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  1. #1
    Member Mieux97's Avatar
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    99 Pontiac Trans Am #2466

    Strut tower braces

    Thinking of puttin an STB on the bird but don't have enough info. How much of a diff does it make...if any? Which brand is best? 2-point or 3-point? I did a search, but it wasn't very helpful.

  2. #2
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    2001 Z28

    You had previously asked me about SFC's... I mention this because I sell a few different CSP kits (for Chassis Stiffening Package) that have both SFC's (either 2 or 3 pt) and a STB at a slight discount vs. buying them alone.

    Might want to kill two birds with one stone.

  3. #3
    Member Mieux97's Avatar
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    99 Pontiac Trans Am #2466

    but is any one stb better than the other?

  4. #4
    Firebird Encyclopedia 9T8W66's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mieux97 View Post
    but is any one stb better than the other?
    My Personal opinion is their all the same except you may want to stay away from a 3pt STB because of the possibility of a cracked windshield.
    Craig
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  5. #5
    Slow'er'Ass Mr. Luos's Avatar
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    Strut tower braces are an appearance mod....nothing more.

  6. #6
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    2001 Z28

    No, not really. Some are different, like the Hotchkis but most as similar. SLP and UMI's are really pretty much identical.
    Sam Strano
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  7. #7
    Member Mieux97's Avatar
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    99 Pontiac Trans Am #2466

    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Strano View Post
    No, not really. Some are different, like the Hotchkis but most as similar. SLP and UMI's are really pretty much identical.
    Is there anything special about the hotchkis?

  8. #8
    Consumer of kraut SiggyZ's Avatar
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    I've got a BMR and love it. I just ordered a set of BMR boxed SFCs to compliment it too.


  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mieux97 View Post
    Is there anything special about the hotchkis?
    It's very different: http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...D=22&ModelID=7

  10. #10
    Member Lutzfire24's Avatar
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    2002 Trans Am WS6

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Luos View Post
    Strut tower braces are an appearance mod....nothing more.
    Also great place to lean on when working under the hood, most useful mod. ever!

  11. #11
    🤔 11s. blackbirdbrain89's Avatar
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    black trans am
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    better lean how to ke it off fast lol ive had mine off 20 times in less then 2 years

  12. #12
    Slow'er'Ass Mr. Luos's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blackbirdbrain89 View Post
    better lean how to ke it off fast lol ive had mine off 20 times in less then 2 years
    I have one...

    I got sick of putting it back on. So I left it off. Car feels the EXACT same with or without it.

  13. #13
    I Think, Therefore Z-28 Corvettekid82's Avatar
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    I'm a fan of the Hotchkis bar. They make a polished piece that looks great. As mentioned before they do have to be removed for most engine work. Also another thing to research is if they will clear vette style FRC's (if you have them/plan to add them). Hotchkis will clear them.
    I would def do SFC before I did an STB if you had to decide one or the other.

  14. #14
    Senior Member Z28Thunder's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Luos View Post
    Strut tower braces are an appearance mod....nothing more.

  15. #15
    Just me Y2KPewterSS's Avatar
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    2000 Camaro SS

    Quote Originally Posted by Mieux97 View Post
    Thinking of puttin an STB on the bird but don't have enough info. How much of a diff does it make...if any? Which brand is best? 2-point or 3-point? I did a search, but it wasn't very helpful.
    How much difference=none, waste of money really

    2 point if you get one, 3 points have instances where they have cracked the windshields.

    Appearance mod mostly, great for leaning on. Gotta remove them to work on the engine often like mentioned and if you want to get FRCs at some point, keep in mind certain ones don't clear over FRCs. I have one but could think of 50 better ways to spend $100 on my car.

  16. #16
    Consumer of kraut SiggyZ's Avatar
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    Don't listen to these yahoo's. Get yourself a strut tower brace and subframe connectors and you'll be good to go.

  17. #17
    Senior Member Z28Thunder's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SiggyZ View Post
    Don't listen to these yahoo's. Get yourself a strut tower brace and subframe connectors and you'll be good to go.
    Drew unless your road course like Kelly did then a STB is pointless. In daily driving you do not flex the car like you do on a road course.

    SFC's tend to be bought by people racing on the 1/4 mile. I will give you that it tightens the car. You will find and hear noises you did not hear before. Why, the body does not flex. But I have noticed several people that once they put SFC's on their T-Tops leak.
    Last edited by Z28Thunder; 06-02-2009 at 08:43 PM.

  18. #18
    Senior Member karpetcm's Avatar
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    The only way i felt my STB was in long, wide turns. Otherwise i didnt notice it much, not saying just because i didnt notice it that it wasnt doing its job. The most i felt in handling was tires, shocks, sfc's, sway bars, springs and last wouldve been the stb. There are other suspension mods that i shouldve done that wouldve been better but thats my experience. I do like the Hotchkis one but for that amount simply not worth it to me better off spending it on SFC's first then or other mods. Granted its a very easy mod some dont go on so easy and have to play with it to fit like i did on my last camaro and i have to agree with above if you have to do something under the hood, it has a habit of getting in the way and taking it off putting it back on is not a huge deal but gets annoying after a while.
    Last edited by karpetcm; 06-02-2009 at 09:53 PM.
    1993 Z28 M6: K&N Intake, 52mm TB, TB Bypass, No Cats, Exhaust Cutout, Flowmaster Muffler, 3.90 Gears, 160 Thermo, Tune, BMR Springs, Bilstein Shocks, 3 Point SFC,s & MGW Shifter.

  19. #19
    Member Mieux97's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Strano View Post
    Damn Sam....you cover all the angles!!

  20. #20
    Member Mieux97's Avatar
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    99 Pontiac Trans Am #2466

    Quote Originally Posted by Z28Thunder View Post
    Drew unless your road course like Kelly did then a STB is pointless. In daily driving you do not flex the car like you do on a road course.

    SFC's tend to be bought by people racing on the 1/4 mile. I will give you that it tightens the car. You will find and hear noises you did not hear before. Why, the body does not flex. But I have noticed several people that once they put SFC's on their T-Tops leak.
    T-Tops leak AFTER SCF install? I thought that's what they were supposed to help prevent?

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