billp

I just bought my 04 touring coupe. I have only put about 250 miles on it so far, but I am really enjoying driving it. Thanks for this forum its been really helpful.

In regards to room in the "trunk" I was reading the service manual and it appears that the "roll bar" is really hollow and not a roll bar. It looks like you could remove it and have a lot more usuable room. Anyone had that apart and/or is this a real dumb idea? I realize that you would have to do something about the side panels or lack thereof.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

Roll bar? Look at the top of the rear struts. What holds them in place?

MustGoFastR

iTrader: (13)

Dumb idea; close thread. If you want more room, get an SUV.

ANXIOUZ

iTrader: (13)

The strutbar is part of the frame = no go. If you remove the spare tire then you'll gain some room but that's about all you can do.

The Brickyard Rat

iTrader: (1)

billp, it is not a rollbar.

It is a strut brace that strengthens the rigidity of the Z.

VO...

iTrader: (25)

it is not hollow. Inside lies part of the car's structural integrity.

DennyBak

iTrader: (4)

i think rickdogg removed his

SargentZ

Look under the hood, the same bar that crosses th engine also crosses through the rear strut bar.If you remove it your asking for trouble. Buy a beater if you need 'more room'

billp

Thanks to all, it wasn't something that I actually was looking to do, as I do have a Honda Van. In another post a guy was asking about how many bags that he could get into the back. I just happened to be looking over the service manual and the pictures look like there is nothing inside the plastic. The great benefit of the Forum is to get smarter without killing yourself.

Black Duck

Sorry mate but that's hilarious you thought it was a rollbar. If it was a rollbar I wonder what part of your body it could possibly protect.

The Brickyard Rat

iTrader: (1)

Isn't it easier just to give a guy a straight answer? Not all the people on here are "car guys" who get it on things mechanical. I certainly fall into that category.

Though I do have to admit the rollbar thing was funny.

05-Z

iTrader: (4)

You're right, it does looks removable or hollow. Most people wish it wasn't there taking up so much space.

But....if you removed it and took a corner too hard, your car would cave in.

MyV6IsFast3r

iTrader: (38)

He's welding in a 10-point cage and will weld in a new, stiffer tube where the old flimsy stock rear strut bar was.

MyV6IsFast3r

iTrader: (38)

Prove it. I want a vid. That would be funny.

rhaas

I knew I should have bought a different car.

rythex

iTrader: (2)

start making room by throwing out the dead prositutes

plumpzz

iTrader: (10)

If you remove it, just weld in a spot to put a strut bar. You can have almost as much room as a large car without that thing there. Its primary use is to show off, and add weight. The Z could've been w/o it.

billp

If I am able to upload the page from the manual, you can see that it appears empty/hollow. And no where do I see "Strut bar or support". I agree that roll bar was a stretch, but it didn't seem that a strut support bar needed that much room. Anyway, I agree that you guys are the wizards, but this is how us less knowledgeble guys find out good stuff.

MustGoFastR

iTrader: (13)

All of the individual pieces in that diagram are referred to as strut covers. In conjunction, they form the strut tower brace. The structure IS holllow, yes, but it is a rigid boxed construction that ties the tops of the rear strut towers together, thus increasing the rigidity of the car and improving handling; that's it's purpose. Did it NEED to be that large? No. Due to it's prominent location, it was built in such a way to act as a design element of the car as well as serve it's purpose. You COULD cut the whole structure out of there and replace it with a much smaller bar that would serve the same function, but then you would be faced with the need to fabricate custom interior trim panels to finish it off. To gain more room, this is a fool's errand, IMO; if you're gutting your car and making a track demon, then it's hard core.

Black Duck

It was definitely a fair question - I just thought the rollbar thing was funny that's all.