GB: Pierce Motorsports front strut bars

[KAinjection]

What I had in mind for the rear and have a couple ideas drawn up is this. A bar similar in design to the front version, with the addition of mount points for triangulation that could be left up to the end user as a DIY setup based on the chassis they have, escort,323,wagon, sedan etc... kind of like the M/C tab.

The main point(s) for triangulation I am thinking for now would be the C-pillar seatbelt mount bolts. Effective and easy to get to, doesnt interfere with rear seat passengers or hauling cargo. The second point would be as Cody mentioned, the bumper mount nuts inside the car.

Or instead of a DIY setup, more upfront cost and the triangulated pieces could be included in the initial purchase, either the C-pillar mount and/or the rear mount.

Thoughts?

[Georonimo]

Thoughts?

That would all look cool but I don't see the reason to put all that effort into bracing the tin behind the strut towers. Maybe on an old leaf spring setup where the suspension goes back to the rear bumper? On our cars there is nothing going on back there but a crumple zone that's probably better off left alone on a street car. If anything, maybe a bar from the top of one strut tower that's tied into the unibody at the base of the other strut tower. That along with a nice strut tower brace and the already beefy rear suspension subframe inches below the floor should make for a pretty stiff tin can.

[KAinjection]

You have raised a good point:

I remembered something I read a long time ago that is along the lines of what your saying. Anyone remember the Opera Performance S2000 that was featured in SCC some years ago?

Basically the only parts that the builder focused on increasing the stiffness of was around and inside the strut towers and suspension mount points. Everything outside those areas was drilled like swiss cheese since it is not an integral point of chassis rigidity.

How about this then: The C-pillar like I mentioned before and/or use the bolts where the rear seat back bolts to the floor. Anything else would require drilling /welding

The seat back bolts could be used with an "X" brace pattern that would be stronger then going straight down from the strut bar to the bolt.

[crazycanadian]

You'll have a really hard time fitting that design to every chassis, with out multiple cars to mock it up on... Not to mention the way Jim builds the strut bars it wont work on an mx3... Mx3's rear seat belts bolt to the tops of the struts..

[DuRWooD]

Can the rear seat of an MX3 even fit a human?

[KAinjection]

I forgot about that in the MX3's. Thats why I mentioned making the basic strut bar with mounting points for triangulation by the end user. You dont want triangulation or cant use it, no problem, your still getting something better then whats available.

I dont want the MX3 people to feel left out, but after the lack of effort on their part with the front bar I doubt any of them will come forward to help with this one.

[crazycanadian]

...

[crazycanadian]

Can the rear seat of an MX3 even fit a human?

Sure they can... Really little ones, or really drunk ones... hahaha... In all seriousness they aren't overly comfortable back there, but the rear seats do work.. My gf and I used to haul my son around in her old mx3 all the time.. Its surprisingly easy car to get a kid in and out of a car seat.. We also hauled around friends from time to time..

I forgot about that in the MX3's. Thats why I mentioned making the basic strut bar with mounting points for triangulation by the end user. You dont want triangulation or cant use it, no problem, your still getting something better then whats available.

I dont want the MX3 people to feel left out, but after the deal with the front bar I doubt any of them will come forward to help with this one.

Yeah I can't help at all this time around.. My friend with an mx3 was in an accident, his car was a write off...

[KAinjection]

Yeah I can't help at all this time around.. My friend with an mx3 was in an accident, his car was a write off...

That too bad for his car, at least you made an effort to get us fitment information. You and Atomic were the only 2 that helped.

[CODY004WD]

I'm down for tabs for user triangulation.

[atomicEGT]

I've had full-size people in the back of my MX3 before (including from Burlington to north of Montreal). There's more room back there than some bigger cars (Cougar and Mustang come to mind).

As for having bars going to the back of the car and whatever, I just want to have the back of my car be a jungle gym like the Civic time attack nerds.

[MazdaNoob]

well .. mine will be going into a wagon .. already have battery box and subs taking up most of the back . what i plan on doing is mounting a bracket of sorts off it to be able to mount my split back sedan seats in as well as eliminate the body flex that took out my windshield .

[DuRWooD]

I've had full-size people in the back of my MX3 before (including from Burlington to north of Montreal). There's more room back there than some bigger cars (Cougar and Mustang come to mind).

As for having bars going to the back of the car and whatever, I just want to have the back of my car be a jungle gym like the Civic time attack nerds.

Yeah, I was mistaking the MX3 rear for my old man's coupe; they look somewhat similar. When I drive it, the front seats literally touch the rears.

And yeah, I want the jungle gym rear.

[concealer404]

Hey Ben---I just got this off the jig and test fit it---it's about as high as it can go---starts hitting the internal bracing on the carbon hood---but it needs to sit down another 1/4" or so so it should be fine---this might also work for Cody's deal as well---allthough he gave me exact measurements for his other bar. As you can see it literally is over the top of the fenders by a good ways---the radius in the hood allows for this...when I lay it flat on the table, it has 1 5/8" clearance to the bottom of the tube on the front bar---rear is 1 3/8".

This looks good Jim!

I don't have any of the bracing on my hood anymore, so that shouldn't be an issue either way.

How far does the bar go in before it hits its maximum height? I think i've got almost 6" before the fitting.

[atomicEGT]

Oh yeah depending when this goes down I can get MX3 measurements, it's going to the crusher soon though.