ESP Mustang strut tower brace
Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:29 pm
If you're running a '94 - '04 Mustang in the ESP class and have a 3pt strut tower brace, there is a good chance you can leave it on. The Steeda brace is made pretty close to the factory brace. But the Maximum Motorsports one isn't. Just look at the appearance compared to the factory one and you'll see the difference.
15.2 C.
Strut bars are permitted with all types of suspension. Strut bars
may be mounted only transversely across the car from upper
right to upper left suspension mounting point and from lower
right to lower left suspension mounting point. No other configuration
is permitted. Only bolt-on attachment is permitted. Additional
holes may be drilled for mounting bolts. Interior trim
panels may be modified to allow installation of strut bars. Holes
or slots may be no larger than necessary and may serve no other
purpose. This does not permit any modifications to the frame or
unibody beyond the allowed mounting holes.
Pure nonsense now. '94 - '97 Mustang convertibles had the brace. However, it was called a FRONT SUSPENSION BRACKET ASSEMBLY - Ford Part #F6ZZ 3A288CA. A quick trip to the Ford dealer's parts department will net you a print out of the schematic of where it's installed and all the part numbers included. Also, ask them to do a search nationwide on the Ford, DOES II System. I did and the order was put in as an emergency request and it came back classified as 'C'. C standing for cancelled. Further discussion will net that 'cancelled' means discontinued and NOT available anymore. Get a print out of this stuff.
Then, trek on over to the Solo rules again and find 15.11:
15.11 OUT-OF-PRODUCTION CARS
Where a car is out of production and the manufacturer is either out
of business, stocks no parts or no longer has a required part, a part
of any origin but as similar as possible to the original may be
substituted. The entrant must be prepared to show documentary
evidence that one of the three circumstances above applies and that
the substituted part is as similar as possible under the
circumstances. Substitute parts which provide improvements in
performance (e.g. superior gearing, lighter weight, better camshaft
profile, etc.) are not permitted under this allowance.
Your Steeda strut tower brace will fall into stocks no parts or no longer has a required part, a part
of any origin but as similar as possible to the original may be
substituted. And there ya have it.
Oh, I went and emailed the SCCA Solo Technical folks and got clarification that it's legal. Print out a copy of that email too. Now when you're questioned about it cause someone wants to play the technical BS game, there ya go.
By the way,I'm not promoting Steeda at all. I am simply stating that their brace is as similar to the factory one as possible. Happy bracing.
15.2 C.
Strut bars are permitted with all types of suspension. Strut bars
may be mounted only transversely across the car from upper
right to upper left suspension mounting point and from lower
right to lower left suspension mounting point. No other configuration
is permitted. Only bolt-on attachment is permitted. Additional
holes may be drilled for mounting bolts. Interior trim
panels may be modified to allow installation of strut bars. Holes
or slots may be no larger than necessary and may serve no other
purpose. This does not permit any modifications to the frame or
unibody beyond the allowed mounting holes.
Pure nonsense now. '94 - '97 Mustang convertibles had the brace. However, it was called a FRONT SUSPENSION BRACKET ASSEMBLY - Ford Part #F6ZZ 3A288CA. A quick trip to the Ford dealer's parts department will net you a print out of the schematic of where it's installed and all the part numbers included. Also, ask them to do a search nationwide on the Ford, DOES II System. I did and the order was put in as an emergency request and it came back classified as 'C'. C standing for cancelled. Further discussion will net that 'cancelled' means discontinued and NOT available anymore. Get a print out of this stuff.
Then, trek on over to the Solo rules again and find 15.11:
15.11 OUT-OF-PRODUCTION CARS
Where a car is out of production and the manufacturer is either out
of business, stocks no parts or no longer has a required part, a part
of any origin but as similar as possible to the original may be
substituted. The entrant must be prepared to show documentary
evidence that one of the three circumstances above applies and that
the substituted part is as similar as possible under the
circumstances. Substitute parts which provide improvements in
performance (e.g. superior gearing, lighter weight, better camshaft
profile, etc.) are not permitted under this allowance.
Your Steeda strut tower brace will fall into stocks no parts or no longer has a required part, a part
of any origin but as similar as possible to the original may be
substituted. And there ya have it.
Oh, I went and emailed the SCCA Solo Technical folks and got clarification that it's legal. Print out a copy of that email too. Now when you're questioned about it cause someone wants to play the technical BS game, there ya go.
By the way,I'm not promoting Steeda at all. I am simply stating that their brace is as similar to the factory one as possible. Happy bracing.