Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Topic: Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood. (Read 6067 times) previous topic - next topic

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

June 01, 2012, 11:44:34 PM

I was installing my Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar today when I ran into a problem. When I close the hood it doesn't close all the way. The bar sticks up a bit higher than the intake and hits the bottom of the hood. The hood will close but it sticks up in the front because it hits the upward "kink" in the middle of the bar. I'm stuck with the bar now as I had to cut a notch in the passenger side mount for it to clear the stock caster plate since it hit the front bolt on the passenger side. Is there any solution to the problem or am I going to have to fidget with the hood and or hood pad to get the thing to close right? As far as I know I'm the only person to install a Maximum Motorsports bar on a T-bird. Perhaps the Mustang hood is a bit higher in the middle than the T-bird hood?

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #1 – June 02, 2012, 04:00:22 AM

5 lb hammer+hood=fixed?? don't mind me i am drunnk

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #2 – June 02, 2012, 10:41:46 AM

Quote from: Silent-Er@sEr;391309

5 lb hammer+hood=fixed?? don't mind me i am incapable of posting a relevant thought.

And why not a 15lb hammer....you know, if your car is that unworthy, why not beat it down completely..?

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #3 – June 02, 2012, 02:41:48 PM

Post photos but a sawzall and a spark machine does wonders!!

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #4 – June 02, 2012, 03:25:22 PM

Doubt the OP would be willing to do that to his 'Bird

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #5 – June 02, 2012, 03:30:34 PM

I think Tom meant the strut tower brace...lol.

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #6 – June 02, 2012, 03:33:59 PM

Yeah, doubt Lou would take 5 million to hack on that car!

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #7 – June 02, 2012, 03:57:28 PM

Yeah I'm not hacking up the underside of the hood:hick:.

I emailed Maximum Motorsports to see what can be done. I've done some searching and Mark VII owners have run into the same problem due to a having a lower hood line than a Mustang. The only option I see working is to cut the "kink" out of the bar and have some flat stock welded over it. That might be the solution. If that wont work the other option is to:
A: Fill the holes I made inthe strut towers and
B. Buy a mustang to put the bar in.

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #8 – June 02, 2012, 04:09:14 PM

I had a strut bar for awhile in mine, but I don't know what brand it was...something cheap, I'm sure.

Is your bar for a Fox or SN95? Or does it even matter?

I've got a Stang...might need a bar, should you decide to sell...

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #9 – June 03, 2012, 09:27:06 PM

The bar I have is for an 87-93 Mustang with a SEFI 5.0. I may try playing with the hod to see if I can get it to fit. Perhaps it's an adjustment issue. I did get a reply from Maximum Motorsports and they noted that the bar for a 79-85 Mustang with a carb might work as the bar has less of a kink in it.

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #10 – June 04, 2012, 12:52:06 AM

Sell the MM bar on craigslist and get a BBK. Mine fits like a glove. No cutting needed to clear my camber plates and it sits lower than my manifold. Probably cheaper too.

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #11 – June 04, 2012, 10:24:20 PM

Fixed the problem and boy was it easy. By removing a plastic hood insulation pin and carving a little hole in the hood insulation it fit like a glove. I had to remove one of the mounting holes on the passenger side mount to clear the stock strut mount but that took 3 minutes with a dremel. It stiffened the front noticeably even with the subframes. I like that it mounts to the firewall to cowl pinch welds for more strength than other strut bars.

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #12 – June 04, 2012, 10:25:03 PM

One more.

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #13 – June 04, 2012, 10:42:20 PM

Nice!

Maximum Motorsports strut tower bar hits hood.

Reply #14 – June 04, 2012, 10:43:45 PM

That looks great. I didnt have any insulation to worry about. It really does make a very noticeable difference. I noticed that my doors creek now after installing the brace though. You probably wont have that issue because you already have the subframe connectors.