Factory Engine Cover $$$$$$$$$
Thread Starter
Administrator clevparts@aol.com
Joined: November 27, 2004
Posts: 12,596
Likes: 4,347
From: Visalia Ca.
Talk about a Guy Diving in Head first for Answers! Paul is a great guy and I really Appreciate The Quick Information and Solution. I look Forward to the Pics! Then it is up to the Individual to determine if a Little hood massage is acceptable to get the Shelby Bar on your Car. I would guess due to the Extra Height on the Bar that a v6 would be a good fit although the Hood mods would be Needed. Thats The Beauty of TMS the Teamwork of the Members looking to Improve their Steed! Glad to hear of you Instant Handling Improvement! I had totally forgot the Functionality of the Part! I was focusing on the Coolness of it! LOL!
Thanks Paul!
Thanks Paul!
Bullitt Member
Joined: June 7, 2006
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Originally Posted by delz05
Good News...Bad News...Good News!
Items installed on GT 'Vert
PICS WILL BE POSTED WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK...doing a split shift 730pm til 4am. Took photos, just no time to get them on TMS before work.
First the good news... engine cover fits like fingers in a glove and the Shelby Strut Brace (single bar) clears the cover with no problems. They look great togther.
Bad News...the brace will not fit under a stock 05/06 hood. It makes contact with the hood re-inforcement, just to the left and right of the fake hood scoop cut-out (you have to remove the insulation pad to see this).
Good news again...it took me about 45mins to get the brace to fit. I pulled the insulation pad...used some plumbers putty (any type of clay or playdough will work) and placed it on the bar, just above the fuel rails for a length of 6 inches, towards the strut towers. Close hood as able, lift and you will see they clay marks. Add about 1/4 inch all around, out line with marker. I used an air-powered cut-off wheel (standard body shop tool) made the cuts, removed the pieces (about 4 inches long x 2 inches wide) filed and painted the openings, and then closed the hood with no problems! Put the Insulation pad back on and off to work. I had a chance to drive it pretty hard on my way in, and on a bad piece of road, off the highway, it pushed through an area straight and true, (this being where the potholes, sewer covers, bridge grates and chewed up road surface all converge) that usually knocks the car all over. When I head home at 0400, I'll get a chance to really push it through some tight turns, but I can feel the difference right away. NOTE: This is installed on a 'VERT, hardtops may not have same results!
I will check out the insulation pad and report on damages, if any, when I post pic. I expect to see a crease whre the cut-outs are.
As for cutting/fabricating, I spent more time hooking up the compressor, finding my cut-off tool and disc and prepping than actual labor (less than 30mins). If you are not afraid of tools, then you should have no problems doing this yourself. I called the shop I used to work at and they figured about 50.00 for the labor and materials for install.
FYI...last post was at 1700, install of cover and bar, along with fabrication was completed by 1815, off to work at 1840
Items installed on GT 'Vert
PICS WILL BE POSTED WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK...doing a split shift 730pm til 4am. Took photos, just no time to get them on TMS before work.
First the good news... engine cover fits like fingers in a glove and the Shelby Strut Brace (single bar) clears the cover with no problems. They look great togther.
Bad News...the brace will not fit under a stock 05/06 hood. It makes contact with the hood re-inforcement, just to the left and right of the fake hood scoop cut-out (you have to remove the insulation pad to see this).
Good news again...it took me about 45mins to get the brace to fit. I pulled the insulation pad...used some plumbers putty (any type of clay or playdough will work) and placed it on the bar, just above the fuel rails for a length of 6 inches, towards the strut towers. Close hood as able, lift and you will see they clay marks. Add about 1/4 inch all around, out line with marker. I used an air-powered cut-off wheel (standard body shop tool) made the cuts, removed the pieces (about 4 inches long x 2 inches wide) filed and painted the openings, and then closed the hood with no problems! Put the Insulation pad back on and off to work. I had a chance to drive it pretty hard on my way in, and on a bad piece of road, off the highway, it pushed through an area straight and true, (this being where the potholes, sewer covers, bridge grates and chewed up road surface all converge) that usually knocks the car all over. When I head home at 0400, I'll get a chance to really push it through some tight turns, but I can feel the difference right away. NOTE: This is installed on a 'VERT, hardtops may not have same results!
