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I've been searching for a used h-brace from the 07-08 Nismo because I refuse to pay over a thousand for new. I haven't found one yet so I've been toying around with the idea of making them. I'm trying to gauge if there's any interest if I were to make a batch of 10 braces. I also need some help: I would need to borrow someone's brace from their car to develop it. I could probably do it without one but I'm trying to save some time and i'd like to make it 100% accurate from the OEM measurements. If anyone is willing to help, I would pay for shipping both ways and provide a free brace. I did some research and saw that Stillen made a few of these a while back but doesn't anymore. I think it would be a fun little project so let me know what you think.
I've been searching for a used h-brace from the 07-08 Nismo because I refuse to pay over a thousand for new. I haven't found one yet so I've been toying around with the idea of making them. I'm trying to gauge if there's any interest if I were to make a batch of 10 braces. I also need some help: I would need to borrow someone's brace from their car to develop it. I could probably do it without one but I'm trying to save some time and i'd like to make it 100% accurate from the OEM measurements. If anyone is willing to help, I would pay for shipping both ways and provide a free brace. I did some research and saw that Stillen made a few of these a while back but doesn't anymore. I think it would be a fun little project so let me know what you think.
Admire the gumption and enthusiasm but a couple things to consider.
- Z1 offers the OE piece for around $400. (Unless we are talking about a different animal than the Nismo-only F&R chassis anti-flex struts.)
- If one is adding the front brace, the corresponding rear brace should be added.
- While I have owned two Nismos and have great faith in their chassis and underpinnings, I am not sure the addition of the chassis braces - by themselves - is going to amount to much unless the rest of the chassis is reworked as well to take advantage of additional stiffness along the front and rear horizontal flex points.
- I am not sure that this is a universally applicable piece as not all Z’s have the proper mounting points. Not sure about this but seem to recall reading that.
@MicVelo I’m talking about the front upper h brace, not the front and rear Autech performance dampers. When you go to the brace on Z1 it gives you the option to select either the right, left or center but when selecting all three it becomes $1433. The description is just to stiffen the radiator support and from what I understand there is no supplemental rear brace. I wouldn’t think there would need to be a rear either, because there’s minimal flex in the rear. The front tends to flex more under load. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel with this piece, just replicate and improve upon OEM.
It was only made for the 07-08 models and I can see there being a bit of a fitment issue with 03-06 because of the location of the coolant overflow and power steering reservoir but minor modifications could be made to accommodate that difference.
The mounting points appear to be the same across all years. The top attaches to the strut tower brace bolts and the lower to the radiator support bolts where the intake duct holes are.
A36 steel, I’m thinking 1/4 inch thickness, I don’t think I can go any thicker than that because of clearance and weight. I’d have it either waterjet or plasma cut and bent according to what’s needed.
Is this similar to the Stillen Brace of the same shape and placement? Do you know if the stillen brace and/or Nismo brace is the same for the DE and HR?
I have the aforementioned stillen brace (minus the center piece) if you want to buy it let me know.
Is this similar to the Stillen Brace of the same shape and placement? Do you know if the stillen brace and/or Nismo brace is the same for the DE and HR?
I have the aforementioned stillen brace (minus the center piece) if you want to buy it let me know.
Yes it would be like the Stillen brace. I’m not sure why they stopped making them and why no one else makes them, which is why I’m interested in producing my own. If I can get the side pieces I’m sure it wouldn’t be too difficult to measure the center piece. Message me with a price.
Nissan didn’t make this brace for the DE motor unfortunately but I have a friend with a DE so I can test fit the brace.
@DarkZ03 honestly I have no idea but if Nissan spent the time to develop it, it wouldn’t be counter productive. I can guarantee it’s not just cosmetic.
There just isn't a whole lot of chassis there it's all bumper and reinforcement for the radiator. I would not be surprised if it was just as a way to reinforce the longer bumper.
Wether or not it's a seam welded Nismo has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the brace. It will function the same regardless of which model it's installed in.
Wether or not it's a seam welded Nismo has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the brace. It will function the same regardless of which model it's installed in.
You know this based on what? I’m not here to argue with you, in fact more power to you.
All the unibody seams were welded on a Nismo. You don’t have many seems from the strut towers forward, meaning that the bolt on, composite radiator support would have the same stiffness as a non-Nismo without that h-brace. The mounting points are the same so it would make sense to me that a non-Nismo would benefit just as much in that specific area. I don’t have any proof, I’m just going off my knowledge of structural repair and chassis setup.
All the unibody seams were welded on a Nismo. You don’t have many seems from the strut towers forward, meaning that the bolt on, composite radiator support would have the same stiffness as a non-Nismo without that h-brace. The mounting points are the same so it would make sense to me that a non-Nismo would benefit just as much in that specific area. I don’t have any proof, I’m just going off my knowledge of structural repair and chassis setup.
Seems like there wouldn’t be a benefit either way from a chassis stiffening perspective; like you said it mounts to the composite radiator support. So what’s the point of all this? I think DarkZ03 might have been on the right track when he/she stated earlier that it might be additional support for the longer Nismo front bumper that creates additional downforce.
FWIW besides Stillen, back in the day Altered Atmosphere Motorsports and ARC made versions of this piece that never really took off. I hope you have better luck if you go through with this project.
I'm a guy and yes, I'm like 95%sure that doesn't do anything to stiffen up the chassis. I'm a mechanic and very much pay attention to details, the front core support on the HRs are slightly weaker because of the dual intake ducts, that paired with the long nose and extra downforce is most likely why it was added. Hence why the regular car doesn't have it.
12-28-2020, 03:17 AM
Nismo H-Brace
