Custom strut bar mounts

[jemartin144]

Wow. Those are nice. I would buy a set in a heart beat.

[91blufestiva]

I'd buy one too. Also, movin, get a bracket from a 89 auto. Those don't stick up that far, coil bracket that is.

[Grey Vw]

I must learn this sorcery!

[Bert]

I really gotta admire you 'trades' guys for continually experimenting with beautifully made and sound design structural improvements and/but I have to ask is: How much flex is there between the strut towers anyway? How much difference does a strut bar make and how do you know and where does this translate into performance and handling?

Festys are essentially cardboard boxes (to include the roof pillars) and from jacking one up at a corner it is easy to see how well 18 gauge folds and creases and sheetmetal spot-welded corners work together in comparison to an old-fashioned ladder frame vehicle which can flex in any direction.

I'm currently trying to define how much Rio top hats (with bearings) improve upon OEM Festy, and Aspire, washer upon washer front end setups are for turning the front wheels. The difference is firsthand readily obvious since I drive both type of cars but how to quantify or qualify the difference is a whole other kettle of fish. Had my power steering 86 F150 out the other day and could readily equate with Rio top hats (on a Festy) in perceived ease of turning the wheel but that, in itself, is not going to make hundreds of Festy nuts run out to invest time and money in Rio parts.

Keep up the good work.

[Safety Guy]

Bert wrote:

"Had my power steering 86 F150 out the other day and could readily equate with Rio top hats (on a Festy) in perceived ease of turning the wheel but that, in itself, is not going to make hundreds of Festy nuts run out to invest time and money in Rio parts."

Cost is another factor. I got a pair of brand new Rio (Monroe?) strut mounts, with bearings(!), cheaper than I could have gotten new Festiva or Aspire mounts with or without those crappy plastic washers. On sale, of course, from Advance, IIRC.

Compare prices between new strut mounts & bearings, quality of parts, and the difference between new Festiva/Aspire struts vs. a pair of six to eight year old Rio struts (or newer ones if you luck out at the 'yard) that still have plenty of life left in them (especially considering they may have sat for a year or so after the timing belt broke).

Just gotta compare all that stuff and many times the advantages of Rio front end stuff will make sense. And to be truthful, sometimes not.

Karl

[Advancedynamix]

..stop givin me ideas! I just finished this lol

no way! Giving you ideas is great! You turn those ideas into reality in an amazingly short amount of time! Looking good Matt!

[Safety Guy]

Yup! Ideaz iz good!!

Karl

[Hot_Wheels]

i want one for the festiva!!!

[bravekozak]

What happened with this project?
Were any Festiva brace supports ever cast?

[Rocketman]

I've run the bar on my GTXR2 for some time, feels great. Turns out it won't fit a stock Capri, fits mine perfect with the BP swap though. I've found a source for bars & have to re-design the mounts to work, I'll update this when I get there.

As far as Festiva bars go, I took some measurements from SafetyGuy's car but I've lost them in some time in the last year or so. Festyboy should drive up here one weekend though so I can make mounts & test fit them

[FestYboy]

i can do that.... i just learned i have more PTO than i thought: WIN!

[Hot_Wheels]

if i just send you the FMS piece cant you just make a cast from it? would you need both sides or just 1?

[jawbraeka]

when all is said and done, what would you be looking for in the way of deniro's to make this a reality for the people who cry more more more?

[bravekozak]

Great news. I hope this will be designed to go over the lid of both the the stock Festiva carb air cleaner as well as the EFI plenum. You would get the most customers.

[Festevil3]

I would be interested in a set myself