Feeler: custom tower braces

[F34R]

As a lot of my friends know I am very big into tracking and SCCA events. So with the selling of my DD to fund my track car I am building. I am going to make the front and rear tower braces in house. I will be using tubular steel bent and welded onto an open O style mounting plates(room for camber adjustments) I am designing it to be a direct E30 fitment. No opening up ebay holes and shit.

I am gauging how many people really want steel braces.

I am going to start making them in a month or two(I have to order tubing) so I would like to get an idea of how many people down for one. I am also making rears =)

So that is why I made this thread to gauge a good idea of how many to make. Also ideas and thoughts welcome, I am sure trackers alike will coin in their thoughts. These will be raw finish, you can paint however you wish. This is to keep cost down. A ball park figure will be around 150-180 for the fronts and around 90 for the rears. I will post 100% solid price when I complete a set and post pictures.

(See below post for picture of plan)

[der affe]

the open design is ok, but you need a better way to attach the bar other than smashing the tubing and welding it.
maybe a clevis tower comming off of the base plate?

running the plate donw to the verticle side of the tower will also give lots more support. if you do it in 2 pieces then weld them, the cost increase should be minimal.

[F34R]

the open design is ok, but you need a better way to attach the bar other than smashing the tubing and welding it.
maybe a clevis tower comming off of the base plate?

running the plate donw to the verticle side of the tower will also give lots more support. if you do it in 2 pieces then weld them, the cost increase should be minimal.

Crap, I ment to upload the other one(1st one is not what I intended). I am with you 100% I am making two angled plates to meet the cross bar. I HATE how they smashed it down then welded it.

This is my idea I have in my head after I modded my ebay braces:

[White325is]

120ish for the rears.

You should lower that by half. atleast. ;)

[F34R]

You should lower that by half. atleast. ;)

I think you are right, I checked my ebay and saw I paid 90 shipped for my rear one. I am sure it will be less.

[der affe]

make sure that you use a thick enough aluminum for the base plate if you go that way.

my BMP front has cracked and been rewelded more than it ever should have been. i gave up on it and now it is cracking on the bolt holes too.

if you make one that will clear my ITB air log, i would buy one too.
right now my only choices are: BMP or ma$on.

look at how the sparco one braces against the inside of the shock tower so it does not rely solely on the bolts for support.

[airkhin]

im interested for a front one depending on what the final price is.... my luke box takes up space of the rear, sorry. :)

[F34R]

make sure that you use a thick enough aluminum for the base plate if you go that way.

my BMP front has cracked and been rewelded more than it ever should have been. i gave up on it and now it is cracking on the bolt holes too.

if you make one that will clear my ITB air log, i would buy one too.
right now my only choices are: BMP or ma$on.

look at how the sparco one braces against the inside of the shock tower so it does not rely solely on the bolts for support.

I am using steel only, everything you see in the picture I added to give ideas is ALL steel. I am having the same issue with my aluminum brace.

And the sparco design is one of my top favorites. That is one I am playing around with also. I like how simple and strong it is. Also that it uses the tower to add the support.

[der affe]

if you get the bases water jet or lazer cut, you can find the correct size tubing for the contour or the strut tower and cut it from that.
you should be able to get 2 pieces out of 1 equal length of tubing then weld it to the base plate

[RGCintha29073]

Im interested pending final product and price

[F34R]

if you get the bases water jet or lazer cut, you can find the correct size tubing for the contour or the strut tower and cut it from that.
you should be able to get 2 pieces out of 1 equal length of tubing then weld it to the base plate

I am honestly leaning hard on the Sparco design. I will get enough ordered to make a batch and post up finished pictures. My Father used to work at places that did lazer and stamping. So he is sending me to places that I can get the bases made at. I will get a batch made to make cost lower.

I am planning on starting this after Gfest since I am BURIED with building the stroker motor that will be taking the vert to it xD

[kalib0y]

I would love to see the prototype and design

[der affe]

if you do the bases as one piece, you can use a press brake to make the downward bend.

[Matt-B]

just make fronts, like the sparco ones

[ck_taft325is]

if you do the bases as one piece, you can use a press brake to make the downward bend.

That's what I was thinking. If you have it available it would make it worlds easier/faster.

Fuck, if I had the machinery or at least access I would love to pump some of these out. Stay focused on it, Fear. I'm interested as well.