who would be interested in strut braces?, guaging interest Options

[TRD_Ian]

ok so like the title say's...... i am looking to see who would be interested in custom strut braces? i sucessfuly constructed my own a few months back and every one i show them too says i should build more!.... i made my own rear 3 point brace thats works great and i beefed up my stock gt brace.... i will be going back to the drawing board tho and construct my own 3 point brace for the front for the gt/gts and will hopefully get one made for gt4/ gt swapped cars (in the air right now) i am also going to throw my celi on a lift today and am gonna look at consturcting a rear tie bar and hopefully a front brace aswell (gonna take time to fab these) and im also debating c pillar bars/ x brace for inside the car for those hardcore guys..... so if you would be interested in any of these goodies pls post up and if you have any good ideas aswell on things i could construct....all comments are welcome......negative or positive.....i just wanna be able to help our community and hopefully get some money towards my swap!....... and before it gets asked i am a welder/fitter by trade and have my own fully function shop....this isnt a back yard deal with braces held together with bubble gum and twist ties....
link to OP- http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=66029

any who i wanna know what you guys think of this idea.....don't be shy

thanks in advance
Ian

This post has been edited by TRD_Ian: Sep 10, 2009 - 2:01 AM

[cyprus_gt]

I am intersting for front one and rear also

cheers

[dabazied]

I'd be interested, I would be super interested if you could make some rears for the coupes too =P We always get left out lol

[TRD_Ian]

well i am glad i have some interest.... im gonna spend the next couple days here running around pricing out material and such and look at were i can buy good mounting hardware as i would really like to make a rear tie bar available to us.... but i bet there is a real good reason why there isnt one on the market...like the fact of how our rearend is designed....the production of the bars i already have made will be easy as il just have to make a jig and im set.... as for ST's and coupes... i am pretty sure my front bar will clear a 7A but i am not 100 percent certain.....and coupes will be an issue as i have none around me to work with...il have to do some research and find out how much of a difference if any there is for the rear 3 point.......

is there any one out there with TRD our Cusco braces who wouldnt mind weighting them or might know how much they weight?
i plan to use steel for these prolly 3\16 pipe or so....i dont have the tools to weld aluminum yet and i don't do alot of it....so it would have to be sent out to be welded....i don't wanna put my name on other ppls work....and don't wanna be held responsible if there weld broke.. so steel it is and im gonna build them as light as possible

[freddy121389]

id definitely be down for a front brace, let me how much

[Culpable04]

3 point front brace that can fit with ST205 engine in alluminum would be something I'd get.


long shot I know, but if you can weld alluminum is not anything different.

[yagamius]

I'm in, it looks pretty damn good, the rear three point bar is sick

so when you have the info about the prices on the rear and front three point send me a PM

[TRD_Ian]

culp i was just talkin to the guys at gold fab today about that an aluminum one could be made! this wont be off the ground for a lil while as i am un employed and will need to save in order to purchase material...once i get a jig set up i will be able to take it to them and they will be able to weld an aluminum one up......prices will very alot tho for those ones as il have to pay more outa pocket to get them to weld them..... as for material i have decided on going with 1/8th- 3/16th normal carbon steel....should keep cost's low for evey one and function just the same... i was gonna use chrome molly but i am shyin away from that again to keep things cheeper for everyone...the amount of money it would take to use that and the lil gain in weight reduction i don't feel is worth it in the long run... plus its gonna be alot of work to get molly tubing........ a question was brought to my attention today... what would i coat them in? well for 60 dollars give or take... im gonna be able to paint match the braces to the celi colours....this is prep/primed/painted/cleared..... well also ship the braces unfinished if you wish to have them powder coated.... i am in process right now of findin some one local to powder coat.. but not gettin my hopes up.... i am contacting junk yards right now trying to find a coupe..... i found one an hr away and its an ST.....crappy thing is its missing the motor and was clocked in the rear.... rear sturt is not were it should be....the hunt continues!

[BonzaiCelica]

alright sounds good. go ahead and keep us updated as time goes on. do you have any pictures for the mounting points on the rear strut brace. pics of the mounts on the body of the car and on the strut mounts.

I would probably be interested more in the rear strut brace since it is very hard to find a 3 point rear strut brace online. the one that tigawoods has is around $300????

i would like to have a trd front brace more for the looks. but i might change my mind once you start telling us how much the cost will be

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Sep 11, 2009 - 12:19 AM

[TRD_Ian]

yea for sure guys i am gonna update as things progress.... saving money right now to buy materials and welding supplies... then i am gonna make jigs and construct the brace and post very well details pics and then you guys can start ordering.... i am hoping to be up and ready for full production by start of nov..... then i can start bangin these out for you guys

[chacha]

i want the rear... make it thick and sturdy

[stl95celica]

3 point rear for me fur sure. depending on the price but i really want one. does the third point go to the three bolts under the middle of the rear seat?

[DEATH]

I'm available for design work and input if you need it Ian - as you know I also weld my own. Anything you need

[TiGZ461]

I'm down for the bars, just needa bulk them up a bit. The other guy that's selling is a bit too much so if you could provide a good product with a good price, you got yourself a customer.

[BonzaiCelica]

its seems like some members are asking if you can make the rear bar thicker. I dont know how much of a difference it would make, but from looking at tigawoods 3 point strut bar that he bought, the manufacture of the strut bar has thick bars...

[TRD_Ian]

the pics of my bars right now are just so you guys know i am capable of building them...will not be using the same material on the new ones and there will be a new design to both... like stated im gonna run with 3/16th thick pipe.....

i wanna keep weight down but still perform just the same....tiga's is aluminum i am betting which would be why its beefy.... and just so you guys know i am gonna pre fit every set in my car to be 100 percent sure they will fit with no issues when you get em.... when i get the new bars constructed i am gonna do alot of road test with them aswell and make sure they keep things rigid....the lil rinky dink ones i have now work well but i did end up snaping my rear brace because my sub box is mounted to it and its only thin thin thin stuff and some kind of alloy..... mind you it snapped while taking a off ramp at 100 km an hr and the box is anyhing but light.... also if you guys noticed i used a gt brace and beefed it up for the front......i am constructing a whole new brace so that i wont need gt braces to make em..... stay tuned for up dates

This post has been edited by TRD_Ian: Sep 13, 2009 - 10:54 AM

[BonzaiCelica]

alright then sounds good. Im liking this thread alot.

[kamax]

looks good, keep us updated please =D

[dabazied]

Any updates on this?

[johnnehh]

I would be interested in one for the back.

I would be interested in one for the back.