I will check out the insulation pad and report on damages, if any, when I post pic. I expect to see a crease whre the cut-outs are.
As for cutting/fabricating, I spent more time hooking up the compressor, finding my cut-off tool and disc and prepping than actual labor (less than 30mins). If you are not afraid of tools, then you should have no problems doing this yourself. I called the shop I used to work at and they figured about 50.00 for the labor and materials for install.
FYI...last post was at 1700, install of cover and bar, along with fabrication was completed by 1815, off to work at 1840
Buster
Cobra R Member
Joined: November 12, 2004
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 0
what happened to the pics! is this the shelby one tube brace your talking about, or the frpp brace. The frpp brace was nice and snug, I bet it fits perfect with this cover, I will have to order another one. LOL
Thread Starter
Administrator clevparts@aol.com
Joined: November 27, 2004
Posts: 12,596
Likes: 4,347
From: Visalia Ca.
Originally Posted by sodaman
what happened to the pics! is this the shelby one tube brace your talking about, or the frpp brace. The frpp brace was nice and snug, I bet it fits perfect with this cover, I will have to order another one. LOL
Cobra R Member
Joined: November 12, 2004
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 0
KC, does anyone you sent this cover too have the frpp strut tower brace. It was snug against the hood liner, and made two small indentations thats it. So I bet this will fit perfect with that bar. Is there any way you can confirm this for me kc. Do you have any in stock or anything. I know you dont get a good deal on the frpp ones, but if it fits, they may be the best to sell with this cover. I am about to install it anyminute, but dont have the brace anymore, it went with my 05 when I sold it. Thanks for your great service KC.
Cobra R Member
Joined: November 12, 2004
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 0
Well as usual KC you have another happy customer here. These things are awesome, now Ill have to clean the engine compartment. LOL Well cant wait to see a ford racing brace over one. It looks like it should fit.
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: June 10, 2005
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
From: Boston area
Bar and Cover Pics
Sorry for this delayed posting, didn't get home from work until 0500hrs. Had to get some sleep before I go back in tonite. Anyway.... I drove the car nice and hard on my way home, This or any strut bar IS A MUST for the 'VERTS! Huge and noticible improvement. This is the SHELBY BAR. Plenty of clearance over the Engine Cover. As posted above, a little massaging needed on the underside of the hood. Pics tell the story.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: October 20, 2005
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
That looks gruesome.....
Can we get a definite list of what STB's DEFINATELY work clearance wise with the Ford plenum cover? An indention on the liner matters not, I just don't want it rubbing the plenum and don't want to cut a couple hols in my hood.
Can we get a definite list of what STB's DEFINATELY work clearance wise with the Ford plenum cover? An indention on the liner matters not, I just don't want it rubbing the plenum and don't want to cut a couple hols in my hood.
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: June 10, 2005
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
From: Boston area
Insulation Pad wrinkle
Here is a shot of the full bar and cover, install complete. Also a couple of shots of the wrinkles in the insulation pad. I can't see them when I drive, so they don't bother me!
Bullitt Member
Joined: June 7, 2006
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Thanks for all the pics and the info Paul. As for me anyway, that eliminates the Shelby brace from consideration. I don't mind a couple of little intenditions in the hood liner, but I am certainly not going to cut my hood, to make the Shelby brace work, and even with that, it leaves some pretty heavy creases in the liner, not to mention the fact that the hood is now slightly weaker. For only about $15 more, I can order the Granatelli single bar strut tower brace that I have been told will clear the Ford cover and of course it clears the stock hood. It also looks just like the Shelby brace.
Thanks again,
Buster
Thanks again,
Buster
Member
Joined: July 2, 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
FRPP Strut Tower Brace
I have been talking to Marty at FRPP for some time now about the fit of the FRPP twin bar STB and the plenum cover. He says the FRPP brace will definetly not clear the plenum cover as currently designed. It rubs the cover. FRPP has been trying to decide if they can modify the FRPP brace to clear the cover, and still fit under the stock hood. As of last week, they are still working on it, but no answer yet. The wheels turn ever so slowly in big companies! Marty thinks it may not be possible for the FRPP brace to clear the cover and still clear the stock hood too, as the brace already creases the hood liner. I'll post again as soon as I get the final word.
