Installed My Grex(trust) front strut bar

[gschroeder78]

Just put in my strut bar on my '89 S13 and something seems wrong. The Bar seems to touch the valve cover which in turn causes a vibration at idle <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> (and probably while driving, I just don't notice). Is this because it's an adjustable bar therefore not speciffically meant for my SOHC? or did I do something wrong installing it? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'>

TIA

[sykikchimp]

I had the same problem with my 90' but I believe it was due to the mounts being non-OEM mounts. (we jerry-rigged some chevy mounts b/c they costed $30 vs. $240)

The bar should be alluminum. &nbsp;You may be able to bend the bar a little, and keep it from touching.

[gschroeder78]

Could it just be that the SOHC sits up higher than the DOHC?
One day I plan on switching out the engine to a DOHC but I don't want to ruin the bar in the mean time

[sykikchimp]

actually I think the opposite is true. &nbsp;I have the STB from PDM-racing for the 89-90 and it will not fit on the 92 I have now. &nbsp;It hits the fuel rail before I can get it completely tightened down. &nbsp;
Definately DO NOT leave it touching the engine. &nbsp;If you take it off you see that you've already marred it up a little.

[gschroeder78]

Hmm, I'm stumped then. I hate to bend it but I hate to have it touching. It seems as though there is only 1 way to put it on so I don't think there is anything I can do to the adjustment to keep it from touching.

I would imagine that if I bend it just enough that it doesn't touch, I probably won't be able to tell it's bent. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/dozingoff.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':zzz:'>

[gschroeder78]

Well I loosened everything up and tried again and it looks like I had the bar slightly rotated backwards, causing it to touch. It is still only about 1/8 -1/4 of an inch off of the valve cover but hopefully that is enough. I thought I would get better fitment seeing as how it came from a pretty reputable manufacturer. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

[gh6o6]

have someone rev the engine and watch to make sure it doesnt hit when it moves - and it should when reved

[gschroeder78]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (gh6o6 @ Mar. 19 2002,10:53)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">have someone rev the engine and watch to make sure it doesnt hit when it moves - and it should when reved</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I did this myself, using the throttle cable and it's really really close but doesn't appear to touch. The only other thing I'm worried about is the hood pressing it into the engine. Not sure how to find out if that is happening though.

[boost]

i just bought a greddy bar and have the same problem. i &nbsp;ended up putting washers under mine and have been driving it like that for a few days. it works but i'm just not happy with the hack job, so i'll be taking the bar off tonite. if anyone in the san jose area wants a greddy bar for $50, let me know (it does have a .5" scuff mark on the bottom side of the bar). if no one buys it i figure i'll keep it until i do an engine swap.