New Strut Tower Install and DIY Grill Pics

Just been having some fun over the past few nights and I thought I would share.

 

I bought strut bar on ebay and for what it is, honestly it was worth the $42 shipped. I painted the strut braces to match the caps I painted and the red samco radiator hoses.

 

Here is a picture of the stuff uninstalled.

 

http://my.prostreetonline.com/album/Mblock66/1.JPG

 

Another

 

http://my.prostreetonline.com/album/Mblock66/4.JPG

 

Here is the engine bay before the install

 

http://my.prostreetonline.com/album/Mblock66/5.JPG

 

And After...........

 

http://my.prostreetonline.com/album/Mblock66/6.JPG

 

 

I have also been working everynight on a DIY grill and I am close to done.

 

Here is the Progress of that so far........

 

http://my.prostreetonline.com/album/Mblock66/2.JPG

 

http://my.prostreetonline.com/album/Mblock66/3.JPG

Loookin good!!!!!!!!!

 

Nice pool table..I'm so jealous.

looks nice. i like the red caps instead of the fugly yellow. how did you paint them?

wrd man. ill be keeping a close eye on your grill project. just got my ebay strut too. let see what difference it makes after i install it tomorrow.

looks nice. i like the red caps instead of the fugly yellow. how did you paint them?

 

I used Krylon red spray paint for plastic. It takes a whole night at least if you want it to cure well but it is as easy as taking them all off. Masking them and then spray away. Then reapply the spray 2-3 times and let dry overnight.

 

Install the next day carefully b/c they still could be a little soft.

 

Then for the strut bar it was a little more difficult but still easy. Sand the metal. Prime it will silver metal primer spray paint. Sand. Repeat. Used the same Krylon red as the caps. 3 Coats of that. Then 3 coats of clear Acrylic Enamal Spray. Let dry and install.

 

I am taking my time on the grill but so far it is going well. I bought Regal Blue Basecoat Spraypaint and Clearcoat from www.paintscratch.com. I am waiting for that to come and in the mean time I dremel'd out a stock grill, primed it black and sanded it 3 times and bought the mesh. Once the paint comes I am going to make the grill Regal Blue with CLearcoat to match the car and paint the mesh black

 

I think the hard part is done! Cant wait for the paint to get here.

 

If the grill comes out really good and other people want me to do thiers then I could offer my services out

looks nice. i like the red caps instead of the fugly yellow. how did you paint them?

Now whats so bad aboot the yeller?

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/vbgarage.php?do=getimage&id=502

Did you notice a chassis rigidity difference?

 

Is anyone running the rear version of this bar?

I have front and rear Whiteline bars in my car (its a '97 GT, so a little different) and it made a huge improvement, expecailly since my car has been on the road for 80,000 miles. Everyone who drives it notices a huge difference, but I can tell you in a sedan like mine the front bar made more of a difference

I don't take turns that hard usually but I think I can feel a bit more responsiveness in turns. I will see as I drive it more

On my 1997 Impreza Outback, I had the front and rear tower bars. It made a huge different how tight the chasis had felt. The Legacy wagon is stiff, but not stiff enough. Does it make different on what brand we should buy or they are pretty much do the same thing? Excluding the weight issue on the tower bar. But nice pics:lol:

I can't see a $200 bar doing anything that this bar doesn't do. Plus this bar is like under 3 lbs total

Where does the rear tower bar go? Do you have to break through some plastic in the trunk?

Very nice, I like the red paint job on it.

Where does the rear tower bar go? Do you have to break through some plastic in the trunk?

No I think you just lift up the carpet and the bolts are under there somewhere. I am not sure I am going to get the rear though. I will do my whiteline sways first and see if I think that is enough.

nice mods, can't wait to see the final product. thinking about grillwork myself.

So did you buy someone elses grill to mod or are you running around with cardboard?

What are you going to do about the holes at the bottom center and sides of the grill?

I think some fiberglass is needed.

What are you going to do about the holes at the bottom center and sides of the grill?

 

After I cut out the center piece that held the badge and unscrwed the two chrome pieces, I measured and cut a plastic piece off one of the wings to fill the center hole. I had to sand the cut-piece down considerably to get it to fit perfectly in the hole. Then I glued the piece in, then sanded and painted over the inside of the grill. I did not fill the two side gaps though, I kinda wish I did. It looks good as is though.

I am not doing anything about them as of now. I am not sure how to do fiberglass and bondo stuff. I will look into it however. That might have to be the next stage in the process as I wait for my Regal Blue Paint can and clearcoat

I may have to come over there and lend you a hand Matt.

Sounds good to me!

Mblock, nice job on the grill. Now time to paint the mess black. I used 3 coats of rust proof satin black. I should of used like 6 coats, as now I have to chips in the grill do to rocks.

That front strut bar looks really good painted. I was comparing the Cusco bar, and the one you bought on ebay today. I really can't see how the Cusco bar would be any better other than weight. Why the near $200 price, is the Cusco bar Titanium or something lol?

Is there even a weight difference? I mean how much less then 3 lbs could it be haha.

 

My entire shipping package was market 4lbs when it came.