here.

[808celica]

bang under the hood to make enough room to clear

[presure2]

i would trim the bracing for the hood where it hits the bar.
its not a RWD drift machine.
dont raise the back of the hood.

[D-Man]

X2 W/ pressure2.

I'd trim out the inside of the hood a bit; it'll hold. (remove some of that insulation first!) also, when it comes down to a few MM, then grab some washers and secure them between the frame & the fender @ the bolts. (there's 3 under the hood there) and just a FEW MM isnt a noticible difference to flex the fender. Not a few inches, a few MM!! lol.

But please dont raise the hood in the rear. That'd look retarded as well as throw off the lining of the hood + fenders even more...

[snapshotgt]

mabye its cause u have a beast living in ur engine bay...

It not even close to touching the engine.

i would trim the bracing for the hood where it hits the bar.
its not a RWD drift machine.
dont raise the back of the hood.

But that would weaken the hood... and i'm not sure that's a good idea.
If i were to be raise in the back, it would just be a little bit. I'm not talking RWD drift machine amount.

X2 W/ pressure2.

I'd trim out the inside of the hood a bit; it'll hold. (remove some of that insulation first!) also, when it comes down to a few MM, then grab some washers and secure them between the frame & the fender @ the bolts. (there's 3 under the hood there) and just a FEW MM isnt a noticible difference to flex the fender. Not a few inches, a few MM!! lol.

But please dont raise the hood in the rear. That'd look retarded as well as throw off the lining of the hood + fenders even more...

I don't have the insulation, so thats not an issue. I've thought of putting washer where the 3 bolts are, but not sure how "good" it would look. I know you say mm of amount, but it would probably need more to make it worth it.

[purplegt4]

the stock strut won't fit anymore?

[snapshotgt]

the stock strut won't fit anymore?

No, it does. Will be installing that to make a 3pt one. But, with the small added weight of V6, this cusco bar actually really helps with the front suspension. That's why it will be hard to part with if i end up selling it because of this issue.

[D-Man]

SNAPSHOT, it's just an issue of the hood hitting the bar, Take a dremmel and cut off a bit of that hood frame. It'll hold. It's got plenty more steal holding it together. If anything then weld another metal bar in between the V patter that it'll make. (if your really worried about it) but it should be strong enough to hold if your just taking out a few inches.

Or do you have CF / Fiberglass hood?

[snapshotgt]

Or do you have CF / Fiberglass hood?

OEM hood.

[D-Man]

yeah then you have adequate bracing to handle a little notch taken out to accommodate that bar. I'm gunna go dig you up some pics.... BRB w/ an edit...

[fanboy95]

i have the same bar on my car and it does the same thing, my hood doesn't come up as far though.

[DEATH]

Trust me - there is some safety/fudge factor built in to the OEM hood's weight holding capacity. Just notching it slightly or hammering out the bracing slightly to accomodate that bar will not significantly weaken the frame work. Or like D-man said, if you're that concerned just weld in a patch to restrengthen what little you cut out of the framework. I'd add a few washers under the fenders to minimize the amount you have to cut out of the framework and call it a day.
I don't know about you but if someone plants their big a$$ on my hood I'm gonna have more to worry about than a bent hood anyway [Like a murder case]. How often do you use your hood to support anything but it's own weight anyway [which it waaaaay over engineered to do]?

This post has been edited by DEATH: May 21, 2008 - 11:44 AM

[D-Man]

[Like a murder case]

It's funny because it's true...

But DEATH has a good question... What else does your hood do other than sit there? That's all that mine does...

[D-Man]

okay... i cant find any pics to show you... You'd be supprised how many people DONT take pics of the inside of their stock hoods

(i'm gunna take one and put it on my profile, just to be different... )

[snapshotgt]

One thing that weird is how different the gap is side to side. I'd expect the gap on both side - but it is mostly on pass side. So, I adjusted the rubber stops on the drivers side (making them taller) to offset this. This helped. Its more even - small gaps on both sides instead of large on on pass side.

I will probably try a little hammering before i pull out the dremmel tool. Its "ONLY" hitting the hood in one spot right in the center.

Do i need to worry about the latch failing with this added stress? The last thing i need is the hood flying up. I've been looking at hood issues and they seem to be with the st205 hood/latch combo - it sucks to read the horror stories of them flying up.

[D-Man]

Well, your gunna have to close the hood and guestimate that one yourself... decide how many lbs of pressure it takes to secure it down; and then assume that's how much is pushing it up... if it's more than 10-15; then you might wanna look into doing something about that!! (it's about 5 to close it regular) because that'd mean that you've got 5-10 pounds pushing and that's enough to open the hood especially when multiplied by the force of the wind...

not the kind of gremlin that you want "popping up" (pardon my pun)

[snapshotgt]

New pics (just for kicks):

Where its hitting (small dot in center):


Gaps a little smaller: