Ok, so I also bought the Richie Front Strut Bar, but have some questions ya'll. I have the MD 5/16" spacer and from what I had read would still be able to keep my engine cover (which I actually like) after installing the FSB.

So I went to install it today which went fairly smoothly, but it looks as though there isn't enough room for the engine cover. I was able to get the bar on over the engine cover and bolted down and everything, but when I went to close the hood I had to apply extra pressure to get it down. Now, it wasn't a lot of pressure, but more than I would have guessed it needed. I know in the group buy thread that the bar would hit/rub/graze the hood, but I feel like the bar is pushing up against the hood?

Sooooo, question is do I need to remove the engine cover or is there something that I'm missing? I swear I read that someone out there had the bar installed with the exact same set up I did. What's yours like?

let me know fellas: MD 5/16" spacer + engine cover + Richie FSB = possible w/o hitting/pushing (not rubbing) on hood?

 

I have the strut bar and the Motordyne 5/16" spacer. However, I took the engine cover off at day 1. I took a look under the hoods a few minutes ago and I can understand your situation. It does appear to be a bit snug. However, you might try removing the 4 rubber grommets, which are inserted between the metal sleeves and the underside of the engine cover. This should free up an additional 1/4". Good luck!

 

^^^thanks for the tip. it's dark as hell out right now, but I'm going to try it!

 

You are quite welcome. Let's us know if that works. I'm sure that there are quite a few people whom would like to know.

 

i cut my cover in half and removed a 1 inch section....right where bar is lol....actually looks decent.

 

pics?

 

I too installed my FSTB today and had to remove the engine cover because of the spacer. I had to apply forced to close the hood, which isn't good. If I lowered the bar anymore it would rest on the cover. So I took the cover off until I can find a z engine cover. The cover doesn't do anything but trap heat anyways.

 

is the Z cover smaller/thinner?

 

z cover only covers front half of engine....ill post pics of my cut cover in a few hours.

 

That's kind of scary that the bar is actually coming in contact with the hood because if you get some shop monkey working on your car, they may let the hood drop a good distance which could potentially crease/dent the hood.

 

It only came in contact with the hood when we tried to get it to clear the engine cover with about a 1/4" of clearance. After I took the engine cover off, I was able to lower the bar closer to the plenum and got plenty of clearance from the hood.

 

STB is at lowest possible setting and clears plenum by ~1/4 inch....i have a 5/16 MD spacer....i could have cut the cover cleaner but i dont mind driving without it at all.....was gonna use it as temp. fix until i got a Z cover...but it grew on me and im keeping it as is.

 

so I tried what you said, but I noticed that without those rubber grommets it would be the plastic of the engine cover sitting right on the plenum. Probably not the best place for cheap plastic to be resting.

HOWEVER, during this process I noticed that rubber grommet is thicker on one side. It's item #3 in the picture below.


So I flipped that thing around and that freed up just a little bit more room. I then put on the strut bar all the way to the bottom setting and the hood seems to close just as if the bar wasn't there.

I know the bar is still rubbing on the hood, but that should be ok according to Richie's group buy thread since the bar is at the lowest position. The bar is pressed up against the engine cover, but according to another forum member (SD_G35) he's had his like that for over a month with no issues. Besides, if I can't keep the engine cover with the strut bar who cares if it gets a couple of scraps, right?

 

There is a slight line on my hood liner but other than that, I have been running my bar for over 2-3 months now - no problems.

 

ya, I'm ok with that. I just didn't want it pushing back on my hood.

ps: I swear I started this thread in the either the G35 COUPE section or the or the SUSPENSION section. Did it get moved? I have no idea why it's in the "Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction" section.


MODs, wanna move me back?