Strut bar help

AaRoN · Oct 30, 2006

hey guys got a strut bar and need to know if it's suppossed to be a direct fit or if i'm suppossed to drill some holes??

[attachment deleted by admin] SORRY HAD TO CLEAR ROOM

Dalamar · Oct 30, 2006

Interesting, I was just talking with MM about a different strut tower bar for my car - this morning.

Factory equiped cars come with a hole and bolt clip in place.
You'll need to drill, and bolt it in. You've got it sitting right.

Good luck.

95CALI-5.0 · Oct 30, 2006

Unfortunatley you will have to drill, but it will be well worth it !!!

Red96GT · Oct 30, 2006

Did any GT's come with a strut bar brace???? I bought mine used and it came with one but everything else is stock.

Dalamar · Oct 30, 2006

mine did!

Hey silversol, I'd suggest that you mark and center-punch before you drill, and they should be right on.
the drill likes to wander whey you're on a convex surface or if you can't get straight on.

you could also touch up the bare metal around/in the hole with some primer and a q-tip if you wanna protect it from rust.

SoddyRebel · Oct 30, 2006

i believe 96,97s were the only ones with factory strut braces

AaRoN · Oct 30, 2006

alright thanks a bunch guys. big help.

Wickedz · Oct 30, 2006

all gravy BUT theres no where on the back part of it to bolt down on the firewall area.

97WhitePony · Oct 30, 2006

Yea, youll have to drill there too... i know my 97 came with a brace... bout to repaint it here shortly...

AaRoN · Oct 30, 2006

wow. i was just looking at those pics again and my engine bay is filthy! don't mind the mess. i live on a dirt road. sux.

LI98GT · Oct 31, 2006

So yeah as everyone said, they came stock on 96 and 97s, but did away with them from that point on out. Looks like a Ford 96/97 STB that you picked up - is it? I put my own STB in also and it was fairly easy, so you shouldn't have any problems. I put a jack under the k member to raise the car, leaving the wheels to hang and gained access behind the wheels in order to put the nuts on the bolts. The Steeda version I used. I was able to tie it into the rear of the engine bay by going through the wall. From what I remember in seeing 96/97s in person was that the bolts went vertical in direction through that folded metal piece that is under the stb.

Maybe someone can post a stock 96/97 engine bay for you or maybe you don't really care (trying to help)?

AaRoN · Oct 31, 2006

LI98GT said:
So yeah as everyone said, they came stock on 96 and 97s, but did away with them from that point on out. Looks like a Ford 96/97 STB that you picked up - is it? I put my own STB in also and it was fairly easy, so you shouldn't have any problems. I put a jack under the k member to raise the car, leaving the wheels to hang and gained access behind the wheels in order to put the nuts on the bolts. The Steeda version I used. I was able to tie it into the rear of the engine bay by going through the wall. From what I remember in seeing 96/97s in person was that the bolts went vertical in direction through that folded metal piece that is under the stb.

Maybe someone can post a stock 96/97 engine bay for you or maybe you don't really care (trying to help)?

thanks for the help buddy. pretty much figured that this was how to install it but wanted to make sure. again, thanks for the input.