I installed Motordyne 5/16 plenum spacer about two weeks ago,
and I ended up taking off the strut bar because it was touching
against the engine when the car was accelerating.
Of course, I can always adjust the strut bar to get enough clearance,
but it is off for now because...well, I am too lazy.

I've been driving W/O the strut bar for nearly a week now,
and I can't really feel the difference in stiffness/stablility
when cornering, maybe a little.
Also, it seems like the the strut bar weights a good 20lbs.
Therefore, I havent bothered to put the strut bar back on yet.
Am I making mistake here? Would I be better off with the strut bar on?

Any of you also drive their Z W/O strut bar?

 

Why was the engine touching the Strut bar? Doesn't Md claim it clears?

 

I've driven mine without one ever since I put my supercharger on. So... for like 8 or 9K miles.

I did however just buy the stillen STB so that will be going on soon. The STB isnt a HUGE noticable change... it definitely stiffens the chassis though and improves handling... its just not as noticable as, say, sway bars.

There are a few companies that make STBs to clean the plenums and spacer kits... so you should look into that if you want one, i think some of them save weight over stock too... I knwo the stillen saves a little bit.

 

There is a reason Nissan engineered the Zzz the way it did. You may not feel it short term but it could cause structural damage in the long haul.

On weight, if you took off the doors it would save even more. And since your seatbelt holds you in who needs doors!

 

the front strut bar is there (like for al other cars) to stiffen the chassis for turn in. you may not notice it maybe because you are not pushing the car enough...eliminating the strut bar will cause more understeer....but you will not notice it if you're just going about town and only pushing it going straight.

 

Maybe 1 in 10 350Z drivers would notice a difference. Is you are doing open road or autocross, get a strut brace. If not you’ll be just fine.

 

I would hope that the car isnt so weak that it would cause structural damage without it, but since it same from the factory I wouldnt advise running without it. $0.02

 

Auto manufacturer's haven't been able to prove how much better these strut bars work, especially the adjustable kind. The welded one-piece bars are said to be more noticeable, but it's the sway bars that actually help the most because they restrict movement of joints in the suspension. You will be fine

 

the bodyshop said the strut bar there to keep the whole structure not to sink down in the long run. I don't use it for the past 6 months since i have the same problem as you.

 

listen to this man. he knows what he's talking about

 

Did you use the 5/16" thick Strut Spacers?
If the Strut Bar is raised the same height as the Spacer(5/16" thick),
you are back to the net clearance from the factory.

The Strut Bar get's closer to the underside of the hood.
I have the GTSpec Strut Bar. It has a lower profile cross section.
I plan on checking the factory clearance between the Strut Bar and Hood
with clay. When the new one is installed I will have the numbers.

 

the strut bar actually does clear. i have the Motordyne 5/16" installed and the
strut bar clears with the strut spacers installed and a few turns on the nut.

i actually had the same problem at first. at rest the strut bar cleared the plenum
w/o a problem. but under acceleration there wasn't enough clearance. you would
actually hear the plenum push up against the bar. so i just did a couple of turns
on the nut to raise the strut bar a little and no problem. hope that helps.

 

The stock strut bar is the STRONGEST and better than all of the aftermarket strut bars. Its made of urethane and none of the aftermarket STB's have said their's is better than the stock one. The only on I have seen come close is the Top Secret one ($$$). And yes you do notice a huge difference when you are cornering hard. The front tends to dive in faster and you will hit some understeer.