Got to love not having to keep the mud shields.

 That's a smooth way to do it, Bigzook. That is basically what I am aiming to do with mine.

 Fuzzy1, yeah, mine is an 8v ( for now    )  I had a bad filter housing when I got this, so fixing that was a priority until I found out that the engine had a couple of other problems.  Anyways, I go the need cutting items today, so tomorrow I will be working on getting the brace to fit, and will hopefully have it close enough that you can see what needs to be finished, along with pictures of the "in work" of course. I wll know for sure about the hood after I get doen mocking it up, BUT, as of right now, the hood is no where close to being able to close. We are talking about 5"  at the nose above being able to close.

Bigzook, I really like how you angled your brace forward to clear the intake plenum. I like that you can get to the intake w/out removing the bar. Looks like it clears the spark plugs even, slick design. I saw the pic on your build thread... do you have any details on how you fabbed it? You just cut the splashguards off the top of the inner fenders right?

Trackasaur, having the 2nd gen brace there, & since you have to rework the ends, does it look like it could be installed angled forward like that, fab the mounts at ~45* rather than ~90*?
The only issue I could see with that route for mine is I have (& want) the stock air intake. So the brace would interfere. I'm starting to think a custom bent tube might be a better option... maybe angled to scoot under the stock intake tube. Why oh WHY can't we get the 2l Vits here?! *Shakes fist in air* Already have the brace stock, not to mention the engine I'd choose if only I could... *sigh*

Hey vendors!! Build us 1st gen Trackick people a bolt on Strut Brace please??!! Copy Bigzooks, he won't mind!   (j/k ofc)

Hey, Fuzzy. I am thinking about the same thing with angling the bar to clear the TB on the 8v.There is alot of length that can be used for this... I have to finish clearing out the doorway for my garage to be able to get back to the "Rhino" to work on it, as we got snowed pretty hard. I should be able to get in there either tonight or in the AM, though. 

 As for what you are thinking, I need to get ahold of a friend of mine that has a 16v, and see what it would take to make it work on that intake set-up, since Mark is keeping his a stock set up.

As it sounds CALMINI has  laser cut weld-on gussets reinforce the strut tower in their new SAS kit to come out.  Not very visible in this image.


On Drone637's Race Car we used 1/4" X 3" flat stock to reinforce his strut towers.  Complete weld of flat stock to strut tower.  (The limiting strap is to keep from topping out the strut for those using air miles.)


He never had any noticeable change in wheel chamber (even after roll over testing during field tests).  Last year (2009) after one race those not running braces had significant chamber changes.  And the race rigs were Hammered.

This is an easy modification to make if you are concerned about bending strut towers.

Awesome video of Bentparts on Escalator.
 

I braced my towers externally also, a bit differently, but seems to work. BTW, like to take the credit for that vid, but it's not me.

I misread what was written.  Still a good video.  How are yours braced?

Have to see if I can find the photo and post it.  I used a 1/2" solid steel rod, bent to the shape of the strut tower front, welded it in place with the legs spread out and welded to the frame a few inches to the side, then braced that with plate. Hard to describe.

Found the info over on Zuwarrie. http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,98192.0.html

Any updates?? 

 None yet, Fuzzy1. I started a new job, and it has kind of sidelined my projects while I get somethings caught up. I will be back to the brace "hopefully" on Sunday, as that is the first day off that I have ( hopefully, it won't be a work day ALSO.)

k, cool & grats on the new job. No hurry ofc, you're offering help, not required to... thanks!