best strut brace and induction kit for FC???

[samfc3s]

any recommendation for front strut upper brace???there are few options from mazda speed and cusco, induction kit i like Blitz sonic......any recommendation???or is air box better???


sam,

[red_rotary7]

I like the K&N FIPK

[Grizzly]

To be Honist with you, the strut brace? well just buy a Shiny nice looking one becouse you wont feel any diffrence unless you are a Full blown racer.

The Induction is another one that you may find your loosing power by fitting a Cone type fillter, as it may start sucking all the hot air in from the Rad. If you do decide to fit a Induction Kit do your home work, its very easy to loose power if not done correctly.

http://www.1300cc.com/howto/how2/front.htm

Chris.

[samfc3s]

just curious have u ever driven a car fitted with strut brace before.....the difference is huge when u cornerin.....well i guess u just have to do your homework first:rollin

[Grizzly]

Yup, i can say i own a Set of strut barces (Ft top and bottom braces and the rear) and i have alot of hp and i did\'nt notice that much diffrence? now if you want a rigid shell fit a Cage!

Strut baraces are only realy helpfull if you have track set up where the Suspension is so hard it twists the shell under heavy cornering.

Out of intrest what sort of set up are you running? you must have some hard suspension if you felt a diffrence when you put the ft top Brace on (for road use).

Chris

[samfc3s]

yea i run a set of bilstein on my car.......which is great.....n is ok on the road and felt great difference on cornerin,as u may suggested grizzly..i totally agree with u if u fit the braces on the original suspension shocks that wont feels much diff due to the soft ride the original car has

just my 2ps


sam

[Grizzly]

Just out of intrest do you have all three Braces?

When my car was being built i decided i wanted to keep the Int as standard looking as possable (No cage) but wanted as stiffer shell as i could so i bought the Feed Kit that includes ft and rear top braces and a cross brace that goes under the floor.

Even I say it did\'nt make much diffrence becouse after i fitted the kit when i jacked the rear off side corner up so the same side ft wheel was just touching the floor i could not open my drivers door properly. Maybe if i had fitted a cage this would\'nt happen?

Chris

[MikeLMR]

Cages make a huge difference to shell stiffness, it was a night and day difference on the Metro Rally car.

and last time we rebuilt our team mates car we reinforced the sills with extra box section ... it makes people stop and stare when you stick the jack under the centre of the sill and change two wheels at once :rollin  the door still opens perfectly like that too :cool

Mike

[Grizzly]

Mike, have you ever done the Expanding foam trick?

I have a mate who rallys Mk1 Escorts who does it, but i am not sure if it would be a good idea on a car that see\'s lots of British weather?

This guy says it does\'nt add any weight but makes a big diffrence to the Shells stiffness.

Chris

[MikeLMR]

thats a trick from the USA I think. No, i\'ve not tried it ... the rust would bother me too much and I would be worried about the foam expanding too much a distorting the metal ... its impressive how much that stuff expands !

[Grizzly]

yeh, its ok for cars that dont get driven much but add a winter (Salt) and your asking for it.

As i say they use it on the Rally cars and you would not belive the diffrence it makes.

Chris

[Jonrms]

hello i hope you dont mind me entering this debate... the expanding foam issue..
here is my 2ps.
1 it is ok if your driving a road car as it reduces the noise in the car..
2 it does add weight but nothing noticable.. well depends how much you use it.. i suppose... lol
3 it is easy to use if you know how i suppose.. like anything else.. i used to own a company called american kit cars.. AKCLTD but sold it to a partner we used the stuff on all the lamborghini replicas to help sound deaden and also it was great for anyone who crashed... only 1 person that i am aware did..
bottom line it doesnt really help strengthen the shell. it will make the body a bit more solid. and cost peanuts to use..
over all
i reccomend the stuff but not for what your after grizzly.. it will be a waist for a stronger shell.
honesly if that is what your looking for the only help that you can get is by a role cage.
thank you for looking at my 2ps.
:wave

[MikeLMR]

I\'ve been doing a bit of reading and the Alfa suds used to use the foam stuff too ... it seems to be the reason they rotted out faster than you could weld them up !

Mike

[Grizzly]

It would\'nt be my first choice of Shell mods mainly due to the fact it can cause a water trap (Hence i only realy see it on Rally cars etc).

I have to say i\'ve seen some odd ways of making shells stronger, when i rebuilt my car i was toying with the idea of Seam welding the shell, but as i work in a body shop it was pointed out it is a road car! with the odd track day why do i need to go to all the time and effort? its not as if i will ever push my car that hard where the 3 strut braces are just not enough? and if anything ever needs replacing it would be a Mare of a Job.

I have uprated suspension in the form of Bilstien Coil overs with 350 lbs on the ft and 250\'s on the rear with all the usal Sway bars and polly bushings etc and i dont have any problems with the Handling, The biggest pain in the rear is geting the Geo set up right.  

Chris

[hIGGI]

we have finished first set of our own strut braces, anyone interested let me know ;o)

http://rx7cz.net/photos/workshop29/