Pierce Motorsports 4-Point Front Tie bar for fwd BG Chassis

[hotsiit]

...So, "in theory" I could get this brace and cut in half and re-weld back together, in order to shorten the width a bit to fit a stock mx-3 subframe ...Might be time to look for a protege subframe at the junkyard.

[JPmotorsports]

When this group buy is done---or when we get 10---if someone wants to bring me another subframe---I'll build bars for it providing we get enough people to share the cost...On another note the ID of the cups on these 4 point bars is 1 1/4", the OD is 1 1/2", wanted to make that clear---makes it easier to locate the bolt (remove and replace)/install. The cups in the front are as short as possible to clear the oil pan---there's nearly a 1/2" gap between the tube and the pan---the 1.9 cars shouldn't have any issues. If you have a 1.9 engine I could also angle the cup to provide more clearance if anyone is worried/knows something from past experience.

[JPmotorsports]

I built another one today out of mild steel for a car in house to adjust/check measurements...We bolted it on both cars here without any issues and eeked out another 1/8" or so of ground clearance---it came together very nicely.

[atomicEGT]

Oh durr I didn't even think about the 1.8 and 1.9 being different... not like that boat anchor's gonna be in there too long :o

[neuspeedescort]

i like it to bad i have the gen3 front subframe. i would suggest triangulating the corners. but hey what do i know.


NEUMAN

[Rayman]

i can volunteer my 323 w/ mx-3 subframe for R&D, but whoever wants that done gotta compensate me for at least gas, it's drivng distance for me but it's a LONG distance.

[JPmotorsports]

Thanks Ray---we'll see if there's interest---Gussets!!

[CODY004WD]

Looks great Jim! I'm going outside to measure clearances right now, back shortly to report on some numbers.

[CODY004WD]

Alright Jim, here it is. To fit a 1.9 w/ stock exhaust we have a few requirements.

I'll start with the rear portion. We must have a total of 1 1/16" dip in the rear bar from the center of the mount point, this gives us about 1/16th" clearance from the stock exhaust right before the flex pipe.

The front will be the trickier part as we suspected. To begin, the exhaust sits 1/4" lower than the trans. cross member... But this is also to clear the heat shield on this section of pipe, that looks like it could be bent in about 1/4" if we would rather do that then sacrifice another 1/4" of ground clearance. That's my vote, at least, what do others think?

Secondly, and here is the major problem, we have exactly 1 5/8" clearance on the front passenger cup, from the mount point to the oil pan. we probably would need a half inch of clearance to prevent the oil pan from bashing the cup, so it's like 1 1/8" left for the cup. I dont see that working for you Jim, will it? How much would you angle the cup to help with clearance so I can measure how much that would help?

Another thought, You mentioned somewhere that Roodworks passenger mount raised the engine just a tad, that would help clear a little room if that's the case. Then a filled front mount would help the pan from jabbing the cup as well. Get back to me on the angled cup Jim and we'll go from there.

[JPmotorsports]

I just measured the dip in the rear bar (turned the bar over on a flat surface and measured from the surface to bar) and we're good---got like 1 3/8" clearance---no problem.

The front cup is an 1 1/2" from the mounting surface and the bar is pressed up against the lip of the subframe---so the bar can't get any closer to the subgrame anyways. Looking from the front at the cup the bar comes off at the 3:30 to 4:00 position, so I can shave off the top back to probably an 1" without any worries---Check out the photo's and see if it makes sense Cody.

[CODY004WD]

That looks like it will work! Thanks Jim!

[corby_baby]

does anybody know off hand if this would fit the escort zx2? i know mazdaracer made some awhile back that fit but i wasnt sure if it was universal between the cars.

[corby_baby]

i know that its 27 3/8's to the centerline of the holes on the front bar. not really sure about the distance from the front bolts to where its mounted farther back.

[FE3-323]

zx2 is very similar in front to a mx3.

[corby_baby]

i can measure from the front to back and see if its the same as the bar being made. i would love to get one.