[Ryan]

I may be interested in one as well. I really like the built in parking meter change holder feature.

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[flash]

yeah, but it only holds dimes

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[Cloud9...68]

Flash, et al,



Ok here are some images of my Cargraphic brace. First of all, after viewing images of all the sparkling clean engine compartments out there, I'm terribly embarassed to show my grubby under hood area. It's just surface dirt that should be easy to clean off. I guess since I've been tracking the car, I've sort of taken the attitude that if it won't help get around the track any faster, I'm not that interested in it.



As you can see, my brace doesn't have anywhere near the clearane that Flash's does. Whoever installed it modified the vanity cover (very nicely, I might add) to provide clearance for the brace. As far as your other questions, it came with the car, so I don't know anything about what the previous owner went through to get it installed, and I have absolutely no clue about pre-load capability. I don't even know if Cargraphics is still in business, and if so, whether they still offer this brace. In any case, yours is much prettier, and looks like it was well worth your effort.



DS, you raise an interesting point, probably worthy of a separate thread. All my life, I've read in the car magazines about how the testers are able to discern the minutest differences in subtle handling characteristics between cars, and within a given car before and after specific mods. I've now done four DEs (eight track days total), and while I finally feel like I'm gettng the hang of it, I have to confess that (and I'm exaggerating for effect here) you could probably let half the air out of one of my tires, pump another one up to 60 psi, put the spare on a third, and saw my rear sway bar in half, and, up until maybe my last session when things really started to jell, I probably wouldn't have noticed any difference. I'm so busy focusing on my line, smoothness of braking and throttle application, heel-and-toe downshifting, the flag stations, unwinding the wheel after the apex, looking ahead to the next turn, etc., etc, ad infinitem, to notice the specific handling characteristics of my car.



My personal opinion is that it will probably take me (and I have no idea how typical I may be) a good six full weekends at the track before I start noticing how the nuances of tire pressure, suspension geometry, spring rates, etc. impact the balance of the car, and consequently my ability to negoriate the turns. Basically, I think it just comes down to a LOT of track time to allow yourself to stop focusing so much basics of your driving technique, and start to notice what the car is trying to tell you. So I, too, probably wouldn't have a clue as to whether my car has a strut tower brace or not, so don't feel bad. I'm curious as to what other people think about this, and would be glad to start a new thread about it. Thanks for raising this issue, as I'm sure you're not the only one who feels that way. It's just one of those thing that many (especially us car junkie men) aren't too willing to admit to.

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[flash]

ok - i've seen that brace before, but not on a 968 - that one is pretty cut up - i think it's from a 944

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[ianreeves]

How do you think it would go on a RHD car, if we can get a good rate on shipping then I would be interested in the UK !

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[flash]

both the upper and lower braces should not have any issues regardless of drive side, but if you have a shot of the underneath of the engine, i could answer that better for sure

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[biotechee]

Ian-



You should get your car to a repair shop immediately- someone put the steering wheel on the wrong side!!!!



Couldn't resist and I am sure you have heard it before!!! Just a little bored at work today!



<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

the first batch of strut tower braces will be a quantity of 20

the price is $239.95



the first batch of lower suspension braces will be a quantity of 10

the price is $169.95



delivery to pete in 2 weeks



we already have about that many "orders" for each item - this will be first come first served so contact pete at rs barn asap and give him your credit card info



p.s. - the strut tower brace is at that price with no black in the grooves - for that, add $20

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[Bart]

Just placed my order for both!! Thanks Bob and Pete!!

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[flash]

just received the center links and adjusters yesterday - awaiting brackets from the powdercoater and the heims and they will be on their way - i expect everything to be here by wednesday

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[flash]

had to reject the brackets - there was weld slag on them and neither the sheet metal shop, nor the welder nor the powder coater caught it - looked like little grains of sand under the powder coating (lol - my brackets had acne)



they will have to sandblast everything back off and do them again



now these have to wait until friday to ship, as i won't be back from portland until thursday night to inspect them



sorry for the delay, but i want these right



i need a drink

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[Bart]

Thanks for your hard work Flash!!

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[flash]

just so you didn't think i forgot about this, here's a teaser shot:



   



they are all ready to go - i'm just waiting on the !@#$%^& powder coater to get the brackets back to the sheet metal shop so i can go pick them up, check them for fit, take the shots for the instructions, and stick them in the danged box (lol - all of that wil only take about 2 hours)



phone should ring any minute

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[ds968]

[quote name='flash' post='37877' date='Jul 5 2007, 03:19 PM']phone should ring any minute[/quote]



ring, ring...

- hello ?

- yeah, it's me - hope you don't reject the brackets again because they might have some spec of dust on them or the powder coating looks inconsistent in a few spots under a flood light and trough a microscope <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



what , some of us are willing to live with a 0.00001 variation to the perfection Bob expects <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

and I need to replace the less attractive KLA brace, so I'm impatient <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />





Seriously though, ditto on the Thanks for all the work you and Pete did to bring this fine product to realization !

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[Rutger Gert-jan]

Flash,



The braces look verry nice!!!! I can not wait to install one on my own car!



Thanx a lot for all the effort!

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[PorscheDude]

[quote name='ds968' post='37879' date='Jul 5 2007, 07:04 PM']ring, ring...

- hello ?

- yeah, it's me - hope you don't reject the brackets again because they might have some spec of dust on them or the powder coating looks inconsistent in a few spots under a flood light and trough a microscope <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



what , some of us are willing to live with a 0.00001 variation to the perfection Bob expects <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

and I need to replace the less attractive KLA brace, so I'm impatient <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />





Seriously though, ditto on the Thanks for all the work you and Pete did to bring this fine product to realization ![/quote]



LOL <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Thanks guys for putting this togeather. I can appreceiate all the hard work that went into this project.

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[Fox944]

Those braces look great. However, i already have a KLA Brace(which also looks great imo)..so it would be a waste of money to buy this piece. I did purchase the lower brace though.....i've been waiting on that piece for some time....finally.

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[flash]

no worries - yeah, functionally there is little to no gain over the kla - it's all aesthetics and preventing the danged thing from smacking the vanity cover - that was really the motivation behind this project

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[Fox944]

[quote name='flash' post='37895' date='Jul 5 2007, 09:16 PM']no worries - yeah, functionally there is little to no gain over the kla - it's all aesthetics and preventing the danged thing from smacking the vanity cover - that was really the motivation behind this project[/quote]





dont get me wrong...your brace looks great....you did a wonderfull job. It seems to be the best integrated brace thus far (as far as not smacking the vanity cover, and having no interference issues with the hood).I dont seem to have any interferance issues with my hood, and always wonder if people are installing the other braces correctly. However, The KLA def smacks my vanity cover....i'm just not bothered by that. Its functional and gets the job done. It also looks good imo. Maybe i will swap it with your brace in the future when i'm done with other things.

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[PorscheDude]

My thought on the KLA brace is that people install them with too much pre-load.

When I first installed mine I had no problems.

After I did my manifold, I think I put to much pre-load on the brace trying to clear the vanity cover and pushed the brackets farther apart, thus "tweeking them up" and dinging the hood.

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