Question about X-Brace

To all my convertible guys (and general consensus),

So I just installed American Racing Headers (1 7/8 with offroad x-pipe and Borla Stingers, will post video of it soon)

The issue is that the x-brace no longer fits because it wont clear the headers.

My questions is to all my vert guys is what have they done/be done and how important is it to have the x-brace?

Thanks!

nice! cant wait to hear!! im doin same setup in next week or so but with ataks. also interested in the cross brace.

I asked this once before but never got an answer. I've heard people say you can remove it but I never ended up having to remove it.


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After market cross/X brace?

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I took mine out. As long as you have sub-frame connecters you'll be OK. A strut tower brace doesn't hurt either.

Are you sure it will not fit? My stepped Kooks fit.

04oxfordvert said:

nice! cant wait to hear!! im doin same setup in next week or so but with ataks. also interested in the cross brace.

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That is going to sound wicked! I will take a video this weekend with high quality mic. Love the sound it is not raspy at all!

olympic said:

I took mine out. As long as you have sub-frame connecters you'll be OK. A strut tower brace doesn't hurt either.

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I just purchased MM sub frame connectors and they should be in this week. I think the strut tower is just very unappealing to the eye.

Quick Strike said:

Are you sure it will not fit? My stepped Kooks fit.

Wow the Kooks tuck very well. What size headers are they? I am wondering since I went with the 7/8 it makes a difference. My mechanic said it didn't fit, I will try again but he wouldn't bull**** me.

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They are stepped headers from 1 3/4 to 1 7/8. At the point they pass the crossmember they are all 1 7/8.


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olympic said:

I took mine out. As long as you have sub-frame connecters you'll be OK. A strut tower brace doesn't hurt either.

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Have you noticed any changes in the feel of the car?


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I took the x-brace off when installing a MM K member so it's not an apples to apples comparison but I didn't notice any negative side affects. The car is stable with no cowl shake. I did alot of research before removing the x-brace and everything I read said that as long as you have quality SFC's welded in it's fine.

olympic said:

I took the x-brace off when installing a MM K member so it's not an apples to apples comparison but I didn't notice any negative side affects. The car is stable with no cowl shake. I did alot of research before removing the x-brace and everything I read said that as long as you have quality SFC's welded in it's fine.

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Shoot I may end up removing mine. What do you think that thing weighs?


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25lb maybe?

How much interference is there? My car came with BBK headers and the corner of the square cross brace tube was touching the header. I used a hammer to put a small dent in the crossmember tube and in addition loosened all the bolts and shifted crossmember as much as I could. Ended up creating enough clearance.

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Mine fit when I did Headers, but then wouldn’t when I added the stifflers k member brace. I ran with just the stifflers K member brace and the full length sub frames for awhile and it felt every bit as tight if not better than with the factory. I’ve since added the jacking rail/web brace and also the spider brace by stifflers. No cowl shake at all and overall been very happy with the setup since.

Removed the X-Brace last night. Weighs 15 pounds. Removed front sway bar too and that was about 10. 35 all together, heading to the track today.

I had lots of problems bottoming out onto mine after installing H&R Race Springs. I asked Maximum Motorsports if they had anything to replace it with and they said no. They also didn't recommend removing it.

I ended up replacing the stock shocks/struts with Bilstein B8s and the ride was/is SOOOOO much better!!! It hardly ever bottoms out at all now.

I have a convertible with long tube headers and the drivers side bank wouldn’t clear the X brace. I drove it a few miles with the brace off and it shook worse than wooden rollercoaster. I ended up cutting, notching, and welding the X brace back together. I had a strut tower brace on at the time (which I also had to notch due to the 2.9 L Whipple). Added MM subframes later. She all’s right now. Tight. I’ll grab some pics and post them.


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