Front Strut bar install ??'s

[skid542]

This is going to sound pretty 'newby' but... I have a nice solidily built front strut bar that I'm trying to put on my SS, and simply put, it's not fitting right now. I know that it is supposed to fit because I got it from a fellow BBS'er who had it on his SS.

First problem is that if I set it over the passenger side bolts, without removing the nuts, the driver's side is too long by close to a 1/4 inch. Is this normal? Do I need to jack the car up via the frame to get this on? Will the bolts wiggle a little once I take the nuts off?

Second problem is that the STB is hitting an AC line on the passenger side. I'm pressuming I'm not the only one to encounter this?

I haven't spent much time with this yet and am kind of asking blind questions so to speak but thought someone might be able to clue me in.

Thanks in advance.

[93Leg-c]

On one of my cars I had to ever so carefully bend the AC line to get the mount to fit. One the other car no bending was needed. Both bars were from different manufacturers.

As regards the 1/4" length, I don't know. Both my bars could be adjusted in length.

[QuickDrive]

I remember having to slightly move my AC lines..

Just take the bolts off and put it on and see what has to move.

And take into thought that if you ever get an IC you'll probably have to remove the STB..

[skid542]

Thanks guys. I'll take the nuts off and see if that gives me some wiggle room. I'll jack it up by the frame too to see if that gives me a little bit more. I know the front end took a small hit at one point and cracked a couple welds in the very front at the support/side junction near the headlights. So I'm not sure that's causing some problems right now or not. I could always put a 2x4 in and a screw jack and spread the towers out a little... but I'm not so sure about that... . Eventually I will be putting in a lower brace as well so I do want this right.

With regards to the IC. The current plan is to move the battery to the trunk - putting in a fully sealed batter and will be asking some questions on this later... - and then I'll use that room to put in my IC and some custom piping to vent air from my fog light opening directly to the IC. The Saab 900 should fit about perfect I think. That should suffice until I eventually go FMIC.

[skid542]

Well I thought I'd drop a little follow up. I got it installed this weekend. It took a little bit of filling and a little bit of beating around with a hammer but I eventually got it intalled. Seemed like a lot of effort for just 6 nuts but so be it.

I don't have the suspension in place to really see large effects in that dept. but it has removed several of the sweaks and creaks that I'd hear around the dash. It's definately a stout bar and I look forward to upgrading my bushings/endlinks and really putting it to use.

Conclusion - ride's quiter now and it looks pretty cool .